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How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

By Ava Barnes
How to troubleshoot wireless router problems
Don’t put up with a slow data stream. Troubleshoot your router.
(click for image gallery)

A good router gone bad isn’t always a bad router. Most times it’s just a good router looking for a little love and attention.

We’ve all had it happen: You’re sitting there connected to your network, browsing the Internet, or trying to get some game on, or you just want to watch a video from upstairs, and, suddenly, Shazaam! You feel like you’re walking uphill through drying cement — in lead shoes.

The feeling isn’t good and, when it happens, all you really want to do is point your 27th century neutron rifle at your router and blast away.

It’s an understandable reaction, but it’s not the most fiscally responsible solution. Routers can be expensive items to replace. So we’ve rounded up a few tips to try to overcome some of the more common causes of router headaches.

1. It’s So Slow You Can’t Get Any Work Done

Problem: Your router is slower than molasses running uphill on a hot day.

Solution: A couple of things that might be causing this problem. Most routers work on the 2.5GHz band. So do Microwave ovens, cordless phones, garage door openers, baby monitors, and some other electronic devices. Have you added anything to the environment recently that works on the 2.5GHz band — just about when the problem started? If so, turn it off and see if there’s an improvement.

If that’s not an issue, keep in mind that the 2.5GHz band has only three real channels (1, 6, 11) despite pretending to have eleven (the others overlap with each other). Your neighbors who are Wi-Fi-enabled are also using those same channels. If you live in a major metropolitan area with public transportation, it’s a lot like trying to get on the bus during rush hour.

You can modify the channel your router uses (and subsequently any Wi-Fi adapters) by going into the device’s setup controls (usually through a browser-based program that’s been installed on your computer when you installed the router or adapter) and manually changing it. (The default setting is where the problem can arise; vendors always pick the same channel.)

How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

Your router is the megabrain of all Internet activity in your house. Whether you want your devices communicating with each other across your local network or with the wider Internet, you want your router to be fully functioning when going about your daily life.

Here we’re going to show you how to troubleshoot your router and indeed find out whether your router is to blame for your problems.

The Obvious Stuff

Before getting into the nitty-gritty, there are a few basic troubleshooting tips you should check and try:

  • Switch off your router, and switch it back on again. (Yes, you probably already figured that one out, but maybe not everyone is as smart as you).
  • Go on the broadband status webpage for your internet service provider to see if there are known problems in your area.

How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

  • Test the Internet connection with another device. If just one device isn’t connecting, then the problem lies there, not with the router.
  • If you can’t connect over Wi-Fi, plug a device into the router using an ethernet cable and see if you can connect to the Internet that way. Ideally try this with a couple of devices. Then you’ll know for sure if the issue lies with the Wi-Fi connectivity of the router or that individual device.
  • Make sure the cable between the router and modem is firmly attached. These cables often involve a nut-and-bolt mechanism at each end, and these can loosen over time.

Change Router Wi-Fi Channel

If the home Wi-Fi beaming from your router has slowed to a crawl or has outright stopped working, then it’s possible that the Wi-Fi channel you’re on is busy with traffic from other Wi-Fi users in your local area.

How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

You can manually change your Wi-Fi channel through your router’s settings. To get to your router’s settings, you’ll need the “Default Gateway” IP, which is the router’s address on your network. This is usually 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.254 or similar and needs to be entered into your browser. Here’s how to find your router’s IP address in Windows 10.

You’ll then be prompted for your router username and login, which varies by IP provider and may be written on the router itself.

Once you’re in your router’s Wi-Fi channel settings, how do you know which channel to pick? There’s quite a lot to it, so read our guide on how to find the best Wi-Fi channel for your network.

Reset Your Router

The more radical step up from simply restarting or rebooting your router is to reset it, which will restore it entirely to the default settings along with the SSID and password.

How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

There are usually two ways to do this: one is via a physical button on the router itself (it might be one that requires a pin to press), and the other is through your router’s settings page which we’ve described how to access in the previous heading.

Upgrade Router Firmware

Another solution you can find right there in your router’s settings is a firmware upgrade. This can also be found through your router’s settings and will obviously require that your router is connected to the Internet to work (so it can solve router-to-device connection issues, but not Internet-to-router issues).

Conclusion

The above are some of the main ways to troubleshoot a misbehaving router. If the above fail, then consider contacting your ISP for a connection reset at their end. Beyond that, it may be worth looking at a new router (ideally provided free by your ISP!).

Content Manager at Make Tech Easier. Enjoys Android, Windows, and tinkering with retro console emulation to breaking point.

Last Updated By Admin on March 26, 2015

In the wireless networking router needs no introduction, as we all very well that router is the device that is required to for the transmission of data from one device to another over the network in the wireless networking is referred to as router. Troubleshooting is defined as the process that sorts out the occurred problem and suggests different type of solutions for its recovery is called as troubleshooting. In the router troubleshooting we discuss about the problems that create some destructive or bad results during the establishment of the connection of the wireless router with the network for the sake of transmission. These problems are usually created because router based on the working of the multiple technologies.

Troubleshoot the Wireless Router Problems:

There are different types of problems that are those occur in setting the wireless router and make a connection of 9iot with the network for the sake of data transmission. All the connection problems of the wireless router are based on the missing out some important components such as adapters, technicalities and many others. Some of the important problems that occur in the connection of the wireless network with the network are as follows

  • Problems with Networking Adapters:

One of the common problems of the wireless router connection is of networking adapters. The networking adapter trouble that mostly occurs during the connection is that the networking adapter is not in the networking list. It is that problem that immediately occurs after setting the wireless router connection. This problem usually happens due to the bad installation of the adapter in the system or the card slot is not working properly to solve this problem replace the card slot or re install the adapter in the case of the system. If this problem occurred due to the managing of device then use the device manger to reconfigure the software of adapter.

  • Disappearance of Router Name:

Another problem with the connection of the wireless router is that its name does not appear while connecting it with the network. To solve this problem of wireless router check the service set identifier SSID broadcast, if it is disable, enable it and enter the network name in the box given. The name used should be matched with router configuration.

  • Status of Connection:

In the wireless router connection problems also occurred due to the no connection status of the networking adapters and the wireless router is unable to connect to the network for its duties. This trouble is minimized by following the process of checking the Networks. First view the networks and then press the connect button, if not settled then reconfiguring is essential for the connection of the wireless router.

  • Forget Password:

Many people use password protection for their wireless routers to avoid its unauthorized use. Sometime they set up the password and forget it, and then they think that they are in the big trouble. But it is so simple to troubleshoot it. Check the router device, at the back there is a reset button press it for 5 to 6 seconds the setting of the wireless router set as default and you are able to use the router again.

  • No Signal Problems:

This problem of the wireless router connection is very common among the users that there is the loss of signal strength or there might be no signal. This problem occurs with the placement of the wireless router that prohibits the connection of the wireless router with the network. To solve this problem use the recommended wireless router type for such areas such as 802.11n because it is designed with the MIMO technology (Multiple Output Multiple Input).

We my not have to disconnect from the Internet to make a phone call anymore, but Wi-Fi problems persist. Here are some of the common issues you will run into and how to fix them.

Internet speeds and Wi-Fi have both improved significantly over the last several years. Data speeds are faster across the board and wireless connections are more reliable than ever.

However, Wi-Fi isn’t without issue. Hang out at a Starbucks long enough and you can experience it firsthand.

Once you’ve set up your home network , here are some very common issues you may run into with Wi-Fi and how to correct them.

Slow connection

Despite faster speeds reaching most homes around the globe, wireless (and often wired) networks can get bogged down. If your Internet connection is still working but the speeds are slower than normal, there is usually a logical explanation that can usually be fixed.

Cause: The most obvious problem with Wi-Fi speeds slowing down is being too far from the router. The further you are from the router, the more unreliable the connection and its throughput will become.

Fix: To fix this, just get a little closer. If the router is located in a different room, try going into the room where the router is located and see if that fixes the issue. If this is a consistent issue, try to position your router higher (up on a shelf), away from other devices, which can interfere with it, and in a central location in your home.

If that doesn’t work, consider purchasing a second router and a set of powerline network adapters to extend your network.

Cause: Another cause for slowdowns is a lack of bandwidth. If everyone is home and using their computers, phones and televisions for data-hungry applications, your typically speedy Internet is being spread thin and shared across multiple devices.

Fix: Disconnect any devices that you aren’t actively using. If multiple people are trying to stream videos from, say, YouTube and Netflix, while someone else is trying to game online, you can try connecting one or more of the devices directly to the router using a Cat-5 ethernet cable to free up some of the wireless bandwidth. But the problem may be that you just don’t have fast enough Internet speeds to support everything at once.

There is also the possibility that someone nearby is leeching off your Internet. To prevent this from happening, be sure to setup security for your network and give out the password sparingly.

11 ways to make your Wi-Fi faster

How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

Cause: Interference can be a real issue, especially in crowded areas. When most people first get their Internet set up, they leave settings unchanged, which means default wireless frequency channels — like 1, 6 and 11 — become very crowded.

Fix: Fortunately, many newer model routers are capable of automatically selecting the least crowded frequencies upon rebooting. Perform a power cycle on your router or, log in to the admin panel and manually select a different channel.

Additionally, if you have a dual-band router, try enabling both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Keep the 5GHz channel open for your most important connections.

Cause: During peak hours, Internet speeds can slow for everyone, especially in crowded, urban areas.

Fix: All you can really do when this is the case, if possible, is try to schedule your usage outside peak hours to get the best speeds.

Cause: Wireless technology has changed quite a bit over the last 10 years. New wireless standards have been put in place, speeds are faster than ever, fiber is being offered in more areas and devices you never thought would require an Internet connection need Wi-Fi — televisions, speakers, refrigerator, printers, lights and more. The problem could easily be an outdated router.

Fix: If you think the limitation lies with your router, it may be time to start saving up for a new one. Upgrading your router every two years or so is good practice and can help you avoid certain issues altogether.

No Internet connection

Cause: Periodically, something glitches and the router or modem (or combination) just stop communicating. There isn’t always an explanation. It just happens.

Fix: The best place to start is pulling the plug. Disconnect the modem and router from power and wait at least 30 seconds before restoring power to both.

Cause: For me, one of the most common problems that occurs with my Internet is the connection dropping completely — not due to a hardware issue on my end, but rather a massive service outage.

Fix: Not much you can do here. You can go to the nearest coffee shop or get on the phone with your Internet service provider (ISP) and let them know you’re affected. Sadly, this usually won’t do much to speed up the recovery time, but it can help the ISP know more about which areas are affected by an outage.

How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

Do you have a problem with your Wi-Fi signal? Do you find it slow and unreliable? It’s probably due to your router. The router is a device that brings internet to your many devices – laptop, desktop, Android, iPhone or iPad. Use these fault-finding guidelines to troubleshoot wireless router problem. Keep in mind there may be more than one issue involved.

The most important thing about a router is its wireless speed. This can be impacted by several factors, such as interference from different objects such as microwave, stereo system, etc. Too many devices sharing the same access point and having to fight for a limited bandwidth. Here, we offer some excellent Router Troubleshooting Tips that you can use right now:

5 Tips to Troubleshoot wireless router problem

Router Troubleshooting Tips: Check Your Broadband Speed

The first tip is to check the internet speed of your wireless connection. Is it too slow and not within the range promised by your ISP? It is possible that your internet speeds are low because you’ve got the wrong plan. First, call the customer service of your ISP and find out which is the plan you’ve got. Then, run a quick broadband internet speed test at Do Speed Test, the best internet broadband speed checking tool out there.

If the stats on DoSpeedTest.com match what is claimed by your ISP, then it is probably the case that your plan is slow, and you should go for a faster plan. If not, there is probably a problem with your router – so read the rest of the article to find out what to do in this scenario.

Router Troubleshooting Tips: Change the wireless channel on router

One way to speed up the wireless signal is to manually adjust the broadcast channel till you find one with fewer competing wireless networking device. This is hard to do when your networking device is new and automatically chooses the channels to broadcast from, but if you have an older router, you can select the broadcast channel quite easily.

To do this, you will have to look for the router’s address – which is found in the instruction manual or online by typing for a D-Link router and for a Linksys router. You will then be asked for your username and password, on doing so you can access the router’s GUI, where you will see a “wireless channel” option. If you are in the US, you can broadcast from channels 11, 6 and 1 – these are the fastest channels that are available, and so something you may want to look at.

Router Troubleshooting Tips: Use New Hardware

Usually, defective or outdated hardware or firmware are common for routers to fail after years of regular use. You may want to change or add the hardware on your networking device to improve the strength of the wireless signal. Most networking device come up with an omnidirectional antenna, which broadcasts signals in all directions.

By using a single-direction antenna instead of an omnidirectional one, you can strengthen your broadcast signals considerably. Also, the router should be positioned within the room where you will be using your laptop or desktop, as half of the signal gets wasted when transmitted through a wall or a window.

You may want to look at using wireless repeaters. They strengthen your wireless signals from the router by repeating the signal and covering more space with the wifi. A repeater does not really cost much, just under $25 or so.

Another hardware option available to you is a hybrid Homeplug technology or a wireless router device. Homeplug is a new technology that uses the AV line of your house to transmit broadband signals to all the rooms. So this is a great way to get strong Wi-Fi signals no matter where you are in the house.

Router Troubleshooting Tips: Use the Right Wireless Security Settings

Your router is the first line of defense against hackers trying to access all the internet-connected devices on your place. The most important thing is security setting to change on your router. You should check your router’s GUI using the method described earlier and check the wireless security settings on it. If the security setting is WEP, then that should be changed to something much stronger such as WPA, or WPA2, which is even more secure.

However, WPA2 may not be compatible with all the devices in your home, so WPA would make a better choice. Also, if you suspect that your wireless signals are being intruded upon, then, you should change the wireless password regularly on your router’s GUI.

Router Troubleshooting Tips: Update the Router Firmware

Update your firmware regularly. If none of the measures suggested above work, then you should try upgrading your router’s firmware. You can look for firmware updates on the website of the networking device manufacturer. Another option you can use is to upload customer firmware from DD-WRT, which is a free, open source Linux-based firmware for wireless routers, which is known to significantly boost the strength of wireless signals.

These tips to troubleshoot wireless router are normally enough to get to the root of your internet problem. If not, i must say you need a proper check for your internet connection!

How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

If you’re using a Netgear router, then first of all, you made a good choice. While the apps you use to interact with it might not be the greatest feat of design, when it comes to performance you’re being well looked after.

But, there are also some common issues you may want to address but aren’t sure where to start. Here’s some quick troubleshooting tips.

1. How do I interact with my Netgear router?

For all troubleshooting, Netgear uses the web app. So you’ll need to point a web browser there while connected to the network your router is broadcasting.

The default username and password should be admin to log in. If not, check the documentation that came with your router, or see if it’s printed on a label somewhere on the hardware itself.

2. Changing your network name (SSID) and password

By default your network name will be something relating to the router like “NETGEAR84-5G” and the password will be completely random and printed on a label somewhere on the router. It’s reasonable you want to change these.

Once logged in to the web app you’ll find both of these options under wireless. Change them to something more memorable and unique, remembering to click apply before you leave.

3. Turning off your ISP supplied Wi-Fi router

The video above uses the BT Smart Hub from the UK as an example, but the basic principle is the same whichever ISP supplied Wi-Fi router you’re using.

You can just plug your Netgear into the ISP router and it’ll start working straight away. But, two different Wi-Fi networks running in the same home can interfere, so for the best performance, you need to turn the ISP supplied one off.

Exact steps will vary, but you’ll need to login to the web app of your ISP router using the details provided either in the manual or usually on a label somewhere on the router. You need to locate the setting to either put it in modem only mode or to just turn off its wireless capabilities.

4. How do I update my router’s firmware?

Just like your PC or your phone, your router will occasionally need updating. The easiest way to do it is by logging in to the web app as detailed above. If there’s a new firmware, you’ll have a message towards the top of the window telling you so.

You’ll find the option to update in the advanced tab in the app and under the administration section. The update will be displayed with a one-click to download and install the latest firmware to keep your router running at its best.

5. My download speeds are poor, what do I do?

This one is more difficult to solve, as it might not be just down to the router. The size of the house will be one contributing factor, as will the positioning of the router. If you can’t move the router to a more central location, there are some things you can do.

You could try changing the channel that your Wi-Fi signal is using. If there are other networks nearby using the same channel, it could get congested and as such your speeds may suffer. Login to the web app as above in step 2. In the wireless settings this time you’re looking for channel. Pick a different one to the default and see if that helps.

One easy trick is to use the 5GHz connection if your router supports it. A lot of modern routers are dual or tri-band, offering 2.4GHz and 5GHz connections. Typically, 2.4GHz is for distance, 5GHz is for performance. On Netgear routers, you’ll see the 5GHz connection as a separate Wi-Fi network in Windows. By default, it’ll have 5G at the end of the SSID.

Another thing to try is enabling Netgear’s Dynamic QoS (Quality of Service) feature that is supported on some routers. This will help to intelligently prioritize bandwidth to make sure that the most important and demanding tasks, like streaming video and gaming, for example, are getting the share of the bandwidth they need. When you log in to your router’s web app you’ll find it under the basic menu in the sidebar.

6. How do I control my kids’ access to the internet?

Like everything you can enable this in the web app, but an easier solution is to download the Netgear Genie app for your smartphone. It offers basic access to a number of your router’s features, including setting up and managing parental controls.

Grab it for your phone from the links below.

Your tips

If you’re a long-term Netgear router user with your own troubleshooting tips be sure to leave them in the comments below.

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How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

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How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

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How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

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How to troubleshoot wireless router problems
An adapter like this WGA600N from Lynksys might speed things up.
(click for image gallery)

Alternately, you can add a 5GHz band component, such as Netgear’s WNHDEB111 networking kit or Linksys’s WGA600N to your present router. There are 23 channels available at 5GHz, and almost no one is using them right now. Switching to adapters is the most cost-efficient method because you’ll basically still be using your original router, but adding a 5GHz pipe to it through which you’ll funneling your Wi-Fi devices.

You’ll need a pair of adapters. One is attached to a network switch to which you’ve also attached several of your PCs or other networked devices. The other is attached to your router. As far as your network is concerned, the devices on the switch are hardwired to the router. Practically speaking, they communicate through the 5GHz adapters and it’s the adapters that handle the transition down to 2.5GHz at the two end points — all the while communicating between each other across the 5GHz band.

Don’t overlook 2.5GHz/5GHz routers themselves (you’ll want at least simultaneous dual-band models, those that can work on both 2.5GH and 5GHz at the same time, not either/or devices). This is a major investment because you’ve basically put yourself on the full upgrade path for your network and it’s not going to be cheap. All of the major router manufacturers have such products. You can read about dual-band models from SMC, Apple, DLink, Linksys, and Netgear here.

Upgrade Your Firmware

Finally, try upgrading your firmware. This is last in the pile because it’s a task that will probably make you nervous. The usual procedure is to:

    Go to your router’s or adapter’s website and find and download a firmware upgrade if available. (If you use the setup utility that was installed with your router or adapter, you’ll be able to tell what firmware version you currently have. Just compare that to the “new” version.)
  • Once the new firmware is downloaded onto your PC, go back into the router’s or adapter’s setup through its utility software or your browser, find the management section, locate the firmware upgrade section in there, and just follow along.
  • It is that easy, but you may freak out thinking of all the possible things that might go wrong (like if you lose power during the upgrade…).

    @chrisbhoffman
    Updated July 5, 2017, 9:03pm EDT

    How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

    Internet connection problems can be frustrating. Rather than mashing F5 and desperately trying to reload your favorite website when you experience a problem, here are some ways you can troubleshoot the problem and identify the cause.

    Ensure you check the physical connections before getting too involved with troubleshooting. Someone could have accidentally kicked the router or modem’s power cable or pulled an Ethernet cable out of a socket, causing the problem.

    One of the first things to try when your connection doesn’t seem to be working properly is the ping command. Open a Command Prompt window from your Start menu and run a command like ping google.com or ping howtogeek.com.

    This command sends several packets to the address you specify. The web server responds to each packet it receives. In the command below, we can see that everything is working fine – there’s 0% packet loss and the time each packet takes is fairly low.

    How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

    If you see packet loss (in other words, if the web server didn’t respond to one or more of the packets you sent), this can indicate a network problem. If the web server sometimes takes a much longer amount of time to respond to some of your other packets, this can also indicate a network problem. This problem can be with the website itself (unlikely if the same problem occurs on multiple websites), with your Internet service provider, or on your network (for example, a problem with your router).

    Note that some websites never respond to pings. For example, ping microsoft.com will never results in any responses.

    Problems With a Specific Website

    If you’re experiencing issues accessing websites and ping seems to be working properly, it’s possible that one (or more) websites are experiencing problems on their end.

    To check whether a website is working properly, you can use Down For Everyone Or Just For Me, a tool that tries to connect to websites and determine if they’re actually down or not. If this tool says the website is down for everyone, the problem is on the website’s end.

    How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

    If this tool says the website is down for just you, that could indicate a number of things. It’s possible that there’s a problem between your computer and the path it takes to get to that website’s servers on the network. You can use the traceroute command (for example, tracert google.com) to trace the route packets take to get to the website’s address and see if there are any problems along the way. However, if there are problems, you can’t do much more than wait for them to be fixed.

    Modem & Router Issues

    If you are experiencing problems with a variety of websites, they may be caused by your modem or router. The modem is the device that communicates with your Internet service provider, while the router shares the connection among all the computers and other networked devices in your household. In some cases, the modem and router may be the same device.

    Take a look at the router. If green lights are flashing on it, that’s normal and indicates network traffic. If you see a steady, blinking orange light, that generally indicates the problem. The same applies for the modem – a blinking orange light usually indicates a problem.

    How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

    If the lights indicate that either devices are experiencing a problem, try unplugging them and plugging them back in. This is just like restarting your computer. You may also want to try this even if the lights are blinking normally – we’ve experienced flaky routers that occasionally needed to be reset, just like Windows computers. Bear in mind that it may take your modem a few minutes to reconnect to your Internet service provider.

    If you still experience problems, you may need to perform a factory reset on your router or upgrade its firmware. To test whether the problem is really with your router or not, you can plug your computer’s Ethernet cable directly into your modem. If the connection now works properly, it’s clear that the router is causing you problems.

    Issues With One Computer

    If you’re only experiencing network problems on one computer on your network, it’s likely that there’s a software problem with the computer. The problem could be caused by a virus or some sort of malware or an issue with a specific browser.

    Do an antivirus scan on the computer and try installing a different browser and accessing that website in the other browser. There are lots of other software problems that could be the cause, including a misconfigured firewall.

    DNS Server Problems

    When you try to access Google.com, your computer contacts its DNS server and asks for Google.com’s IP address. The default DNS servers your network uses are provided by your Internet service provider, and they may sometimes experience problems.

    You can try accessing a website at its IP address directly, which bypasses the DNS server. For example, plug this address into your web browser’s address bar to visit Google directly:

    How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

    If the IP address method works but you still can’t access google.com, it’s a problem with your DNS servers. Rather than wait for your Internet service provider to fix the problem, you can try using a third-party DNS server like OpenDNS or Google Public DNS.

    Ultimately, most connection problems you’ll run into are probably someone else’s problem – you can’t necessarily solve them yourself. Often, the only thing you can do is wait for your Internet service provider or a specific website to fix the problem you’re experiencing. (However, restarting a flaky router can solve lots of problems.)

    If you are experiencing problems, you can always try calling your Internet service provider on the phone – you’re paying them for this service, after all. They will also be able to tell you whether it’s a problem that other users are also having — or whether it’s a problem on your end.

    Learning more about basic router troubleshooting is certainly useful when you start experiencing some network connectivity problems. There is nothing better than resolving the problem on your own.

    Rebooting the Router

    The first thing you should try when you come to a problem is to reboot the router. For example, some of your favorite blogs fail to load, the internet connection becomes sluggish, the wireless connection flakes out – all of this and much more can be easily solved by rebooting the router.

    How to troubleshoot wireless router problems

    Rebooting the router is quite simple. All you have to do is to unplug the router, wait a little, and plug it back again. If there is a power switch on your router you can also use the button instead of unplugging the router and plugging it in again.

    Please note that if you have to do this quite often, it is recommended to check the router firmware and upgrade it if necessary.

    Are the Cables Firmly Connected?

    Although this may sound too simple, checking the cable connections is one of the possible solutions. It can happen that we accidentally kick the cable and unplug it or loosen it up. Checking the cables will take only a minute of your time so take this solution into consideration.

    Overheating is a Problem

    Overheating is a problem for every electronic device not only routers. It may cause the route to become unstable so it is good to check the router temperature from time to time. In case your router is too hot, it would be good to take care of the airflow around it. Make sure the vents aren’t blocked or simply place the router in a new location if possible.

    Find a New Place for Your Router

    IF your WiFi signal causes you problems, relocating the router is something you should definitely try. Make sure that there is nothing which can block the signal like electronic devices or some metal objects.

    Additionally, check the router’s antennas. It is good to know that when you position the antennas vertically, the coverage is at the maximum.

    Consider Changing the Wireless Channel

    Interference is a common problem for wireless routers, especially when you live in a building in which there are many wireless routers working in the same frequency. Figuring out which channel to use and changing the router settings so it can work in that channel will greatly reduce interference, resulting in a better wireless signal.

    Reset the Router to Factory Settings

    If there is a big problem with the router settings, resetting the router to factory settings is a good solution. In most cases it is not necessary to do it, but it is good to know how to do it in case you have tried everything else. For example, if someone has changed the default router IP address (192.168.1.1 for example) or change the default router password, and you can’t access the router settings, resetting the router will bring back the default settings and you will be able to login to the router using the default IP, username and password.

    If you decide to do this you have to know that all the previous changes of the router settings will be brought back to default so you will have to configure the router again.

    Final Words

    As you can see the troubleshooting process is not that difficult for now. However, there are other possible reasons for your networking problems like a malfunctioning router, damaged cables and so on. However, before you contact the support team make sure to try all the things we have suggested. Hopefully one of the will solve the problem.