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If your Wi-Fi box is not working, first check its power and cables, then test another device on your home Wi-Fi. If every device is affected, the problem may be the modem, the incoming service line, or your internet provider—not the wireless signal itself. If only one device fails, focus on that device or its Wi-Fi connection.
What does “Wi-Fi box” mean?
It may be a router, a modem, or a single gateway that combines both. A router creates the home Wi-Fi network; a modem or gateway connects your home to the internet provider. If you have two boxes, check both. If you have one, it may handle both jobs. Google’s setup guidance describes the equipment and connections for its own products; other equipment can differ.
Check power and cables first
- Make sure the modem, router, or combined gateway is plugged in and powered on.
- Check that the incoming service cable is firmly connected to the modem or gateway.
- If you have separate modem and router units, check the Ethernet cable between them at both ends. It should connect to the router’s WAN or Internet port when the device has one.
- Look for a loose fit or visible damage. If a cable is damaged or will not stay connected, replace it with a suitable cable rather than assuming a restart will fix the physical connection. Google recommends Cat 5e or Cat 6 for speeds faster than 100 Mbps in its cabling guidance; that recommendation does not guarantee a damaged cable is the cause of your outage.
Find out whether one device or the whole network is affected
Try another phone, tablet, or computer on the home Wi-Fi. On a phone, turn off cellular data for the test so it cannot silently use the mobile network instead. If the second device can browse, the home internet connection is working for at least one device; investigate the device that fails, its saved Wi-Fi credentials, or its connection to the router. If no device can get online, continue with the network checks and contact your provider if the problem remains. Google’s connection troubleshooting guidance also uses the scope of affected devices to narrow the problem.
Separate a Wi-Fi signal problem from an internet outage
A device can be connected to Wi-Fi without having access to the internet. If your device shows the home network as connected but pages do not load, the wireless link may be working while the modem, service line, or provider connection is down.
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- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
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If the problem is worse in one room, test again close to the router. Better performance nearby can point to distance or physical barriers affecting the Wi-Fi signal, rather than a provider-wide outage. Google’s performance guidance covers factors that can affect a home wireless connection. If speeds are unexpectedly low even near the router, the provider’s service may also need checking; the FCC broadband guide recommends asking the ISP about troubleshooting or outages when speeds fall below expectations.
Restart the equipment using its instructions
Use the manual or your provider’s instructions for your particular model: restart procedures and indicator lights are not universal. For a modem, Google’s published procedure is to unplug its power and Ethernet connections, wait 2–3 minutes until all lights are off, reconnect them, and wait for the Internet light to become solid. That procedure is specific guidance, not a guarantee that every modem uses the same lights or timing. See Google’s modem restart instructions. If you have a combined gateway, treat it as one unit unless its instructions say otherwise.
Rank #2
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- Covers up to 1,000 sq. ft. with four external antennas for stable wireless connections and optimal coverage.
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Contact your internet provider if no device gets online
If multiple devices still cannot access the internet after you have checked the connections and restarted the equipment, ask your ISP whether there is an area outage or service disruption and whether it can check the line and modem status. Tell support which devices you tested and whether the modem or gateway lights are off, blinking, or steady. Current outage status varies by location and provider, so only the ISP can confirm whether there is a local service problem. The FCC broadband guide also advises contacting the provider about slow service, troubleshooting, and outages.
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Rank #4
- 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝟕: Powered by Wi-Fi 7 technology, enjoy faster speeds with Multi-Link Operation, increased reliability with Multi-RUs, and more data capacity with 4K-QAM, delivering enhanced performance for all your devices.
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Rank #3
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- SET UP AND MANAGE YOUR NETWORK WITH THE NIGHTHAWK APP: Download the free Nighthawk app on iOS or Android for guided setup. Manage WiFi, run speed tests, pause devices, and set up guest networks from anywhere. Active internet required.
- READY FOR THE DEVICES YOU ALREADY OWN: Your phones, laptops, and TVs work right out of the box. WiFi 6 delivers speeds up to 1.8 Gbps across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Backward compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier.
- COVERAGE IN EVERY ROOM: Covers up to 1,500 sq. ft. for up to 20 connected devices. Walls, floors, and interference can reduce range. Larger or multi-story homes may benefit from a NETGEAR Orbi mesh WiFi system.
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