Step 1: Restart the router properly
Off at the wall, not standby. Thirty seconds. Back on. Wait two full minutes for it to reconnect. This resolves a surprisingly large proportion of broadband outages. Routers can lock up or lose their session with the network for various temporary reasons and a full power cycle clears them.
Step 2: Check the router lights
Your routers indicator lights tell you what is happening. In general, a solid broadband or WAN light means connected, a flashing one means trying to connect, and no light on that indicator usually means a physical line fault rather than a software issue.
Step 3: Check for an area outage
Check your providers service status page or Downdetector.co.uk for your provider name. If there is a widespread outage in your area, knowing about it means you can stop troubleshooting and wait rather than wasting time on checks that will not help.
Step 4: Check the physical connections
Make sure every cable is properly seated at both ends. If you are on FTTC, check the microfilter in the wall socket. If you are on full fibre, check that the cable running to the ONT box is secure and that the ONT box has power as it has its own power supply separate from the router.
Step 5: Use your phone as a hotspot in the meantime
If you need internet access urgently, enable the personal hotspot feature on your mobile phone. Go to Settings and look for Personal Hotspot or Hotspot and tethering. Connect your devices to it as you would any WiFi network.
