Check your internet provider’s official outage tool first, using the service address or account details it requests. If it shows no interruption, corroborate with a nearby customer on the same provider and compare the connection across devices or over Ethernet. These checks help separate a wider service problem from an issue with your home Wi-Fi or equipment.
Check your provider’s outage status first
Your internet provider is the most direct source for status tied to your service address or account. Open its official app or outage page, sign in or enter the requested details, and look for an active service alert and any restoration estimate. Status can change quickly, so use the provider’s current tool rather than an old search result or cached page.
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Providers differ in how their tools work and what information they require. AT&T, for example, offers an outage-checking support page and a gateway restart path for its internet customers: Check for Outages in Your Area — AT&T Internet Customer Support. Follow your own provider’s instructions; an estimate is not a guarantee, and restarting equipment will not resolve a network-side outage unless the provider advises it.
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Corroborate the result with another signal
If the provider reports no outage, ask a nearby person who uses the same provider whether their connection is also down. A second report from the same area can make a broader interruption more likely, though it still may not establish the cause or confirm that your specific address is affected.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
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- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
You can also consult an independent outage map. ThousandEyes says its public map uses network and application telemetry with algorithmic detection, and visualizes some detected events near real time: ThousandEyes Internet Outages Map. Treat a map event as corroboration, not proof of a service loss at your address. Telemetry can indicate a problem affecting a network or service without identifying the exact cause or every affected customer.
If no outage is reported, narrow down the local problem
Use a few comparisons to see whether the failure is limited to one device or to Wi-Fi, or whether it appears to affect the connection entering your home. These tests help narrow the possibilities but cannot guarantee a diagnosis.
Rank #2
- Dual-band Wi-Fi with 5 GHz speeds up to 867 Mbps and 2.4 GHz speeds up to 300 Mbps, delivering 1200 Mbps of total bandwidth¹. Dual-band routers do not support 6 GHz. Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- Covers up to 1,000 sq. ft. with four external antennas for stable wireless connections and optimal coverage.
- Supports IGMP Proxy/Snooping, Bridge and Tag VLAN to optimize IPTV streaming
- Access Point Mode - Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into wireless network, an ideal wireless router for home
- Advanced Security with WPA3 - The latest Wi-Fi security protocol, WPA3, brings new capabilities to improve cybersecurity in personal networks
- Try another device. If one phone or computer cannot connect but other devices work, the issue may be limited to that device or its settings.
- Compare Wi-Fi with Ethernet. If available, connect a computer directly to the router with an Ethernet cable. A working wired connection while Wi-Fi fails points toward a wireless-network issue; failure on both still does not prove a provider outage.
- Check the modem or gateway. Look at its status lights and confirm that cables are seated. Use the troubleshooting steps provided by your ISP.
- Restart only as directed. A provider may recommend restarting its gateway as part of troubleshooting. Follow its sequence and timing rather than assuming a reboot will fix an interruption beyond your home.
Do not use the FCC broadband map as a live outage checker
The FCC’s National Broadband Map answers a different question: which providers report offering service at a location, and what technologies and advertised speeds they report. The FCC says, “The National Broadband Map shows internet availability, not network performance, affordability, or adoption.” It does not tell you whether service is working right now. See How to Submit an Availability Challenge.
Fixed broadband availability information is not a live operational feed. The FCC says providers submit data as of June 30, due September 1, and as of December 31, due March 1, each year. That reporting schedule is useful context for availability data, but it cannot confirm a current interruption. Details are in the FCC’s What’s on the National Broadband Map.
Rank #3
- NIGHTHAWK WIFI 6 ROUTER FOR YOUR WHOLE HOME: Delivers fast, reliable WiFi across every room of your apartment or small home for streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart home devices, all running at the same time without slowing each other down.
- WORKS WITH YOUR EXISTING INTERNET SERVICE: Pairs with your existing modem or gateway via ethernet. Compatible with most cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite providers. Some gateways and modem router combos may require bridge mode. No coax needed.
- 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.
Likewise, a mobile coverage map is not a substitute for checking a fixed-internet outage. The FCC’s modeled mobile coverage concerns outdoor or in-vehicle conditions, excludes indoor availability, and may differ from what a person experiences because of device, capacity, and terrain. The same FCC map page describes these limits.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Dual band router upgrades to 1200 Mbps high speed internet (300mbps for 2.4GHz plus 900Mbps for 5GHz), reducing buffering and ideal for 4K stream
- Full Gigabit Ports - Gigabit Router with 4 Gigabit LAN ports, ideal for any internet plan and allow you to directly connect your wired devices
- Boosted Coverage - Four external antennas equipped with Beamforming technology extend and concentrate the Wi-Fi signals
- MU-MIMO technology - (5GHz band) allows high speeds for multiple devices simultaneously
- Access Point Mode - Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into wireless network, an ideal wireless router for home
Rank #4
- 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝟕 - Designed with the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, featuring Multi-Link Operation (MLO), Multi-RUs, and 4K-QAM. Achieve optimized performance on latest WiFi 7 laptops and devices, like the iPhone 16 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
- 𝟔-𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦, 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥-𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟔.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐭𝐡 - Achieve full speeds of up to 5764 Mbps on the 5GHz band and 688 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band with 6 streams. Enjoy seamless 4K/8K streaming, AR/VR gaming, and incredibly fast downloads/uploads.
- 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - Get up to 2,400 sq. ft. max coverage for up to 90 devices at a time. 6x high performance antennas and Beamforming technology, ensures reliable connections for remote workers, gamers, students, and more.
- 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN port and 3x 1 Gbps LAN ports offer high-speed data transmissions.³ Integrate with a multi-gig modem for gigplus internet.
- 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
Choose the right check for the question
| Check | What it can tell you | What it cannot establish |
|---|---|---|
| Provider outage tool | Current service status associated with the address or account details you provide; the provider may also show alerts or a restoration estimate. | A restoration time is not guaranteed. Tool features and account requirements vary by provider. |
| Nearby customer on the same provider | Whether another customer nearby is reporting a similar problem. | The precise outage boundary, root cause, or status at your address. |
| Independent outage map | Telemetry-based indications of network or service events; ThousandEyes describes some events as visualized near real time. | Confirmed loss of service at your address or a definitive cause. |
| FCC National Broadband Map | Provider-reported fixed-service availability, technologies, and advertised speeds at a location. | Whether an internet connection is working now or its current performance. |
| Device and wired-connection comparisons | Clues about whether the issue is limited to a device or Wi-Fi rather than affecting every tested connection. | A definitive diagnosis of the provider network or home wiring. |
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