Is my internet working? Test your connection instantly.
Connection acting up? Work down the list.
This tester reaches several independent hosts at once, so a green result means the internet genuinely answered — not just that one server happened to be up. If you're seeing DEGRADED or NO, here's the fast path.
1. Confirm it's not just one site
- Check a site's status at Is it Down or Just Me?. If it's down for everyone, the problem isn't you.
- Any HTTP error you can read (403, 404, 500) means you reached the server — so your internet is working; that one page is just unhappy.
2. Flush your DNS cache
If pages won't resolve but a raw IP loads, DNS is the suspect.
- Windows: in an admin terminal, run
ipconfig /flushdns - macOS:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder - Linux (systemd):
sudo resolvectl flush-caches
Still stuck? Try a public resolver like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) in your network settings.
3. Restart the chain, closest thing first
- Toggle Wi-Fi off and on, or unplug and replug the Ethernet cable.
- Reboot the router/modem: unplug power, wait 30 seconds, plug back in. Watch for a steady (not blinking) internet light.
- Reboot the computer — it forces a fresh DHCP lease.
- Test a second device, or tether to your phone. If only one device fails, the problem is that device's adapter, not the line.
4. Reach your router's admin page
Find the gateway address — ipconfig (Windows, "Default Gateway") or ip route (Linux/macOS, "default via") — and open it in a browser. Common defaults are 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. If the admin page loads but says "no internet" or "acquiring," the issue is upstream at your ISP — check Downdetector and call them.
5. Measure the line
Once you're back online, see what you're actually getting: Speedtest, Fast.com, or Cloudflare Speed Test.
Internet troubleshooting FAQ
How do I check if my internet is working?
Open this page. It fetches tiny resources from several independent hosts — Google, Cloudflare, Apple, and Mozilla — all at once. If two or more respond, your internet is working. Checking multiple independent hosts means one company's outage can't be mistaken for your own connection being down.
Why does my internet say "connected" but there's no internet?
Being connected to Wi-Fi only means you reached your router — not the wider internet. If nothing loads, the usual causes are a DNS failure, a captive portal (a sign-in page on public Wi-Fi), or an outage at your ISP. Flushing your DNS cache and rebooting the router fixes most cases.
How do I flush my DNS cache?
On Windows, run ipconfig /flushdns in an admin terminal. On macOS, run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder. On Linux with systemd, run sudo resolvectl flush-caches.
Why is my internet slow even though it's connected?
A working connection can still be slow if the link is congested, the Wi-Fi signal is weak, another device or download is saturating your bandwidth, or you've hit an ISP data cap. Move closer to the router, pause big downloads, and run a speed test to see what you're actually getting.