# Internet Down? Follow These Easy Steps to Get Back Online
The best internet connection is one we never notice. However, internet interruptions are far too common. In fact, last year, over 42% of US adults said they experienced unreliable internet speeds or connectivity, per a CNET broadband survey. That tracks with data from Pew Research Center, which highlights that over 30% of Americans complain about internet connectivity issues, with 9% complaining that it happens frequently.
While widespread internet outages could be to blame for the occasional disruption, more likely than not, the issue is a localized, simple fix that may be as simple as restarting your router. Home internet outages are easy to troubleshoot and fix on your own -- no need to make a tiresome call to tech support.
### Top Five Most Common Reasons Why Your Internet Might Go Out
#### 1. Bad Weather or a Power Outage Internet connection types are more prone to outages during bad weather, but hard rain, a violent thunderstorm, or even heavy cloud coverage can interfere with your signal. Satellite internet is the most vulnerable to internet outages caused by weather.
#### 2. Slow Speeds or Unreliable Equipment Constant buffering, excessive lagging, Wi-Fi dead zones, and other connectivity issues could result from insufficient speeds or Wi-Fi coverage to handle all your devices.
#### 3. ISP Service Outages and Network Congestion Despite the negative impression many people have about their internet providers, widespread ISP outages are uncommon, and outages at a single residence are virtually unheard of.
#### 4. Bad Weather or a Power Outage Some internet connection types are more prone to internet outages during bad weather, but hard rain, a violent thunderstorm, or even heavy cloud coverage can interfere with your signal.
#### 5. ISP Outages and Network Congestion Network congestion means the speeds coming to your home are slower, so there isn't much you can do about that other than wait for the congestion to clear.
### How to Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection
Before you start troubleshooting, first check to see if you're actually experiencing an outage. Verify that the connection issue isn't specific to a single website, server or device. For households that stream, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that you lost your internet connection when it could be simply that you lost your Netflix connection.
Check other streaming services to see if they are still working. If so, the problem likely lies with Netflix and not your internet connection. When you're having an issue connecting to other streaming services, it could be that the smart TV or streaming device is to blame. Try streaming on another device, if possible, to verify that an internet outage is the culprit.
Check the connection on your other devices to see if they're experiencing the same outages. If you're having connection issues across multiple devices, you can safely assume your internet connection is to blame.
### How to Fix Your Internet Outage
#### 1. Restart Your Equipment The solution is simple: Restart your equipment by unplugging it, waiting 60 seconds or so, plugging it back in and allowing it to reboot. This will most often resolve your Wi-Fi outage.
**Tips for Restarting Your Router:**
* Unplug the router from its power source instead of pressing or holding any buttons on the device. * Do not worry if you have a battery backup; the reset process should still work as long as there are batteries in place. * To learn more, read our guide on how to reset your router.
#### 2. Check Your Internet Speeds Maybe your internet isn't necessarily "out." Perhaps it just can't keep up with what you're trying to do or where you're doing it.
Constant buffering, excessive lagging, Wi-Fi dead zones and other connectivity issues could result from insufficient speeds or Wi-Fi coverage to handle all your devices.
**How to Check Your Internet Speeds:**
* Determine the internet speeds you actually need and whether your current plan can deliver those speeds. * Conduct a few speed tests around your home to gauge what speeds you are getting and where the Wi-Fi signal might not be as strong.
### How to Prevent Future Internet Outages
#### 1. Network Congestion Network congestion means the speeds coming to your home are slower, so there isn't much you can do about that other than wait for the congestion to clear.
**How to Reduce Network Congestion:**
* Place your router in an optimal location. * Adjust your Wi-Fi settings. * Use an Ethernet connection for the most bandwidth-hogging devices, like smart TVs and gaming consoles.
#### 2. Internet Backup Options Consider getting an internet backup option like T-Mobile's Home Internet Backup.
For $20 monthly ($10 if you're bundling with an eligible phone plan), you'll get 130GB of data a month. Granted, that's not a lot, but the Internet Backup is only intended to be used for about a week of "typical" or moderate use.
#### 3. Antivirus Software Installing antivirus software will also help keep your devices protected.
**Top Picks:**
* McAfee Plus Premium for overall protection. * Bitdefender Ultimate Security for Windows users.