What to Do If You Lose Internet at Home
By Carla Serra ·
If you lose your home internet, the first thing to do is restart the router, check that the cables are properly connected, and look at the lights on the device. Most outages are solved with these steps in just a few minutes. If you’re still without a connection after trying, you’ll probably need help from your provider.
First things first: is it your Wi-Fi or your internet?
A Wi-Fi problem isn’t the same as a full connection failure. Start with this quick check:
- See whether the problem affects all your devices or just one.
- If only one phone or computer is affected, the problem is likely with that device, not the line.
- If everything fails at once, the outage is coming from the router or the fiber connection.
This clue saves you time and tells you where to start.
1. Restart the router
It sounds basic, but it solves most issues. The router is a small computer and, like any computer, sometimes it just needs a restart.
- Switch it off using the button or unplug it from the mains.
- Wait at least 30 seconds before turning it back on.
- Give it a couple of minutes to fully start up and pick up the signal again.
Don’t switch it off and on too quickly: that short pause is what lets the router resynchronize with the network.
2. Check cables and connections
A loose cable is one of the most common causes, and one of the easiest to overlook.
- Check that the fiber cable is properly plugged into the router. Don’t bend it too much: fiber is delicate.
- Check the power cable and that the socket has power.
- If you’re connecting any device with a network cable, make sure it’s firmly plugged in at both ends.
3. Read the router’s lights
The LED lights tell you a lot about what’s going on. Every model varies slightly, but this general guide will help:
| Light | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Steady green | Everything’s fine, there’s a connection. |
| Flashing | The router is trying to connect, or there’s data traffic. |
| Red or orange | Connection or fiber signal problem. |
| Off | No power, or service interrupted. |
If you see a red light on the fiber or internet indicator that doesn’t go away after restarting, make a note of it: it’ll be very useful when you call us.
4. Check your Wi-Fi
If the router is fine but the Wi-Fi is failing, try the following:
- Move closer to the router to rule out coverage issues.
- Forget the Wi-Fi network on your device and reconnect using the password.
- Turn airplane mode on and off on your phone so it searches for the network again.
- If you can, connect by cable: if that works, the problem is with the Wi-Fi, not the line.
5. Is it just you, or a wider issue?
Sometimes the outage isn’t in your home. To find out:
- Use mobile data to check whether there’s an issue in your area.
- Ask a neighbor who also has fiber whether they’re having the same problem.
- If it’s a wider outage, the most effective thing is to let us know so we’re aware of it.
6. Check the device that’s failing
If you’ve confirmed the line is working but one specific device still can’t get online, the problem is with that device. Try these steps:
- Restart it. Turning your phone, tablet or computer off and on solves many one-off glitches.
- Make sure it’s not in airplane mode, or with data and Wi-Fi accidentally switched off.
- Update the system. A very old version can cause connection problems.
- Temporarily turn off your VPN if you use one, as it can sometimes block browsing.
Testing this on two different devices quickly confirms whether the issue is general or just with one device.
How to keep a good connection at home
Beyond outages, there are habits that help your internet perform better day to day:
- Restart the router every so often, even if it’s working fine. It does it good.
- If your home is large, consider a repeater or Wi-Fi system to reach every room.
- Check how many devices are connected at once; a lot of them using data at the same time can be noticeable.
- Keep your Wi-Fi password protected so no one else piggybacks on your network.
Small tricks that help
- Place the router in an open spot, not shut away in a cabinet. Walls and obstacles reduce Wi-Fi range.
- Keep it away from microwaves and other devices that can cause interference.
- Keep it well ventilated. Excessive heat affects performance.
- With Floutel’s symmetrical fiber (600 Mbps or 1 Gbps), your upload and download speeds match; if everything suddenly feels slow, it’s usually a sign of an issue, not your plan.
When to call Floutel
If you’ve done all the checks and you’re still without a connection, it’s time for us to lend a hand. Call us when:
- The router shows a red light for fiber or internet that won’t go away.
- You’ve restarted it and checked the cables, but nothing changes.
- The outage happens several times a day for no clear reason.
- You suspect there’s a wider fault in your area.
When you call, have on hand which lights are on and which steps you’ve already tried. That way we can get straight to the solution. You can check more common questions in our FAQs or find out about our fiber and mobile options.
We’re here to help
Losing your internet is a nuisance, but it can almost always be fixed quickly. And when it can’t, you’re not on your own: at Floutel we treat you like a person, with friendly service and no small print, based in Manresa and serving all of Spain. If you need help, call us on 900 525 523 and we’ll sort it out together.
