Troubleshooting tips and fixes for common issues

Before asking, Why is my modem not working?

you should confirm your modem, not yourrouter, is the underlying cause of your Wi-Fi problems.

Check the lights on your modem.

Close-Up Of Modem Against White Background

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Check the power supply and coax cables.

Examine all of the cables on your modem to verify there are no loose or frayed connections.

Reboot your router and modem.

Refreshing the rig can clear out temporary technical hiccups that inevitably happen from time to time.

If you’re going to reboot the modem, you should reboot the router as well.

Rebooting is different than resetting.

Rebooting just shuts down the modem and turns it back on.

Check your Ethernet cables.

An Ethernet cable connects your modem and router.

Disconnect all connected devices.

If you have many devices connected to your online grid (smart home devices, multiple computers, etc.

), your modem could be overwhelmed.

Disconnect all devices, reboot the modem, then reconnect your devices.

Plug your system into your modem.

If your PC has anEthernet port, you’re free to directly connect it to the modem.

Keep your modem cool.

If yourmodem keeps resetting, it could be overheating.

Don’t keep it near a heater or in a humid environment.

tune up your modem and router’s firmware.

Change the Wi-Fi channel.

If you have a router/modem combo unit, it could be assigning too many devices to one Wi-Fi channel.

Reset your router/modem to default configs.

Contact your internet service provider (ISP).

If they can’t address the issue, they can point you in the right direction.

Buy a new modem.

Or, you could have more devices connected than your modem can handle.

Check with your ISP for the recommended modem specs for your internet plan.

If you might, then the problem lies with your gear.

In such cases, your focus should be onfixing your Wi-Fi internet.

FAQ

A modem is used to directly enter the internet.

A router is used to connect multiple devices to a Wi-Fi connection.

Unlike a modem, a router can’t directly connect to the internet.

Thelights on your modem can have different meaningsdepending on the model being used or your internet service provider.

Find your default gateway IP addressand navigate to it in a web online window.