Key Takeaways
- A working internet connection means your router shows a lit "Internet" or "Online" light and you can load any website in your browser within 30 seconds.
- If your router light is off or red, restart it by unplugging the power cable for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in and waiting three minutes.
- If the router light is on but websites will not load, the problem is usually your device — restart your computer or phone and try again.
- If only one website or service is down, your internet is working; the problem is with that specific site or service.
- If you cannot reach any website and your router light is off after restarting, contact your internet provider to report an outage.
Check Your Router's Connection Light
Your router is the box that brings internet into your home. It has several lights on the front or back. Find the light labeled "Internet," "WAN," "Online," or sometimes just a globe symbol. A lit light (usually green or blue) means your router is connected to your internet provider. A dark, red, or blinking light means the connection is broken.
Write down what color the light is right now. This information matters when you call your provider if the problem does not fix itself. Different routers use different labels, so if you cannot find an "Internet" light, look for any light that is not labeled "WiFi" or "Power." The power light is usually always on, so that is not the one you need.
Test Your Connection With a Simple Website
Open any web browser on your computer or phone — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge all work. Type google.com into the address bar at the top and press Enter. Wait 30 seconds. If the Google homepage loads, your internet is working. If the page stays blank or shows an error message, your internet is not working.
Do not test with your email, a game, or a streaming service. Those can be down even when the internet is up. Google is almost never down, so if Google loads, you know the internet itself is working. If Google does not load, try one more site — type wikipedia.org and wait another 30 seconds. If both sites fail to load, move to the next step.
Restart Your Router
Unplug the power cable from the back of your router. Wait 30 full seconds — count them out. Plug the power cable back in. The router will take two to three minutes to restart. During this time, lights will blink and change. Do not unplug it again. Wait until the "Internet" or "Online" light stops blinking and stays solid.
Once the light is solid, try loading google.com again in your browser. If it loads now, your internet is working and the problem has been fixed. If it still does not load after the router has fully restarted, move to the next step. Do not restart the router more than once — restarting it multiple times in a row can make the problem worse.
Restart Your Device
If your router light is on and solid, but websites still will not load, the problem is your computer, phone, or tablet — not your internet. Restart your device by turning it completely off, waiting 10 seconds, and turning it back on. On a computer, use the shutdown menu. On a phone or tablet, hold the power button until the shutdown screen appears, then slide to power off.
After your device restarts, open your browser again and try google.com. If it loads now, your internet was working the whole time. If it still does not load, try connecting to a different device on the same WiFi — a phone, tablet, or another computer. If that device can load websites, the problem is with your original device, not your internet. If no device can load websites and your router light is on, contact your internet provider.
Check If Only One Service Is Down
Sometimes one website or service stops working while everything else is fine. If you can load google.com and wikipedia.org but cannot reach your email, a specific social media site, or a streaming service, your internet is working. The problem is with that one service, not with your connection.
You can check whether a service is down for everyone or just for you by opening a new browser tab and searching "[service name] down" — for example, "Gmail down" or "Netflix down." If news articles or status pages show that service is having problems, wait an hour and try again. If no one else is reporting problems, restart your device and try once more. If it still does not work, the problem may be with your account or your device, not your internet.
Contact Your Internet Provider
If your router light is off or red after restarting, and you have waited three minutes for it to fully restart, your internet service is down. Find your provider's phone number on your bill or on the back of your router. Call and tell them your router light is off and you have already restarted it. Have your account number ready — it is usually on your bill.
The provider will ask you to describe the light color and may ask you to restart the router again while on the phone. This is normal. They may also ask you to unplug other devices or check cables. Follow their instructions. If they tell you there is an outage in your area, ask how long it is expected to last. If they cannot find a problem on their end, they may send a technician to your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my WiFi is connected but the internet is not working?
Your device can connect to the WiFi signal but still have no internet if the router itself is not connected to your provider. Check the "Internet" light on the router. If it is off or red, restart the router. If it is on but nothing loads, restart your device. If both are restarted and nothing loads, contact your provider.
Does restarting my router delete anything?
No. Restarting your router does not delete files, passwords, or settings. It simply turns the device off and back on. Your WiFi password and network name stay the same. Any devices that were connected will reconnect automatically after the restart.
Why does my internet work sometimes but not other times?
This usually means your router is losing connection to your provider. Restart the router and watch the "Internet" light. If it keeps going off and on, call your provider — this pattern suggests a problem with the line coming into your home, not your router.
Can I tell if my internet is down without restarting anything?
Yes. Check the "Internet" light on your router. If it is on and solid, your internet is working. If it is off or red, your internet is down. You can also try loading google.com — if it loads, the internet is working. If it does not load and the router light is on, restart your device.
What if I do not have a router?
If you use a modem only (a single box from your provider), look for the "Online" or "Internet" light on that device. If it is on, your internet is working. If it is off, restart the modem by unplugging it for 30 seconds. If the light stays off after restart, contact your provider.