Get Back Online: 13 Tips to Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection (2023)

With the spread ofsmart home devices,cloud gaming, mivideo streaming services, maintaining a good Internet connection is more important than ever. If you experience slowdowns when playing League of Legends or music takes forever to download, the problem is most likely with you and not with your ISP. Before you schedule a service call with your cable company, read our troubleshooting tips for your Internet connection.

1. Try another device or website

Start with the obvious: is the issue occurring on just one device or across all of your devices? If your computer is having problems, check if your tablet or someone else's laptop can connect to the Internet. If the problem only occurs on one device, you can safely isolate the problem to that specific computer.

if a specificthe website does not loadPlease try another site. If you can visit other sites without any problems, the problem is likely with the site you are trying to visit and you will have to wait for them to fix the problems. Try entering the website addressabajoparatodososoloyo.com(Opens in a new window)odowndetector.com(Opens in a new window)to determine if there is a known service interruption.

If there is no known outage, it could be a problem with your browser's cache. You can try to visit the site in aprivate browser windowor from another browser to see if that fixes the connection problem. And clean your browsercachemiBiscuits.

2. Check Wi-Fi settings

Check the Wi-Fi signal icon in the lower right corner in Windows and in the upper right corner in macOS. Click the icon and verify that you are connected to the correct SSID. Otherwise, you may accidentally connect to the wrong network by default.

Windows users can change thisconnection priorityor right click and select a networkForget🇧🇷 Open on a MacSystem Settings > Network > Advancedand uncheck all unwanted networks in the Automatic connection column.

If you're connected to the correct network and you're still having problems, Windows can help you diagnose the problem. Right click on the network icon on the taskbar and selectsolve problemsto run the Windows network diagnostic routine. This can sometimes fix common problems when resetting the adapter.

You can also check your network adapter settings atNetworks and shared resourcesin Control Panel to make sure the adapter is using the correct gateway address and other settings.

3. Check your internet package

If your internet is working but slower than expected, visit a site likeSpeedtest.net(Opens in a new window)and do a speed test. You get a number in megabits per second that represents how fast your computer is actually experiencing. From there, go to your ISP's website and verify your account.

If the number on your bill matches your speed test, you're getting the correct speeds you're paying for. If that seems too slow, you should upgrade to something faster. If your speed test is significantly slower than the speed you are paying for, you really are in trouble and should continue troubleshooting.

4. Check for viruses

AVG AntiVirus for Mac

Sometimes your Internet connection can be affected by malicious code on your computer.spyware,virus, miMalwareeach can have a significant impact on web browsing speed and overall system performance. If nothing else makes sense, run a virus scan to be sure.

Windows comes withwindow protectioninstalled thatcan do the job wellalthough there are manylibreand paid utilities are also available. And yes, even if you have a Mac, you should invest in something good.software antivirus- Despite what you may have heard, they are not immune to infection.

5. Ignore su servidor DNS

When you enter a website in your browser, your computer searches for itIP adressthis site with aDomain Name System-Server🇧🇷 Occasionally these servers can experience problems, making it difficult to visit websites with their friendly domain names (like PCMag.com).

It's like having a working phone without a contact list: technically you have the ability to call people, but you don't know anyone's number.

You can try to fix the problem.Limpia you hidden from DNS🇧🇷 Sometimes these things get stuck and restarting can help. otherwise you canChange DNS serverdirectly, either at an individual device or at the router level, affecting everything on the network.

6. Decode the flashers

If you can't connect to the Internet, take a look at your modem and router. Both should have some status LEDs: if neither of them are on, it is likely that the modem or router is disconnected or turned off. Unplug the power cord (if you have a modem and router, unplug both), and after a minute or two, plug the modem back in.

Make sure the power switch is in the on position, if present. Once the lights are on, plug in your router (if applicable) and wait for it to boot up as well. If you still don't see any lights after plugging it in, there could be a faulty power adapter, power strip, or burnt-out router.

And yesnoneSome of the lights are on but some are not, or are flashing repeatedly, you should take a look at what they say. For example, if the lights on your modem are blinking instead of solid, it may not be able to find an Internet connection, requiring a new modem (or a call to your ISP).

If the router's network LED is on but the Wi-Fi LEDs are not, you may need to press the Wi-Fi button on the side or turn Wi-Fi back onsetup menu🇧🇷 Consult your modem and/or router documentation to diagnose what these lights are saying.

7. Who uses the Internet the most?

Everything may be working fine, but a program on your PC, or someone else in the house, is taking up all your bandwidth. In Windows, open the Task Manager by pressingCtrl + Shift + Escand clickthe netColumn to sort by network usage. On a Mac, open tapcommand + spacebarTo open Spotlight, type "Activity Monitor" and go to Activity Monitorthe netAba.

If a particular app uses a lot of bandwidth, say you're downloading a large file, you may need to wait for the process to complete or cancel it to get the internet working again. If you can't find any obvious culprits, see if someone else in the house is downloading a large file to your computer and tell them to stop.

If someone is using a game streaming service, make sure theyfull range of porkIn the net. There is also the possibility of a neighbor stealing your WiFi. We have a practical guide.See who's on your networkand how to let them go.

8. Get a better signal

Google Nest-WLAN

When you use Wi-Fi, there are many issues that can slow down your connection. Try connecting your computer directly to the router with an Ethernet cable. If this fixes the problem, your Wi-Fi signal is bad enough to slow down your internet speed.

Check the Wi-Fi icon on your computer: how many bars do you have? If you're running low on beams, you may need to move the router to a more central location in your home or purchase one.WLAN extender🇧🇷 (If you already have a Wi-Fi extender, it may be a poor quality one, aMesh Systemwill probably do better).

If you have full bars, but there are many Wi-Fi networks in your building, it could be very congested and changing the channel or using the 5GHz band can help solve the problem. Cashour guide to boost your wifi signalfor more tricks to improve reception.

9. Update your firmware

Firmware is the low-level, built-in software that runs your modem, router, and other network hardware. Most providers offer downloadable firmware updates that can fix performance issues, add new features, and increase speed. If there is a known issue with your router, an update may fix things.

Find the Firmware Update Tool in the "System" section of your router's settings and follow the instructions carefully to ensure you are installing the correct firmware version. Do not download the firmware from any third party website.

10. Clearly erase your settings

If you previously changed your router settings and are now experiencing problems, try resetting your router to its factory settings. On most routers this involves pressing and holding a small reset button on the back for a few seconds until the LED lights start blinking.

After the reboot, you can log into the web interface and set it up from scratch, just as if you were plugging it in for the first time. Just be careful not to enable the very settings that caused the problem in the first place.

11. Upgrade to a faster router

If you're using an older 802.11b or 802.11g router, consider upgrading to a newer, more powerful router, especially if you have multiple computers, smartphones, and other devices competing for bandwidth.

A dual-band router gives you two radio bands to choose from and allows you to allocate one band for bandwidth-hungry clients like B. Video streaming devices and game consoles. A tri-band gives you three bands and can support even more activity on your network.

Also, newer routers use the latest technologies to provide fast performance with improved Wi-Fi range. The latest router standard is 802.11ax, also known asWiFi 6, and it is an improved versionWiFi 6E🇧🇷 Check our list ofThe best wireless routerswhen you're ready to dive in.

12. Go to the source

A coaxial cable splitter (Image credit: RadioShack)

If troubleshooting your modem and router doesn't help, then the problem may come from below. Check the connection by entering your home. This is usually on the side of your home and may or may not be housed in an enclosure. Make sure the main wire hasn't been chewed on by squirrels or blown loose by a storm.
If you see a cable splitter, make sure each connection is secure and the connectors are properly crimped. If the splitter looks suspicious (for example, rusted or dirty), try replacing it. Cheap splitters can also reduce signal strength. So if you don't need to share the signal, try to get rid of it altogether.

13. Last Resort: Call Your ISP

If you've tried everything and you're still having Internet connection issues, it's time to call your service provider. The problem may be at your end and may require a new connection to the pole that runs to your house or new equipment such as B. a better modem or amplifier.

If you're experiencing slowdowns at certain times of the day (think after hours), your ISP may simply not be able to handle the increased user load. In that case, you may want to find a new service provider. Fortunately, we tested them to find thatThe fastest ISPs in the country.

Disclosure: Downdetector and Speedtest.net are owned by Ookla, a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company.