Power cycle your network hardware

You can solve several common types of home network problems by powercycling. Power cycle is a term commonly used for turning off network hardware and turning it on again in a particular order.

Allow approximately five minutes to complete both of the following procedures.

 Tip 

1. Turn off your network hardware

  1. At each computer in your network, save any work, close all programs, and shut down the computer.
 
  1. Turn off the power to your router.
 
  1. If your network uses a cable modem or DSL modem that is separate from your router, turn off the power to your modem.
 
  1. Wait five minutes.

    Doing this allows your router and, if applicable, your modem to initialize completely.
 
  1. Continue with the next procedure. 

2.  Turn on your network hardware

  1. If your network uses a cable modem or DSL modem that is separate from your router, turn on the power to your modem.
 
  1. Turn on the power to your router.
 
  1. Turn on each computer in your network.