8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection (2024)

You'll be up and running in no time

8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection (1)

Written by: Christopher Jan Benitez
Posted on: in: Networking

A faulty Wi-Ficonnection doesn’t have to ruin your day. There are plenty of ways you canrestore a lost internet connection. Follow these network troubleshooting tipsand you’ll be up and running in no time.

1. Check Your Settings

First, check yourWi-Fi settings. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Switch Wi-Fi to the Onposition.

Table of Contents

    8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection (2)

    Phones andtablets also have settings that turn Wi-Fi on and off. Make sure that it isturned on so you can connect to the network.

    8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection (3)

    You also want tocheck if Airplane Mode is turned on.

    2. Check Your Access Points

    Check your WAN(wide area network) and LAN (local area network) connections. In layman’sterms, these are the Ethernet cables that go to and from your router.

    8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection (4)

    If you suspectthat the cables are the culprit, try swapping them out with new ones.

    3. Go Around Obstacles

    Walls, furniture,and other obstructions can be the reason why you’re unable to go online. Movingcloser to the router can re-establish the connection. If moving closer to therouter does not solve the issue, then at least we can remove it from the listof suspects.

    4. Restart the Router

    Sometimesrestarting the router can help fix connectivity issues. This is even truer incases where the router has not been turned off in a while. A quick restart canjolt the router back into working like it used to.

    If that doesn’twork, you might also consider resetting the router. But only do so if you’reokay with it being restored to its factory settings. You will have toreconfigure everything including the SSID and password.

    5. Check the Wi-Fi Name and Password

    Check the networkname (otherwise known as SSID) and password of the network connection. Ifyou’re used to connecting automatically when in range of a router but are nolonger able to, changes may have been made to the network while you’re away.

    8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection (5)

    It could be assimple as administrators updating the password or the SSID could have beenchanged to a different one.

    6. Check DHCP Settings

    Routers areusually set up as DHCP servers. This setting lets computers join a networkautomatically. With DHCP turned on, users will no longer have to mess with IPAddress and DNS Server settings manually.

    To edit your DHCPsettings, go to Windows Settings> Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Under Wi-Fi, click Manage KnownNetworks. Select a network and click Properties.

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    Under IP Settings, click Edit. From the drop-down menu, select Automatic (DHCP).

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    Note: Selecting Manual will letyou set your DNS Server Address and IP Address settings manually.

    7.Update Windows

    Your networkproblems could be caused by your system. If that is the case, Windows couldhave possibly released a fix. Try updating your Windows machine to the latestrelease.

    8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection (8)

    Go to Windows Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click Check for Updates. If there are updatesavailable, Windows will download and install them.

    8.Open Windows Network Diagnostics

    Windows has atool called Windows Network Diagnostics that lets users troubleshoot connectionissues.

    Go to Windows Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Under Change Your Network Settings, click Network Troubleshooter.

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    Windows NetworkDiagnostics will run a couple of tests to see what’s possibly causing yourWi-Fi issues.

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    Windows will letyou know if it does not find any issue. Otherwise, you will be given a list ofpossible actions to take to resolve the problem.

    This tool, or aversion of it, should be available in Windows 7 to Windows 10.

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    8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection (11)

    Christopher Jan Benitez is a freelance writer for hire who provides actionable and useful web content to small businesses and startups. In his spare time, he religiously watches professional wrestling and finds solace in listening to '80s speed metal. Read Christopher's Full Bio

    8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection (2024)

    FAQs

    8 Easy-to-Do Ways to Troubleshoot Network Connection? ›

    1 Ping and traceroute

    Traceroute shows the path and the hops that the packet takes to reach the destination, along with the latency of each hop. By using ping and traceroute, you can quickly identify if there is a network outage, a routing issue, or a bottleneck in your network.

    How do I troubleshoot my network connection? ›

    Complete list of fixes if your internet is not working
    1. Restart your equipment. ...
    2. Connect with an Ethernet cable. ...
    3. Check for an internet outage. ...
    4. Try using a different device. ...
    5. Check your wires and cables. ...
    6. Run your computer's internet troubleshooter. ...
    7. Reposition your router/gateway. ...
    8. Update everything.
    Jan 4, 2024

    What are the 7 steps of network troubleshooting? ›

    Network troubleshooting is a repeatable process, which means that you can break it down into clear steps that anyone can follow.
    1. Identify the Problem. ...
    2. Develop a Theory. ...
    3. Test the Theory. ...
    4. Plan of Action. ...
    5. Implement the Solution. ...
    6. Verify System Functionality. ...
    7. Document the Issue.

    What techniques do you use to troubleshoot networking issues? ›

    Troubleshooting processes
    • IP-configuration checks. Problems with IP addresses cause many network issues. ...
    • Ping and tracert testing. If the IP address is correct, the network issue may be upstream of a modem. ...
    • DNS checks. ...
    • Service provider checks. ...
    • Virus and malware checks. ...
    • Database logs. ...
    • Command-line tools. ...
    • Test environments.

    What is the most reliable method of detecting network issues? ›

    1 Ping and traceroute

    Traceroute shows the path and the hops that the packet takes to reach the destination, along with the latency of each hop. By using ping and traceroute, you can quickly identify if there is a network outage, a routing issue, or a bottleneck in your network.

    How to check network connectivity? ›

    Select Settings > Network & internet. The status of your network connection will appear at the top. Windows 10 lets you quickly check your network connection status. And if you're having trouble with your connection, you can run the Network troubleshooter to try and fix it.

    What are the 10 steps of troubleshooting? ›

    The 10 step Universal Troubleshooting Process
    1. Prepare.
    2. Make damage control plan.
    3. Get a complete and accurate symptom description.
    4. Reproduce the symptom.
    5. Do the appropriate corrective maintenance.
    6. Narrow it down to the root cause.
    7. Repair or replace the defective component.
    8. Test.

    What are the 10 basic troubleshooting steps for a computer? ›

    Standard troubleshooting steps
    1. Identify the problem.
    2. Research.
    3. Establish a theory of probable cause.
    4. Test the theory.
    5. Establish a plan of action.
    6. Implement or escalate.
    7. Verify functionality.
    8. Document the solution.
    Jan 21, 2021

    What is a common tool used for troubleshooting connectivity? ›

    Ping Tools

    The ICMP ping tool is a basic network troubleshooting tool that lets you assess if a device is reachable on the network. It reports on errors such as packet loss, round-trip-time, etc. The usual ping requests are based on the ICMP echo request protocol.

    What is the best way to troubleshoot a computer? ›

    DIY: How to Troubleshoot a Computer
    1. What's Wrong? Determine the who, what, and when of the issue you're experiencing. ...
    2. Consult Google. ...
    3. Reboot. ...
    4. Check Connections. ...
    5. Look for Program Updates. ...
    6. Close Background Tasks. ...
    7. Clean Up Your Hard Drive. ...
    8. Run an Antivirus Program.
    Nov 1, 2020

    Why do I get unable to connect to this network? ›

    But there are a solid handful of reasons why you might be unable to connect to the network, and you can broadly break them down into four categories: device issues, router issues, cabling issues, and speed issues.

    How to tell if a router or internet is bad? ›

    Common signs of a faulty internet router include slow connection, frequent drops, unresponsiveness, overheating issues, weak Wi-Fi signals, and outdated firmware.

    Why is my Wi-Fi connected but no internet? ›

    IP Address Conflicts Will Result in “No Internet”

    Suppose your WiFi is connected but no internet connection. In that case, the first and most obvious reason is that another PC or device has used your IP address. If this happens, you will have to find out the other computer's IP address.

    How to tell if a router or modem is bad? ›

    Reduced Speeds and Reduced Connection Quality

    If you feel that your internet speeds have decreased or you are seeing issues with increased buffering and lagging or breaking in the connection, it could be time for a new modem. You can easily test your internet speed with online tools like Speedtest.net.

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