Even a short wi-fi or internet glitch can impact your company’s profits. To avoid these risks, it’s crucial to know the necessary troubleshooting skills. When faced with internet connectivity issues, follow these practical network troubleshooting tips to restore your connection swiftly:
When to Check Wireless Network Connection Status
Determining the optimal moment to verify your connection is as crucial as understanding the procedure itself. Inspect the connection when an error message appears on your screen or when you encounter difficulties with network-connected applications that either crash or become unresponsive.
The approach for assessing your network connection status varies based on the specific device in use. Here are some guidelines for different devices:
Computer or Laptop
Windows, macOS, and other operating systems come equipped with built-in connection management utilities. However, the steps to access this specific area of the software may vary depending on the device you’re using.
For example, you can find the Network and Sharing Center in Windows, which shows the status of both wired and wireless networks. To gain access of the list of network connections in Windows, you need to press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, and then enter the command ncpa.cpl (or netsetup.cpl for Windows XP).
Over different operating systems like macOS, the status bar which is located either at the bottom or top of the screen, features icons that visually represent the connection status.
Moreover, there are third-party applications which are available and offer similar features through alternative user interfaces.
Router
The administrator console of a network router catches important details about both the router’s connection to the outside world and the links for any devices on the Local Area Network (LAN) that are connected to it. To access this information, log in to the router.
If you can access the router by using a mobile app, go to the main screen of the app. Here, you can check whether the entire network is down or if particular devices are disconnected. The app may also display a notification when the network experiences an outage or reconnects to the internet after a power failure or other issues.
Additionally, most routers feature LED lights that indicate the connection status for both the WAN (Wide Area Network) link and any wired connections. Some routers have a single light that turns red when there’s a connection problem. If your router is conveniently located where you can easily see these lights, take the time to learn how to interpret the colors and flashes. This way, you can save time and avoid unnecessary logins to check the connection status.
Reasons Behind Why the Internet is Not Working
Despite the wi-fi symbol indicating a connection, there are several reasons why you might still find yourself without internet access. The most frequent cause is an issue with your router or modem or perhaps a loose cable. However, it’s important to recognize that internet disruptions can also occur due to more intricate technical factors.
Below are the most common reasons why the internet has stopped working:
- If your internet works on one device but not another, the problem may be with the specific device.
- Wi-fi plays an important role in ensuring a stable internet connection. If it is turned off on the device, you won’t be able to connect with any wireless networks.
- Sometimes, websites go down, making it appear as if your internet is faulty. At times, the servers encounter issues, causing challenges when accessing websites through their user-friendly domain names.
- Sometimes, a router causes the actual problem, which leads to an unstable internet connection or no internet connection. Every router has symbols and lights indicating different statuses.
- Ethernet can sometimes lead to no internet access despite being physically connected.
- Incorrect VPN setup or Incorrect proxy server settings can lead to internet problems and disrupt the internet connection.
Troubleshoot Internet Connection Settings
Follow these practical network troubleshooting steps to restore your connection when faced with internet connectivity issues swiftly:
Check Another Device or Website
Disclaimer: The information outlined above for “How to Verify Internet Connection Settings” is applicable to all supported versions, including QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, Accountant, and Enterprise. It is designed to work with operating systems such as Windows 7, 10, and 11, as well as macOS.