Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIf your Wi-Fi box is not working, first check that it has power and its cables are secure. Then test the connection on another device. If every device is affected, restart the modem or combined gateway according to its instructions; if service still does not return, contact your internet provider. A device can connect to Wi-Fi even when the internet connection itself is down.
What do you mean by “Wi-Fi box”?
Homes may have two pieces of equipment or one combined unit. A modem connects to the provider’s incoming service; a router creates the home Wi-Fi network. A gateway combines those jobs in one box. Identifying which setup you have helps you check the right cables and follow the right restart instructions.
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Check power, cables, and indicator lights
- Check power. Make sure the modem, router, or gateway is plugged in and switched on. Note whether its lights are off, blinking, or steady.
- Check the incoming service line. Make sure the cable from your provider is attached securely to the modem or gateway.
- Check the modem-to-router connection. If you have separate devices, confirm that the Ethernet cable is firmly connected at both ends and plugged into the router’s WAN or internet port. Look for visible damage.
- Replace only a cable that appears faulty. If the Ethernet cable is damaged or will not stay connected, try a suitable replacement. Google recommends Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet for internet speeds above 100 Mbps; that recommendation does not guarantee that a new cable will fix an outage or other fault.
Light meanings vary by equipment. Use the manual or your provider’s instructions to interpret the indicators rather than assuming a particular light pattern means the same thing on every box.
Find out whether one device or the whole network is affected
Try another phone, tablet, or computer on your home Wi-Fi. On a phone, turn off cellular data for this test so mobile internet does not disguise a Wi-Fi problem.
#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.
- CONNECT MORE DEVICES: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset
- 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.
- Only one device fails: The home connection may be working. Check that device’s Wi-Fi is on, that it is joining the correct network, and that the saved password is current. The issue may be with the device or its connection to the router.
- Several devices connect to Wi-Fi but cannot load websites: The wireless network may be available while the modem, incoming service, or provider connection is down.
- No devices can join the Wi-Fi network: Check the router or gateway’s power and Wi-Fi status, then consult its instructions.
Restart the modem or gateway safely
Use the procedure for your specific equipment or follow your provider’s directions. Do not assume that a combined gateway should be restarted like two separate devices.
For a modem, Google’s published procedure is to disconnect its power and Ethernet cables, wait 2–3 minutes until all modem lights are off, reconnect the cables, and wait for the Internet light to turn solid before testing again. Other equipment may use a different sequence or indicator.
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
Separate weak Wi-Fi from an internet outage
If the connection works near the router but is weak or slow farther away, distance or physical obstacles may be limiting the Wi-Fi signal. Try the same device in a more open spot near the router. If performance improves there, the problem may be coverage in that area rather than a provider outage.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If the connection remains slow even near the router, or all devices remain offline, the cause may be beyond Wi-Fi coverage. Service speed, the modem, the incoming line, or the provider’s network can all affect access. The available evidence does not identify the status of any particular provider’s service at your location.
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.
When to contact your internet provider
Contact your provider if multiple devices still cannot access the internet after you have checked the connections and restarted the equipment. Ask whether there is an area outage or service disruption and whether the line or modem shows a problem. If speeds are consistently below what you expect, ask the provider about troubleshooting and outages.
To make the conversation more useful, report whether one or all devices fail, whether they connect to Wi-Fi, what the modem or gateway lights are doing, and what you tried. This helps distinguish a device problem from a home-network or service issue.
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.
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