Having issues connecting to the internet? The solution may be easier than you think. Here are just 5 of the most common internet issues and some of the possible solutions.
Slow Connection
A slow internet connection can be frustrating – simple tasks like opening emails could take forever, while you may find it virtually impossible to watch videos.
There are lots of reasons that a connection may slow down. A few of the most common reasons include:
- Distance to the router (the further away, the slower the connection)
- Interference from other connections
- Too many devices are trying to use the same network
- The router is playing up and needs to be reset
- The router is broken
Distance to the router is a factor that is likely to be more common in larger homes. You may find that internet access is slower in certain rooms that are far away from the router. A solution could be to try and place the router in a central location within the house.
Interference from other connections is meanwhile most common in apartments. There could be multiple connections all competing for the same channel. Switching your router to a new channel could solve this – there are tools that can help you find the least congested channel in your apartment block.
Having too many devices on the same network could also be a possible issue. Each device will be having to share bandwidth, so you may notice a slight sluggishness if there are multiple laptops, phones, tablets and smart devices connected to the same network. The issue is more likely to occur if each device is active – check that other people in your home aren’t all using their devices.
A slow connection as a result of a router problem could also be possible. The simplest trick to try is to reset your router – it could just be playing up due to a glitch and resetting it could fix this glitch. If this doesn’t work, then the router could be broken. Older routers can sometimes slow down and may need to be replaced – it could be worth contacting your provider if you think this is the case.
Devices Unable To Connect To Wi-Fi
It’s possible that you may not be able to connect to your wi-fi at all. This could be an issue with the device or an issue with your router.
If you find that a single device is unable to connect, but others are able to connect, you may want to first consider simply rebooting your device. Temporary bugs can sometimes stop the device from seeing or connecting to certain networks – these can usually be solved by restarting.
Alternatively, if your device cannot connect to any wi-fi network it could be due to software issues. If you’re using a Microsoft computer, you may want to check that it has the right service pack. A technician may be required to diagnose the issue if it’s a deeper software issue.
If no devices can connect, then it’s more likely to be an issue with the router itself. Resetting the router can sometimes be a simple solution and is worth trying first. Plugging in a device with an ethernet cable could meanwhile be worth trying second – if you’re able to use the internet with an ethernet connection, it could just be an issue with the wi-fi (a technician will then be able to come out and have a look). If there’s no connection even with an ethernet cable and resetting makes no difference, then it’s likely that the router needs replacing.
Wi-Fi Connected, But No Internet
Sometimes a device may tell you that it is ‘connected’ to a network, but the internet still won’t load when you open your browser. This is sometimes displayed as ‘limited connection’ – which usually means that your computer has started to connect but is unable to complete network configuration. This could be due to a variety of issues ranging from software problems to router problems.
Rebooting your device and resetting your router are the first things you should try – such issues can commonly be temporary glitches. You should also try connecting other devices to the same network as well as connecting your device to other networks. If all devices cannot connect properly, it is likely a router problem (you’ll likely want to call your ISP). If it’s just your device having issues, it could be a software problem (you’ll likely want to see a technician to look into this further).
Browsers Keep Crashing/Won’t Open
Sometimes individual browsers can experience connection issues. You can determine this by testing out other browsers on the same device and seeing if they run correctly.
Browsers can regularly crash for a number of reasons. It may be that you’re putting too much strain on the browser – perhaps you’ve got too many tabs open or are using too many extensions. Decluttering your browser and trying to keep tabs to a minimum could make a difference. If after this it still crashes, try checking to see if any updates are available. If there are no updates, reinstalling the browser could be the next best solution.
Browsers can also sometimes refuse to open. This is usually due to a bug with the browser – reinstalling it could solve it. If it still won’t open, check whether any other programs are blocking the browser. Sometimes updates affecting other software can disable browsers as was recently the case with an iTunes update, which ended up stopping people from accessing Safari. If you’ve found that Safari cannot be opened because of a problem, you may find that this iTunes update is the culprit. You may be able to find advice on how to manually fix these bugs yourself. If not, get in touch with a technician.
Router Keeps Crashing
Do you keep having to reset your router because it’s crashed?
This can be a common issue with some older routers and may be due to the fact that your router is on its way out. All electronic devices naturally degrade over time. In the case of cheap routers (which many of us have in our homes), you can usually expect five years out of them. Premium routers may last longer.
If the router is relatively new and constantly crashing then it could be more of an individual fault with that router. Consider whether your router is under a warranty – you may be able to get it replaced for free.
