Wi-Fi Site Surveys, Analysis, Troubleshooting runs on a MacBook (macOS 11+) or any laptop (Windows 7/8/10/11) with a standard 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax wireless network adapter.
Why’s My WiFi Not Working: Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Tips
Wireless networks often need troubleshooting. From weak signal strength to high noise levels, from slow download speeds to dropped connections, the issues are numerous. So a good Wi-Fi troubleshooter app such as NetSpot is essential.
There's nothing more frustrating than opening a web browser, entering an URL, and waiting endlessly for the page to load, only to be greeted by the dreaded internet connection error message. When this happens, many people contact their internet service provider and just sit back until a technician comes over and diagnoses the problem, which may take several days.
However, there’s no reason to wait for such a long time to get your WiFi working again because you can fix most WiFi issues yourself and without any expert knowledge. In this article, we describe several common symptoms that you may experience with a WiFi network that’s not working correctly, and we provide a possible reason and solution for each.
Jump to...
The Universal Wi-Fi Fix
Before we go any further, we need to introduce you to the so-called universal WiFi fix:
Step 1
Disconnect your WiFi router from power.
Step 2
Wait around 30 seconds.
Step 3
Plug it back in and test if your WiFi is not working.
With this simple fix, it’s possible to solve far more WiFi issues than you might expect. By waiting around 30 seconds after disconnecting your router from power, you give it enough time to dispose of all residual power stored inside capacitors, which are essentially small batteries that can keep the router’s CPU and memory ticking for some time.
As effective as the universal WiFi fix is, it won’t help you solve all WiFi issues you may encounter. The good news is that most other fixes that you can try are similarly straightforward.
WiFi Is Not Working in Certain Rooms
Wi-Fi connectivity issues in certain rooms often stem from physical obstructions, distance from the router, and interference from other electronic devices. Thick walls, floors, and large furniture can block or weaken Wi-Fi signals, especially if the materials are dense like concrete or metal.
The further a room is from the router, the weaker the signal, leading to poor connectivity. The layout of the house and the positioning of the router also play significant roles.
How To Get Whole House WiFi Coverage
Ideally, you want the router to be placed far away from any solid obstacles, such as furniture, large appliances, and thick walls. If possible, position it right in the center of your living space so that it can cover each and every room with an evenly distributed WiFi signal.
Slow Wi-Fi
Slow Wi-Fi speeds due to channel overcrowding and overlap occur when multiple Wi-Fi networks in close proximity use the same or overlapping channels. Wi-Fi routers operate on specific channels within the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.
When too many networks occupy the same channel, they compete for the same bandwidth, leading to interference and reduced speeds. This is especially common in densely populated areas like apartment buildings, where multiple routers may be broadcasting on the same channel.
How To Fix Slow Wi-Fi
The 2.4 GHz WiFi band is divided into 11 channels (at least in North America), but only channels 1,6, and 11 don’t overlap with another. Because there are effectively only three channels to choose from, what often happens is that multiple neighboring WiFi networks broadcast on the same channel, which becomes overcrowded and unable to deliver fast download and upload speeds.
To determine which of the three non-overlapping WiFi channels is used the least, you can run NetSpot in Inspector mode. In this mode, NetSpot collects every detail about surrounding WiFi networks and presents wireless data as an interactive table.
Once you have located the least occupied channel, log in to your router’s admin interface, go to wireless settings, and tell your router to use it. Make sure to restart your router so that it starts broadcasting on the new channel. While you’re at it, you may also want to activate the 5 GHz or 6 GHz WiFi band if your router supports it.
Read more about how to fix slow WiFi and what can cause it.
WiFi Router Not Working at Random Times
A Wi-Fi router that stops working at random times may be experiencing issues due to several factors. Overheating is a common cause, especially if the router is in a poorly ventilated area or surrounded by other electronics, leading to intermittent shutdowns.
Firmware bugs or outdated software can also cause instability, resulting in random disconnects. Power supply problems, such as loose connections or fluctuating power, can cause the router to reset or turn off unexpectedly. Additionally, network congestion, particularly if many devices are connected and heavily using bandwidth, can overwhelm the router, leading to temporary failures.
How To Fix Router Issues
Before you call your internet service provider and ask, “Why is my WiFi not working?”. Place router in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and other electronics. Ensure it's not covered or enclosed in tight spaces. Clean the router’s vents regularly to prevent dust buildup, and consider using a cooling pad or fan to improve airflow around the device.
Check if your WiFi router is updated to the latest version. An unpatched router may be full of security vulnerabilities, and it’s possible that your issues with random connection drops are actually caused by hackers trying to exploit them.
If you’ve been using your WiFi router for some time, check when the last update was released. Many router manufacturers don’t support their product for nearly as long as they should, leaving their customers with unpatched devices and no way to secure them. Some routers are compatible with aftermarket firmware like DD-WRT or OpenWrt, but most low-end and mid-range routers that have stopped receiving updates need to be replaced with a newer model.
In addition to ensuring that your WiFi router is in the best shape possible, you need to eliminate the possibility that your internet connection is affected by malicious code on your computer. Included in Windows 10 is a capable antivirus called Windows Defender, and you should use it to scan your computer as well as all storage devices connected to it.
WiFi Router Is Working, but It’s Impossible to Access Certain Websites
This problem is commonly caused by a corrupted DNS cache on your computer or router, whose purpose is to store all recently visited websites so they can be loaded quickly.
How To Fix Corrupted DNS Cache
First, test if you can connect to the internet by entering the following command in the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac):
ping 8.8.8.8
If you see something like “Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=114,” it means your internet is working. To flush your DNS cache on Windows, enter the following command in the admin Command Prompt:
ipconfig / flushdns
To flush DNS cache on Mac, enter this command instead:
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Finally, you need to turn your attention to your router and apply the universal WiFi fix we’ve described at the start of this article to clear the router’s own DNS cache. You can then use the ping command again to verify that your DNS system is working as it should.
Wireless Network Troubleshooter Tips
NetSpot PRO and Enterprise users have access to special automated troubleshooting visualizations. These will help you to pinpoint the exact areas of your network where your signal is failing. Here is a brief overview of the visualizations and what you can learn:
Tip 1. Issues with SNR
The Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) heatmap, which is available in the macOS version of the software only, will show you where your signal strength is not strong enough to overcome the existing environmental noise from other electronic devices.
Areas of green are of concern and blue areas are critical. If your wireless network troubleshooting scan shows SNR issues, you will need to consider raising your signal strength or lowering the surrounding noise.
Tip 2. Low signal level
The Low Signal Level heatmap will show you where your signal strength is weak. Causes of weak signal strength include too much distance between the router and the device, or something physically blocking the signal between the router and device.
If your WLAN troubleshooting scan shows areas of red and yellow signal levels, you may need to explore ways to boost your signal level.
Tip 3. High noise level
The High Noise Level heatmap will show you where the levels of noise are high. Noise can be caused by electronic devices such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, and wireless video cameras.
If your wireless network troubleshooting scan shows areas of red and yellow, you may need to explore lowering the noise levels by identifying the interfering devices and removing or shielding them.
Tip 4. Overlapping channels (SIR)
The Overlapping Channels heatmap shows your signal-to-interference ratio and we've touched this topic earlier. This kind of interference is caused by other radio transmitters, such as your neighbor's wireless network.
If your Wi-Fi troubleshooter scan shows red and yellow areas, you may need to change your network's WiFi channel to one with less interference.
Follow our recommendations on how to troubleshoot WiFi interference with NetSpot.
Tip 5. Low download and upload rates
If you do an active scan of your network, the Low Download Rate heatmap shows where you might face slow internet downloads, helping you spot and fix problem areas quickly.
The Low Upload Rate Heatmap shows where uploading files or streaming might be slow, making it easier to find and fix those trouble spots.
If your troubleshooting scan shows red and yellow areas, you may need to consider boosting your signal strength or changing your hardware, protocols or bandwidth.
SO, WE RECOMMEND
NetSpot
NetSpot is a handy Wi-Fi troubleshooting tool that makes it easy to improve and fine-tune your network. It lets you see a visual map of your Wi-Fi signal strength, helping you spot weak spots and areas with interference.
With NetSpot, you can find the best place for your router, choose the right channels, and make sure your Wi-Fi is strong and reliable throughout your home or office. It's perfect for solving connectivity issues, boosting your network speed, and making sure your Wi-Fi works smoothly everywhere you need it.
WiFi Troubleshooting — FAQs
Why is my WiFi not working?
There are many possible answers to this question, which is why you should start by performing an in-depth analysis of your WiFi network using a wireless network analyzer like NetSpot.
How do I fix my WiFi connection?
There are several things you can do to fix your WiFi connection, and we recommend that you start by restarting your router. If that doesn’t help, then you need to follow the WiFi troubleshooting techniques described in this article to pinpoint the cause of the problem and resolve it.
Why my WiFi is not working on my phone?
If your WiFi is working everywhere else but not on your phone, then it’s likely that something is wrong with the phone itself. If you haven’t done so already, restart it and see if it helps. You can also delete information about the WiFi network and connect to it again from scratch.
Can you have WiFi but no internet?
Yes, it’s possible to have a working WiFi connection but no access to the internet. This usually happens when the internet service provider is experiencing technical issues or when there’s something wrong with the internet modem.
How to Perform a WLAN Troubleshooting Scan?
To troubleshoot any issues with your WiFi start with performing a WiFi site survey in the NetSpot app. New to NetSpot? Not a problem! Just read "How Do I Start My Survey?" and follow the comprehensive guide. First of all identify the area you are troubleshooting. Then you can either upload a map to NetSpot or draw it from scratch.
Once you have a map, you can start taking data samples of your area. When done, you will be able to see the heatmap NetSpot built based upon the measurements you've taken.
You also may check our top of the best apps for WiFi troubleshooting.
How to Troubleshoot Issues with SNR?
Thanks to the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) heatmap you can easily see where the signal doesn't have enough strength to overcome the noise created by other electronic devices in the area. Green and blue areas are those of concern, with blue (cold) being critical and needing to be taken care of in the first place.
How to Troubleshoot Low signal level?
Refer to the Low Signal Level heatmap to see the areas of weak signal. Weak signal strength might be caused by a router being too far from a device or by an obstacle between router and device physically blocking the signal. If you see green and blue areas on your heatmap, you might want to explore ways to strengthen the signal there.
How to Troubleshoot High noise level?
You'll easily determine the areas with high noise levels thanks to the High Noise Level heatmap. Even such appliances as microwave ovens can cause noise and lower the strength of WiFi signal. If you see green and blue areas on your heatmap — look for electronic devices that might be causing the issue and try moving them to another spot.
How to Troubleshoot Overlapping channels (SIR)?
Use the Overlapping Channels heatmap to see the areas that have a critical signal-to-interference ratio. The blue and green areas will show you where the interference is the highest. Try changing your network's WiFi channel to eliminate the issue.
How to Troubleshoot Low download and upload speed?
To see where your Internet connection speed is slow, perform an active scan of your network, and refer to the Low Download Rate and Low Upload Rate heatmaps. If you see red and yellow areas, you might need to change the protocols or bandwidth, or upgrade your hardware.
Get NetSpot for Free
Wi-Fi Site Surveys, Analysis, Troubleshooting runs on a MacBook (macOS 11+) or any laptop (Windows 7/8/10/11) with a standard 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax wireless network adapter.
NETSPOT HELPS GAIN A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR WIFI COVERAGE