No internet connection (causes, troubleshooting, fixes, computer, phone, tablet) (I use a router)

The router sometimes stops sharing the Internet connection unexpectedly. Other times it doesn't reconnect to a network automatically. There are lights on every router which tell you whether the Internet connection is active or not. 

If you notice that the lights are not working properly and you can't connect to internet, the best solution is to restart the router. The easiest way to restart the router is to unplug the power cord from the power outlet and wait for a couple of minutes. After that, plug it back in the outlet and your Internet access should be restored.

If you don't have Internet access or if your internet connection keeps dropping, it is possible that there's an issue with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Most likely, they already know about it (however it would be nice to tell them about it) and they usually fix it within a couple of hours.

If you cannot connect to internet or if your internet connection keeps dropping, consider contacting your ISP. Maybe the ISP/Operator experiences some technical difficulties they are not aware of, or they may already work on fixing them. If that is not the case, they will guide you how to diagnose the problem by yourself and fix your Internet connection.

Maybe your Ethernet (Internet) cable is broken. The first sign that it may be broken is if the router's Ethernet port light (over the port where your Internet cable is plugged in) is not blinking.

Check the Ethernet port - do the little lights blink if you plugged it in?

If the lights don't blink and the internet connection keeps dropping or there is no internet connection at all, there could be several causes, however the most common one is a damaged Ethernet cable.

You can check and fix this by trying a different cable (e.g. ask friends to lend you one, or ask your ISP to send you a new one). If it is the main Ethernet cable, which connects you to your ISP's network, report the problem to them and they will replace it and your Internet connection will be restored.

Maybe you don't have an internet access because of an unplugged Ethernet cable. Ensure that all cables (from modem to wall, from modem to router or computer, from router to computer, etc.) are properly plugged in and are not loose, which is a vital precondition for a stable Internet connection and a good resolution to the "computer will not connect to internet" issue.

Internet access issues can be easily resolved thanks to the built-in network diagnostic tool (troubleshooter) developed by the Microsoft team to resolve network issues.

To run the tool, follow the steps below:

1. Open the start menu and type identify and repair network problems, or right-click the network icon in the notification area (in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen) and then select Troubleshoot problems.
2. Wait for the troubleshooter to scan your computer (i.e. the network card) and follow the instructions.