How to troubleshoot your home network, step by step

1. Is it just one device?

If other devices work fine, the problem is that device. Restart it, forget and rejoin the Wi-Fi, and install updates.

2. Is it the Wi-Fi or the internet?

Plug in with a cable, or stand right next to the router. If it works there, it's a Wi-Fi coverage problem.

3. Check the router

• Are the lights normal? Is it hot?
• Can you open its settings page (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1)? If not, restart it.

4. Check the modem

• Is the internet/online light solid? Blinking or red means no signal from your provider.
• Restart the modem, then the router.

5. Check your provider

• Look for an outage on your provider's website or app, using mobile data.
• Still down after restarting everything? Call them, and tell them what you've already tried. It skips the basic script.

Write it down

Note what you tried and what the lights did. It turns a 45-minute support call into a 5-minute one.