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 network equipment
Unplug modem and router for 30 seconds. Plug in modem first, wait 2 minutes, then router.
Test with alternate DNS
Set DNS to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 in network adapter settings
Check on another device
Test internet on a phone or tablet to determine if the issue is device-specific
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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.