Restore your internet connection in 5 easy steps
Losing your internet connection during usage can be a terribly frustrating inconvenience, disturbing your workflow and distracting your focus in the process. While there are many possible reasons for connection being lost, more often than not it’s because of the router needing rebooting.
The router is a vital component for using the internet, containing a CPU, RAM, and ROM, and runs pre-installed software that manages and maintains connectivity to the worldwide web. But like any mechanical device, it can get glitches, software lapses, or even overheat. In such scenarios, simply turning it off and then on again allows the unit to restart afresh and clear any lingering issues that led to connection loss.
For this article, we’ll show in 5 simple steps how to reboot your router and successfully restore your internet connection.
Plug it in, fire ‘em up, and let’s go…
1. Unplug the power
First thing to do is unplug your router from its electricity source. Either by removing the plug from the mains or the output lead from the router unit itself.
The electricity supply needs to be cut completely from the router so a thorough and systemic reboot can take place, so simply hitting the reset button will not suffice.
2. Wait
Wait for around 30 seconds or so, this will allow the router time to either cool down and/or for any charge to dissipate from the router’s capacitors.
Ideally, you only need to wait for around 10 seconds or so for the charge to dissipate but it might be too soon in some instances so better to wait a little longer and ensure you don’t need to give it a second try.
3. Plug it back again
Once you’ve waited a sufficient time, plug the router back to the power source.
The unit will automatically start its reboot cycle so don’t do or press anything, it will take care of this by itself. Hopefully, you’ll resolve any tech issues with one reboot, but if not, repeat these first three steps again.
4. Test your connection
Once the reboot cycle has concluded, re-establish your internet connection to see if the reboot was successful. If not, repeat the process until you get a connection again.
If the disconnectivity continues, it’s time to troubleshoot the situation.
5. Troubleshooting the problem
Reboots are successful around 96% of the time, but if you still have been unable to restore the connection, there may be other issues at play.
In such a scenario, test your internet connection on other devices to see if it is the router or the connection itself that is the issue. Inspect all the output leads on the router to see if they are connected properly or if there is any visible damage to them. Remove any physical objects that are possibly blocking the wifi signal and give your router a wipe to remove any lingering dust or dirt, especially around its vents.
If none of these prove successful, it’s time to reset the unit, restoring it to factory settings and possibly clearing it of any software glitches that are causing the issue to persist.
If none of these tips resolve the issue, it’s time to consult an engineer, but hopefully, you won’t need to.
Here’s hoping this article has been helpful in restoring your internet connection so you can once again surf the web. Aloha!
