Internet not working? Let's fix it.

No internet on any device

If your phone (on Wi-Fi), laptop and TV are all offline, the problem is your router, the line into your home or your provider.

1. Look at the router lights. Find the internet or WAN light (often a globe icon). Red, orange or blinking usually means the router can't reach your provider.
2. Restart the modem and router properly. Unplug both from power, wait 30 seconds, plug the modem in first and wait until its lights are steady (1–2 minutes), then the router.
3. Check every cable. The fibre, DSL or coax cable from the wall into the modem, and the cable from the modem to the router. Push each until it clicks; replace a damaged one.
4. Check for an outage. Use mobile data to open your provider's website, app or social media page. Many providers show outages by postcode.
5. Check your account. An unpaid bill or a used-up data allowance can cut your service.
6. Last resort: factory reset. Hold the pinhole reset button for 10 seconds. You'll need to set up your Wi-Fi name and password again, so call your provider first if you're unsure.

Only this device has no internet

Other devices work, so the network is fine and something on this device is stuck.

1. Turn Wi-Fi off and on, or switch airplane mode on for 10 seconds and off again.
2. Restart the device. It sounds too simple, but it clears most stuck network states.
3. Forget the Wi-Fi network and join it again with the password.
4. Turn off VPN, proxy and security software temporarily to see if one of them is blocking traffic.
5. Reset the network settings for your system:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
resolvectl flush-caches

6. Update network drivers (Windows: Device Manager → Network adapters → right-click → Update driver).
7. Check the date and time. A wrong clock makes secure websites fail with certificate errors.

Connected to Wi-Fi but no internet

1. Look for a sign-in page. Hotel, airport, café and office networks often need you to accept terms first. Open http://neverssl.com to make the sign-in page appear.
2. Check another device on the same Wi-Fi. If it's offline too, follow No internet on any device.
3. Restart the router. Routers can run out of addresses or memory when many devices connect.
4. Move closer, or switch band. 5 GHz is faster but short-range; 2.4 GHz goes through walls better. A weak signal can connect but still pass no data.
5. Change your DNS to 1.1.1.1 (see DNS fixes). A failing DNS server looks exactly like "no internet".
6. Check the router's parental controls or device blocklist in its admin page; your device may be paused or blocked.

Internet is slow

1. Run a speed test on Wi-Fi, then on a network cable if you can. A big difference means Wi-Fi is the bottleneck.
2. Pause heavy use on other devices: game downloads, system updates, cloud backups and 4K streams.
3. Improve your Wi-Fi. Put the router in a central, raised spot away from microwaves, fish tanks and metal. Large homes need a mesh system or access point.
4. Restart and update the router. Firmware updates often fix speed and stability issues.
5. Check your bufferbloat grade. If it's C or worse, enable SQM / Smart Queue / QoS in your router so browsing stays fast while others download.
6. Test at different times. If it's only slow in the evening, your provider's network is congested. Your test history is useful evidence.
7. Compare with your plan. If wired tests are consistently far below what you pay for, contact your provider or check the fastest providers near you.

Some websites won't load (DNS problems)

Errors like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, "Server not found" or "This site can't be reached" while other sites work usually mean DNS trouble, or the site itself is down.

1. Check if the site is down for everyone.
2. Flush your DNS cache. Windows: ipconfig /flushdns. Mac: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
3. Switch to a fast public DNS: Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1, or Google 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.

nmcli con mod "$(nmcli -g NAME con show --active | head -1)" ipv4.dns "1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1" ipv4.ignore-auto-dns yes
nmcli con up "$(nmcli -g NAME con show --active | head -1)"

4. Change DNS on the router instead, so every device at home benefits.
5. Try a private window and disable browser extensions, especially ad blockers and VPN extensions.
6. Check the hosts file for leftover entries (Windows: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts, Mac/Linux: /etc/hosts).
7. Try mobile data. If the site works there, your network, school, workplace or country may be blocking it.

Internet keeps disconnecting

1. Start the connection monitor to log every drop with the exact time. It's the best evidence for your provider.
2. Find out if it's Wi-Fi or the line. If a wired device drops at the same moments, the problem is the line or provider.
3. Avoid interference. On 2.4 GHz use channel 1, 6 or 11; prefer 5 GHz where you can. Neighbours' networks and baby monitors can cause drops.
4. Turn off Wi-Fi power saving. Windows: Device Manager → your Wi-Fi adapter → Power Management → untick "Allow the computer to turn off this device".
5. Keep the router cool and in the open. Routers more than 5 years old often struggle with today's traffic.
6. Update router firmware and device drivers.
7. Check splitters and filters. Loose coax splitters and missing DSL filters cause regular drops.

Mobile data not working

1. Toggle airplane mode on for 10 seconds, then off, and check that mobile data is switched on.
2. Check your balance or data allowance in your carrier's app or by SMS.
3. Turn on data roaming when abroad (check the charges first).
4. Reset APN settings to default (Android: Settings → Network → SIMs → Access Point Names → Reset).
5. Restart the phone and re-insert the SIM card; for eSIM, turn the line off and on.
6. Check coverage and outages on your carrier's website from Wi-Fi.