No Internet Connection? How to Troubleshoot Internet Issues
This is another time that you must know what to do when there is no internet connection.
Internet is very important these days for work, school, entertainment and so on, hence having a good internet connection at home is essential. However, we all sometimes encounter difficulties connected with the Internet connection which can be quite inconvenient and even distracting. Many of us might have experienced a situation when our internet connection is down and we do not know how to solve the problem fast, here is how you can do it.
Tips to Troubleshoot Internet Issues
1. Ensure that the routers and modems are working properly.
It is advisable to begin by verifying the status of your wifi router and cable/DSL modem to ensure that they are indeed on and functional. Ensure that there is a glowing green light on your modem and another one on your router. Otherwise, you should pull them out of the power outlet for about 30 seconds before plugging them back again to restart them.
As the device's power cycles, make sure that all the cables are connected firmly in the back of the modem and router including the coaxial cable to a cable modem or phone cable to a DSL modem. This is because, in such networks, the connections are often loose and hence can interfere with the internet connectivity.
If you have not restored the internet connection on your computer, phone, or other devices after several minutes, reboot the devices in question a second or third time.
2. Restart connected devices
If changing your router and modem does not help in regaining back the connection, one must go to the next level of troubleshooting which is to turn off and turn on the individual devices.
The first step is to shut down all programs and reboot laptops, desktops, and relevant mobile devices like smartphones and tablets that should be Wi-Fi-Connected. Once they can reconnect their devices to the wifi, ensure that the internet connection comes back on each of them. This step is useful as in some cases it may be a router problem that will deny selective devices to access the internet.
3. Verify the ISP & router management interface tools
By using your web browser, type the IP address of the router in the address bar, which is usually 192.168.1.1. Inspect your router tools to identify issues: Inspect your router tools to identify issues:
- Connection status – this will give you an insight into whether the router has connected to your modem and ISP.
- Check router logs – these contain information on network activities such as unanticipated disconnecting that can help identify the reasons behind them.
- Reset the router, if necessary – routers may decide to freeze.
You should also attempt to log into your internet service provider account portal as well. The internet outage map will display the regions where the ISP-related problems are known to occur. If there is an element of truth in what your ISP informs you, consult them again for further assistance or for the time when the service will be restored.
4. Run internet speed tests
Using a device connected with wifi or with an ethernet cable, go to a website such as speedtest.net to determine your internet connection’s speed. This measures the level of connectivity you are having, whether it is very slow or almost no connectivity.
Slow speeds mean that there is a problem in your connection between your device and your router or your internet service provider. Perform tests on different devices connected through Wi-Fi, as well as plugged directly into a router to determine differences. Low and steady speeds indicate that the router is faulty, or the connection between your provider and house is compromised.
Internet connection speed, or the absence of it, that allows you to run tests is evidence that there is no connection between your router and the ISP.
5. Make sure that other devices in your house are also appropriately secured.
If connectivity issues are affecting a single device or multiple, then it is important to identify if they are affecting your home network only. Plug a laptop into the modem with a wire -if Internet is like this, the problem is a wifi router. Choose a friend who owns an iPhone with a hotspot feature active lets you use Personal Hotspot to connect the device to data or a cell network instead of home WiFi and then test whether the problem is ubiquitous.
Determining if the problem is with the overall home network or just a particular device that is being used helps in isolating if it is a router issue or if the network settings on a device are the problem.
6. Inspect network cables
One simple and fundamental issue that may result in a previously functional internet connection being disrupted is corrupted network wiring.
Physically examine cables whose responsibility is to connect devices such as your modem, router, game consoles, or smart TVs for signs of bent pins, frayed/exposed wiring, crimps, cuts, or cracks in the cable jacket. Any form of damage on the physical cable that can be seen to have compromised the wiring comes in handy in developing a connectivity problem that calls for the replacement of the network cable.
On cables also look at the tips intensely for wire debris or, in the case of the RJ45 plugs, for connector pins that are bent inside the ethernet port so as not to make proper contact. If you notice some dirt, dust, or even damage on any of the ports you should use the compressed air to clean them gently.
7. Contact your ISP
If, after going through the step-by-step process of the router reboot, device troubleshooting, connection, settings, and speed check you are still unable to diagnose or fix the loss of Internet connection then you should get in touch with your Internet service provider. Give specifics about the problem whether it relates to your overall home network or concerning certain devices, when the issue began, actions previously taken to address it, and conditions concerning your ISP services to help technicians troubleshoot and solve connection issues from a distance.
They can also identify problems in their networks or infrastructure that could be causing outages, help one set up the routers, replace faulty hardware, or coordinate for a technician when issues like torn-up underground lines occur. ISP customer teams need tools, resources, and systems access to reconnect the connection of ISP customers.
Stay Calm, Be Patient
Do not get annoyed when you find your home network has gone offline, instead follow the approaches highlighted above to narrow down the problem. Do not Factory Reset devices or routers if the technicians are not asking to do so, because if there are later problems, they will be harder to diagnose. Make records of what troubleshooting has been done and call the ISPs immediately if a lot of internet disruption takes hours. Stay with a structured approach, to methodically get the Internet back into your home.