Fix Internet Connection Issues
Follow these troubleshooting steps to diagnose and resolve common internet connectivity problems.
This guide provides a systematic approach to diagnosing internet connectivity problems from the physical layer (modem/router) through DNS resolution and ISP-level issues.
Power cycling your modem and router resolves approximately 70% of home internet issues by clearing stale DHCP leases, refreshing ARP tables, and resetting NAT sessions.
Power cycle your modem and router
Unplug both devices for 30 seconds. Plug in the modem first and wait 2 minutes. Then plug in the router and wait 1 minute.
Check physical connections
Verify all cables are securely connected: coax/fiber to modem, ethernet from modem to router, and any device ethernet cables.
Test with a different device
Try connecting another phone, tablet, or computer. If all devices fail, the issue is likely your router, modem, or ISP.
Try alternate DNS servers
Change DNS to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) in your network settings to rule out DNS resolution issues.
Flush DNS cache
Windows: run 'ipconfig /flushdns'. Mac: run 'sudo dscacheutil -flushcache'. Linux: run 'sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches'.
Check ISP status
Visit your ISP's status page or call support. Outages and maintenance can cause intermittent or complete loss of service.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
No internet connection on any device
Power cycle the modem first (unplug 30 seconds), then the router. Check ISP status page or call support — outages affect all connected devices simultaneously.
Internet works on phone but not on computer
The issue is device-specific. Flush DNS cache (ipconfig /flushdns on Windows, sudo dscacheutil -flushcache on macOS), disable VPN, and reset network adapter settings.
Websites fail to load but apps like Discord or games work
This indicates a DNS problem. Change DNS servers to 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) in network adapter settings. Flush DNS cache after changing.
Speed is far below the ISP plan rate
Test with ethernet instead of WiFi, close background applications, check for firmware updates on the router, and run speed tests at different times. If consistently below 50% of plan speed, contact ISP.