WiFi doesn’t work after power outage and you’re wondering why?
Straightforwardly, we can say that the WiFi is actually working. There is a difference between non-working WiFi and WiFi that does not receive internet.
When the user is able to connect to the WiFi, then the WiFi is working, therefore, there is no internet.
Let’s learn more!
When you connect to the WiFi after a power outage and you see an error saying “no internet connection”, there is no data sent from the DNS server. That could mean a router problem, no internet from the supplier, or a local network issue that can be solved.
Let’s next learn what are the most efficient solutions when there is no WiFi after a power outage!
How To Fix WiFi After Power Outage?
The solution is simple.
We first need to understand where the problem is coming from by addressing each possibility and then taking the necessary actions against the problem.
In that set of thoughts, it would be recommended not to skip any of the solutions below!
Let’s jump right in!
Solution #1 Try On Multiple Devices!
Sometimes the problem with the WiFi connection might not be related to the router, instead, you’ll need to test connecting to that particular WiFi using another device.
Take your smartphone and test whether you can connect and surf online!
In case the WiFi is unreachable or there is no internet on more than one device, we now know that the problem is related to the network router/modem so we’ll shift our attention in this direction.
Tip: Feel free to use a computer, laptop, tablet, or any device that can connect to WiFi.
Solution #2 Hard Reset The Router
The next and most commonly used method against WiFi/internet problems after a power outage is to power cycle/hard reset the network router.
The operation is simple!
Follow the steps below to hard reset the network router:
- On the back of the router, there should be a Power button.
- Press the power button once to turn OFF the router/modem.
- Unplug the device from the wall outlet for at least 60 seconds.
- Reconnect the device to the power source.
- Wait for an additional 60 seconds for the WiFi to come online.
When the hard reset is over, test whether there will be internet on the WiFi.
In case the issue is persistent, let’s learn what else might prevent the networking to function.
Solution #3 Check The DNS Server!
There is an easy way to check whether your internet provider is sending internet over to your router.
When the service provider is located near your local area, that means that they also experienced a power outage.
In that set of thoughts, the ISP might need some time to restore the internet.
However, to know for sure, follow the steps below:
- Connect a Windows desktop computer to the router’s WiFi or via Ethernet cable.
- Verify that there is no internet on the WiFi.
- Rick-click on the Internet/WiFi icon on the Taskbar Tray.
- Choose Troubleshoot Problems.
- Wait until the tool automatically detects issues.
There are two possibilities here. The network tool will either recognize the issue and solve a possible IP conflict, or simply say “DNS Server Not Responding”.
In case you see this message you would know that the problem is coming from the ISP and you simply need to wait.
Note: In case you see any other error message, proceed with the next solution!
Solution #4 Change The Power Source
In some rare cases, the WiFi problem after a power outage comes from the wall outlet.
Sometimes the electricity after a recent power outage is weaker than usual, preventing your router from functioning properly.
In that regard, there are two options you can attempt!
- You can either wait for the electricity to restore fully
- Change the power source and remove any power strips
You can change the power source right away and test whether that will help, but if the electricity is weak or fluctuating, the WiFi might not work as well.
Tip: Test the strength of the current by turning on a lamp and checking whether the light is weak or at full capacity.
Solution #5 Change WiFi Channel
The power outage acts like a restart of the entire network equipment and sometimes your WiFi might be located in a different WiFi channel than before.
In that regard, you’ll need to enter your router’s control panel and switch between channels until your WiFi/internet comes back!
To enter your router’s control panel follow the steps below:
- Connect the Windows computer to the router via WiFi/Ethernet cable.
- On the computer, open the Start Menu.
- Type “CMD” and open the Command Prompt as an Administrator.
- Type “ipconfig” and press the Enter button.
- Copy the Default Gateway IP address.
- Open your internet browser and paste the copied IP address.
- Use admin/admin or admin/password to log in.
- From there go to Advanced Wireless Settings.
- Choose the 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz WiFi to configure.
- Switch the WiFi channel to another one and press Save.
Feel free to test multiple WiFi channels until you start receiving internet on the network!
Note: You don’t need to restart the router for the changes to take effect.
Solution #6 Flush The DNS (Reset IP)
In case the WiFi not working after power outage, even after all of the previous solutions, then the issue is most likely related to an IP conflict on your side.
To solve the problem, follow the steps from solution #4 to enter the Command Prompt.
From there follow the steps below:
- In the CMD write “ipconfig/flushdns”.
- Press the Enter button.
- After that type “ipconfig/registerdns”.
- Next “ipconfig/release” > “ipconfig/renew”.
In addition, you should open the Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings.
From there, right-click your Ehterhet connection and choose Disable and after a few seconds, right-click again and choose Enable.
Note: If a warning prompt “IP Conflict” appears, the problem with the WiFi will be gone!
Solution #7 Factory Reset The Router/Modem
This is the most powerful and drastic measure against the WiFi problem after the power outage.
The factory reset will revert ALL router settings to default, and possibly solve any internal software-related problems.
Tip: Wait at least a few hours after the power outage before resetting your router!
In case you’re confident and want to proceed with the reset, here’s how:
- Make sure that your router is turned ON.
- On the back of the device, there is a reset button, located in a pinhole.
- Grab a sharp and thin object that can reach inside the reset hole.
- Hold the reset button for 10 seconds.
- Your router will be reset.
The reset usually takes about 5 minutes, but in some cases, it might take more.
Be patient and allow the reset to conclude before powering ON/OFF your router.
WiFi Doesn’t Work After Power Outage – What’s Next?
In case you’ve attempted everything in this guide but the WiFi is not quite working, now several hours after the power outage it’s time to call the service provider.
Maybe something went wrong in the installation, or the ISP is not delivering network data to your equipment.
Make sure to share what you’ve already tried in this guide to save time!
With a bit of luck, the issue would turn out to be a minor problem that can be solved in no time and you’ll receive instructions on what to do next.
Keep in mind that the power outage could have damaged your router/modem irresistibly so be prepared for the worst!
Alert: Your router is not working when the LED icons are not flickering!
Quick Recap:
Hence, the WiFi is not working after a power outage, because the source’s electricity is fluctuating or because there is no connection to the DNS server. The solution includes restarting your network equipment, changing the WiFi channel, and flushing the DNS.
Read Next: Why Does My WiFi Speed Fluctuate So Much?
Final Thoughts:
Well, here we’ve learned why WiFi doesn’t work after power outage and what the fastest and most-effective solutions are.
In case the problem is persistent, don’t forget that your ISP plays a vital role in whether you’ll receive internet or not. Make sure to get in touch!
We hope that this post was helpful and for more relevant guides, check our tech blog!
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.