Internet Connection Troubles? Power Cycling Might Help

By | January 18, 2018
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Internet Connection Troubles? Power Cycling Might Help

This tip is for Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11

If you’re having problems connecting to the Internet or problems with your connection slowing down or dropping, power cycling is the first thing you should try. It’s not a fix for everything, but it’s simple to do and it only takes a few minutes.

Power cycling is just a techie term for restarting your modem and wireless router. Restarting your modem and wireless router helps create a new connection to your Internet service provider (ISP). Keep in mind that when you power cycle, anyone else using your connection will be temporarily disconnected.

These are the general steps to restarting your modem and router… but these can vary by brand. Some modems and routers have power switches, but the steps below should work for almost everyone.

Unplug the power cable for the router from the power source.

Unplug the power cable for the modem from the power source.

Wait at least 60 seconds. Optional, but a good idea: Restart your computer while the modem and router are unplugged.

While your computer is restarting plug the modem back into the power source. Wait for the modem to complete its test cycle and all the lights look normal.

Next, plug your router back into the power source. Wait until the router powers on and its status lights are on and appear normal.

Now try your Internet connection.

4 thoughts on “Internet Connection Troubles? Power Cycling Might Help

  1. Shawn Patrick

    I was told by an AT&T tech rep to do this. He further advised to leave the device powered off for 2 1/2 minutes to assure a different server would be selected.

    Reply
  2. JeanAnn Marie

    I have had a lot of trouble with this in the past 4 weeks, I scoured the internet to find information (when I had internet that is). I did Power cycling almost daily, I ran troubleshooter many times, and reset and restarted my computer, sometimes 2 and 3 times daily. Occasionally it worked, other times it didn’t. As soon as I powered up my desktop computer, my Internet light on my router would go out. I had WiFi, but no internet for my computer. Finally I think I hit on a fix yesterday, I had the sneaking suspicion that my security on the router wasn’t compatible with the security on my computer ( which is running Windows Defender ), so I reset Defender to default settings and changed my Internet security to default settings, did a restart and so far I haven’t had any more problems.

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      What kind of router was it. A lot of companies are enticing customers to buy routers with security built in > Symantec (Norton) comes to mind. We have seen no proof that these “secure” routers do much to increase security but do seem to cause problems with Internet connections. So please let us know what kind of router you purchased.

      Reply

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