In the past, connecting to the internet was a process that required a multi-stepped process, potentially even restricting your phone line while active. Nowadays, nonetheless, the process is automatic, inexpensive, and so blended with all the device processes that you barely even pause to think about it. While this may have been standard in the past, today it’s hard to imagine an offline device.
In fact, there are so many background applications that are vital for the functioning of your device that losing connection would be no short of a proper disaster. Moreover, even some applications that perform offline functions (like single-player video games or some of your work apps) require a stable internet connection.
So, what if you lose your internet connection all of the sudden? How do you troubleshoot home Wi-Fi and router issues, and what do you do about it? Here are some of the methods that you should be aware of in advance.
Troubleshooting
On a Windows-based PC, the first thing you need to do is find the Network Internet access on your start bar (usually right next to the clock, language, and volume button). Next, you need to right-click on it and choose the Troubleshoot problems option from the list.
Then, you’ll have to wait for a couple of seconds until the diagnosis is complete, after which you’ll probably get the results right away. If not, in order to narrow down the search, an option to choose the network adapter to diagnose. Here, you’ll usually have to pick between the ethernet, local area connection, and all network adapters. The safest option is to just pick the last one.
Once this is resolved, you’ll be informed of the problem. There are several likely scenarios. The two most common ones are that the DNS server is unavailable (in this case, it’s the provider’s fault, and there’s not much you can do about it). The second one is that you check the modem and cables. If there’s an interruption there, chances are that you can fix the issue quite effortlessly. While fiber optic cables have the highest performance, they can still get unplugged. This is definitely something worth checking.
Old-school Troubleshooting
A long time ago, if the device was malfunctioning, we would have gone to it in order to inspect it personally. Sure, some may fear that they lack the technical prowess to figure this one out, but it’s all really quite self-explanatory.
Beneath every light, there’s a word describing exactly what it is. So, if there’s a green lamp above the word internet, things are supposed to be stable. If the light is green or off, this means that your internet connection is down.
Now, this may sound a bit useless, seeing as how you’ve already noticed that the internet is down (that’s why you’ve walked to the router in the first place). However, there’s more than you can learn this way. You may also have a WLAN or Wireless lamp misbehaving.
This method is especially important in scenarios where things are a bit more complex. For instance, your ethernet connection may be down (on that one PC that’s connected via cable), while your Wi-Fi is working just fine. The other way around is possible, as well.
While this is an industry stereotype (almost an industry meme amongst customer service professionals), restarting your modem might actually help resolve the issue. To do this effectively, you should turn off the modem, wait at least 10-15 seconds, and then start it again.
Also, your WLAN connection may have an on/off button of its own. Resetting it might actually solve the issue without any extra steps.
Check for an Internet Outage
There might be an internet outage in your building or neighborhood, so you might want to check that, as well. How does one find out if there’s an internet outage without the internet?
Well, chances are that you’ll still have your phone data on the internet, which means that turning off your Wi-Fi and trying it out is a great start. You see, while your phone’s Wi-Fi feature is still on, your phone will endlessly (and without success) try to connect to the non-existent/non-functional Wi-Fi. This will prevent it from using its own data internet.
Second, if you have the phone number of one of your neighbors or nearby friends (whom you know use the same provider), you can try sending them an SMS message. Or, if your data internet is on, you may try sending them a DM. Just keep in mind that they’re living nearby, seeing as how, with the internet outages, location is everything.
It Might Be Your VPN
A lot of people are using VPNs to watch content not allowed in their home region or increase the level of anonymity that they enjoy in the virtual world. Well, it might also be what’s causing your internet issues. Simply disconnecting from the VPN might solve the problem.
Reenter the Password
If you’re using the wireless internet, chances are that they’ve changed the password, and now your device is no longer recognized by the network. This is not something that happens just in restaurants and bars. If there are several people in your household with access to the internet, they might have changed the password without remembering to tell you. Also, they might have told you, but it may have just slipped your mind. It doesn’t hurt to ask if the password has been changed and reenter this new variant.
Contact Tech Support
Of course, if the situation doesn’t resolve itself (or if you fail to resolve it using some of the above-listed methods), it’s worth calling the tech support. Now, the main reason why we didn’t suggest this as the first course of action is due to the fact that the rest of the ideas are simpler/quicker. It takes about a minute for the router to reboot, a couple of seconds for your VPN to go offline, and about a dozen seconds for the troubleshoot to finish its diagnosis. This means that you could have your internet up and running by the time you get to the phone. Why complicate things unnecessarily?
Remember, a lot of people are working from home, and being able to restore the internet in a matter of minutes can make a world of difference.
In Conclusion
In a modern household, problems related to the internet connection are a top-priority issue. So, knowing what to do when the internet goes down (and it certainly will, at one point) can save you a lot of stress. Keep in mind that this entire process might take no more than a few minutes, after which you’re free to just contact the tech support and ask what you should do next. Either way, knowing how you can fix the issue independently is always a better choice.
