Start with the simplest checks first

Before you troubleshoot software or settings, confirm that your internet is actually working. Walk to your modem — the box your internet provider installed — and look at the lights on the front. You should see at least one light that is solid green or blue, not red or off. If all the lights are dark, unplug the modem for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait two minutes for it to restart.

Next, check whether other devices in your home can reach the internet. Try a phone, tablet, or another computer. If they connect fine, the problem is with your computer alone. If nothing connects, the issue is with your modem or your internet service — call your provider's support line, because this is beyond what you can fix yourself.

If your computer is the only device that won't connect, move to the next section. If multiple devices are down, stop here and contact your internet provider.

Key Takeaways

  • Check that your modem has a solid green or blue light and that other devices can reach the internet before assuming your computer is the problem.
  • On Windows, open Settings > Network & Internet > Status and look for a red X or "No internet" message; on Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the top menu bar and check whether your network appears.
  • Forgetting and rejoining your Wi-Fi network — or reconnecting your ethernet cable — fixes most connection problems in under a minute.
  • If your computer sees the network but cannot reach websites, restart your computer first, then restart your modem by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
  • If the problem persists after these steps, a technician will need to check your network settings or hardware, which is beyond home troubleshooting.

Check whether your computer sees the network at all

On Windows, click the network icon in the bottom right corner of your screen — it looks like a Wi-Fi symbol or a computer plug. A list of available networks should appear. If you see your network name (the one you normally connect to), your computer can see the signal. If you do not see it, your Wi-Fi adapter may be off or broken — skip to the "Hardware problems" section below.

On Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon in the top menu bar (top right of the screen). A dropdown list of networks should appear. If your network is listed, your computer can see it. If the list is empty or grayed out, your Wi-Fi is turned off or your adapter is not working.

If your computer sees the network but is not connected to it, the next section will walk you through reconnecting. If your computer cannot see the network at all, jump to the "Hardware problems" section.

Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network

The fastest fix for most connection problems is to forget the network and rejoin it. On Windows, right-click your network name in the network list and select "Forget". Wait a few seconds, then click your network name again and select "Connect". Enter your Wi-Fi password (the one on the back of your modem or router) and wait 10 to 15 seconds for the connection to establish.

On Mac, click the Wi-Fi icon, then hold down the Option key and click "Manage Networks". Find your network in the list, click the minus sign to remove it, then close the window. Click the Wi-Fi icon again, select your network, and enter your password.

If you use an ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi, unplug the cable from your computer, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. If the cable is loose or damaged, this will not work — check that the cable is fully inserted into the port on the back of your computer and that the cable itself has no visible cracks or bent pins.

Restart your computer and modem

If you can see and connect to the network but still cannot reach websites or services, restart your computer. Click the Start menu (Windows) or the Apple menu (Mac), select Shut Down or Restart, and wait for the computer to fully power off and back on. This usually takes two to three minutes.

If restarting your computer does not work, restart your modem. Unplug the power cable from the back of the modem, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. The lights on the front will flash and then settle — wait two full minutes before trying to connect again. This clears temporary errors that can block your connection.

After both restarts, try opening a website in your browser. If it loads, your connection is restored. If it does not, move to the next section.

Check your network settings on Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then click the Settings app. Go to Network & Internet > Status. Look at the top of the window — it should say "You're connected to the internet" with a green checkmark. If it says "No internet" or shows a red X, Windows has detected a connection problem.

Scroll down and click "Troubleshoot problems". Windows will run a diagnostic and may offer to fix the issue automatically. Follow any prompts it shows. If Windows finds and fixes a problem, restart your computer and test your connection again.

If the troubleshooter does not find anything, or if the status still shows "No internet" after restarting, your network settings may be corrupted. This is a point where a technician should take over — the fix involves command-line tools that are risky to use without training.

Check your network settings on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left, then System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs). Go to Network. You should see your Wi-Fi network listed on the left with a green dot next to it. Click it and look for a button that says "Renew DHCP Lease" — click it and wait 10 seconds. This refreshes your connection settings.

If your network is listed but has a yellow or red dot, click it and then click "Advanced". Check that "Configure IPv4" is set to "Automatic" and that no proxy server is listed. If a proxy is listed and you did not set it, uncheck the proxy box and click OK.

If these steps do not restore your connection, your Mac's network settings may need to be reset by a technician. Do not delete or modify any other settings yourself.

Hardware problems and when to call for help

If your computer cannot see any Wi-Fi networks at all, or if ethernet is plugged in but your computer shows no connection, your network adapter may be broken. On Windows, open Device Manager by pressing the Windows key and typing "Device Manager". Look for "Network adapters" and click the arrow next to it. If you see a device with a yellow exclamation mark or a red X, right-click it and select "Uninstall device". Restart your computer — Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

If the device does not have a warning symbol, or if restarting does not fix it, the adapter hardware itself may be damaged. This requires a technician to diagnose and repair. On a Mac, hardware problems with the Wi-Fi adapter cannot be fixed at home and require a visit to an Apple Store or authorized repair shop.

If you have followed every step in this guide and your computer still cannot connect, or if you are not comfortable restarting your modem or changing network settings, contact your internet provider's support line. Have your modem model number (printed on the modem itself) and your account number ready. They can check whether your account is active, whether your modem is registered correctly, and whether there are outages in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my computer connect to Wi-Fi but websites won't load?

Your computer is connected to the network but cannot reach the internet beyond it. Restart your modem by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then restart your computer. If that does not work, your internet provider may be experiencing an outage — check their website or call their support line to confirm service is active in your area.

My computer was working yesterday and now it won't connect. What changed?

Your Wi-Fi password may have been reset, your modem may have lost power, or your internet service may have been interrupted. Check that your modem has power and a solid green light. If it does, forget your Wi-Fi network and rejoin it — you may need to re-enter your password. If the modem light is off or red, unplug it for 30 seconds and plug it back in.

How do I know if the problem is my computer or my internet provider?

Try connecting another device — a phone, tablet, or another computer — to the same Wi-Fi or ethernet. If that device connects and reaches the internet, the problem is with your computer. If no devices can connect, the problem is with your modem or internet service, and you should call your provider.

What is my Wi-Fi password and where do I find it?

Your Wi-Fi password is printed on a sticker on the back or bottom of your modem or router. It is usually labeled "Wi-Fi Password", "Network Key", or "PSK". If you cannot find the sticker, you can reset your modem to factory settings by holding down a small reset button on the back for 10 seconds — this will restore the default password printed on the modem, but you will lose any custom settings you made.

Do I need to unplug my modem every time I have a connection problem?

No. Unplugging your modem clears temporary errors and should only be your second step, after you have checked that the lights are on and restarted your computer. Most connection problems are fixed by reconnecting to Wi-Fi or restarting your computer alone.