Experiencing Internet Problems Today: What to Do When the Internet Goes Down

The internet has become a crucial component of our everyday lives. Whether we use it for work, education, getting information for a trip, or entertainment, many of us are on it nearly constantly. And for that reason, it is all the more frustrating when the internet goes down or our connection experiences a significant slowdown. A local internet outage can feel like a global internet outage. It can feel paralyzing, and our top priority quickly becomes fixing the problem.

Yet “fixing the problem” is something easier said than done. How does one fix a problematic connection? Where does one start? There are many causes for internet problems, and you often can’t tell at first glance what to do. Fortunately, we’re here to help. We cannot be a perfect troubleshooting tool for you, but we can help you learn more about common causes and solutions. Following the advice in this article, you should have your internet connection back to normal sooner than you think.

Here's what you need to know:

Why Your Internet Is Down and How to Fix It

Wi-Fi outages, problems with your overall connection, and unpredictable disconnections from the internet can be confusing and annoying. Worse yet, these problems frequently come and go, meaning it’s hard to pin down the problem. However, the problem isn’t insurmountable if you know where to look, what to test, and what might need improvement with your setup. Here are some of the most common issues that you should try checking first:

Your Router Is Being Obstructed

Router placement is essential, and too many households place their router in an unideal position. If your devices have difficulty staying connected to the internet or experience frequent slowdowns, it might be due to poor placement or insufficient range related to your router. Moving it to a central location in your home where it is unlikely to be blocked by anything is the best option.

Additionally, other devices or things could obstruct the signal your router provides. There could be something between your router and your device. While walls don’t necessarily block a WiFi signal, some don’t help and can dampen the signal. Additionally, some other devices too close to the router can provide interference, weakening your Wi-Fi network. Try to move these devices away or move your router away from them. If they are unnecessary, turn them off. Specifically, devices that use radio waves or have heavier materials can cause interference.

Of course, a router can only have so much range by itself, and even perfect placement might not allow your WiFi network to reach every corner of your home. We’ll talk about a fix for this issue in a bit. For now, just focus on finding the best spot for your internet equipment.

Your Modem or Router Needs a Reboot

The easiest and first thing to do if you’re experiencing an internet issue is to reboot your modem and router. You’ve likely heard this advice before, but it often makes the issue disappear. Why? Resetting the equipment removes errors and requests from the device’s memory, potentially removing things causing problems. The fact that these errors exist in the first place can be troublesome, but they will accumulate over time.

The process of rebooting your equipment will vary depending on the exact model. However, there should be a button that you can press or hold down to do so. Alternatively, you can unplug the device, wait 30 seconds, and then plug it back in. If you’re uncertain, check the manual for your device. If you don’t have the manual on hand, a copy will surely exist online and be found with a well-defined search.

There’s an Internet Outage in Your Area

Sometimes your internet problems will have nothing to do with you and will entirely be on your ISP or some problem with the infrastructure in your area. This can be to blame for sporadic disconnections in your home and neighborhood. The problem could be the internet going down for hours or flickering on and off long enough to disconnect you from a video call.

There’s not much you can personally do about this problem, but contacting your ISP about it is recommended if it is a frequent issue. Also, check local online boards and community hubs to see if other people are having the same problem. An internet outage map or an internet status map might be handy. If the problem persists for a long time and it doesn’t look like the ISP is going to do anything about it, it might be time to switch providers.

Your Internet Plan Needs an Upgrade

Sometimes your internet plan might be working just fine, but it isn’t enough for the needs of your household. This can come about in several different ways. Perhaps there are too many devices vying for attention on your network, like too many cars on a highway with only so many lanes. There might not be enough bandwidth for you to do what you want, leading your connection to be trying to catch up constantly. Possibly the plan you use has a data cap or allowance that your household went over, leading to your ISP throttling your connection.

These are all signs that you need to get a new internet plan from your current provider or another one. We can help with that. Just go to our home page, type in your zip code in the appropriate field, and look at the results. See what plans are available and if there is a plan with higher speed and more bandwidth to meet your current needs and beyond.

There’s a Problem With Your Cables

If the cables in your home are damaged, loose, or improperly designed, your internet connection might suffer, dropping frequently or not being available.

The good news is that this is a relatively cheap and easy problem to solve. Check your wires to see if there is any damage. Note that a cable can often get damaged from too much bending, and the damage can be hard to find. Any wear and tear is a sign that it’s time for a replacement. Similarly, check to see if any cables are loose. You should be able to lightly tug on them without them coming loose or coming out. 

If you’re uncertain, replace the cables. Having a bit more piece of mind regarding your internet connection is worth the cost. It might be wise to replace the cables if they are old, as cables have improved over the years, and you might get a boost from the changeover.

Other Ways to Troubleshoot Internet Problems

The above are all some of the most common causes of internet issues. However, if none of the things you’ve tried haven’t worked and none of the above seems to be the cause of your problem, there are still some options. Try out the following:

Try Another Device

We aren’t saying you should necessarily throw out your device if the internet isn’t working, but the issue may be with your device and not your internet connection. It can be helpful to pinpoint the matter and test your connection on another device to see if the same issues pop up. You might be able to use a speed test for this, depending on your problem.

In any case, using another device will let you narrow down the problem. If there are problems with multiple devices, then there is a problem with your network or internet connection. If there is only a problem with one device, troubleshooting that device is the path forward.

Scan for Viruses

Malicious software on your computer can interfere with your internet connection or slow it down. It might take over your connection and make requests you do not want. It may wreak random havoc, slowing down or disabling your connection. There’s a lot of different malware online, and we can’t list everything that could happen. However, scanning for viruses and removing them can potentially help your connection.

On top of this, viruses and malware can be a major issue in other ways, so it's in your best interest to keep your devices as safe as possible. There is software you can use to help with this, and there are best practices you should look up and follow if you’re uncertain. Generally, use your best judgment online, and don’t trust things you are unsure about.

Update Your Firmware

Regular firmware updates are required, even for your modem and router. While missing one or two might not be noticeable, they are still necessary, and if your equipment isn’t updated correctly, you might experience slowdowns or disconnections.

Your firmware will often update automatically, assuming your equipment was installed correctly. However, if you want to check, you will want to look up your equipment online and learn how to update it. The exact process will vary depending on the model, so a search is your fastest option.

Upgrade Your Router

Routers can last a while, but they have a lifespan like any other device. Whether it is breaking down or just not enough anymore, there will come the point where you need to replace your router. And at this time, you might as well upgrade it. If you’re having difficulties relating to your router in the first place, then upgrading your router is a must.

When getting a router, check the maximum bandwidth, the number of devices the router can support, the number of ports, the price, and customer reviews. There are plenty of additional resources to help you pick out the perfect router.

Use a Different Wi-Fi Channel

A few different Wi-Fi bands are regularly used with WiFi networks. There are 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Most routers and devices will automatically set up the best connection given the circumstances, but things might be set up to primarily use one band at the moment. Check what is being used and if an adjustment is needed. While you might want to set things back to being automatic; otherwise, the following rules of thumb apply:

• 2.4 GHz is best for longer ranges, though it will be slow.
• 5 GHz is faster, though it is less effective at longer ranges.
• 6 GHz is newer and faster but has the least coverage.

Check What’s on Your Wi-Fi Network

What devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network? There may be devices that are effectively wasting bandwidth. There might be large updates happening in the background or a large scheduled download you forgot about. If this is common, you might want to schedule those downloads for a different time or cancel background processes. 

Alternatively, your router might have a concurrent connection limit, meaning that devices might get left out or have to wait a while. This can lead to dropped connections on your devices. If you run into this problem, the likely solution is to get a router that can handle more devices simultaneously.

Call Your ISP

Sometimes internet problems have nothing to do with your equipment and everything to do with what is happening with your ISP. If you’ve tried everything else, it’s time to call and either get your problem troubleshot from their end or get an explanation for the interruptions in service (perhaps there is a major internet outage today). Be patient, and don’t blow up at the customer service rep (it’s not their fault). However, be firm that if problems are not resolved, especially if the ISP is the cause, you might need to look at other providers.

The Bottom Line

There can be many causes of your slow internet today, yet those troubles are universally frustrating. They can interrupt your workflow, enjoyment of the internet, and much more. And as they become more common, they only become more frustrating. However, there are things you can do and potential problems you can investigate. Make sure that your equipment and ISP are doing their jobs. While not every problem is immediately solvable, we hope you have a better idea of what to look at when your internet goes down. And if you feel you need to switch your internet plan or provider, we hope you use this website to search for and compare options. Thank you for reading, and we invite you to return to this page as needed.