My TV says the internet is working, but my laptop says it isn't. Which one is lying to me?

Question:
I never know what to do when one of my devices says there's no internet, but everything else seems to be working fine. I usually end up unplugging things and hoping for the best. Is there a way to figure out what's actually wrong without being a computer expert?

The short answer

If your TV is happily streaming while your laptop insists there's no internet, that's actually a useful clue.

Your internet connection itself is probably working. The problem is more likely with that particular device's connection to the internet.

So before unplugging everything in sight, start with the device that's having trouble.

First, check its Wi-Fi

Make sure Wi-Fi is actually turned on.

Then check whether the device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network you normally use.

Sometimes a phone, tablet, or computer disconnects without you realizing it, or it tries to connect to a different nearby network.

Try turning Wi-Fi off and back on

On the device that isn't connecting:

1. Turn Wi-Fi off.

2. Wait a few seconds.

3. Turn Wi-Fi back on.

4. Give the device a moment to reconnect.

That simple step can sometimes clear up a temporary connection problem.

Next, restart the device

If Wi-Fi looks correct but the device still won't connect, restart the phone, tablet, computer, or other device.

Again, this may clear a temporary glitch without requiring you to change anything more complicated.

If you know your Wi-Fi password

You can also try telling the device to forget the Wi-Fi network and then connecting to it again.

But before you do this, make sure you know the Wi-Fi password. Once you forget the network, the device will usually ask for the password before reconnecting.

Pay attention to what the other devices are doing

If one device can't connect but everything else can, focus on that device.

If nothing can get online, the problem may instead be with your modem, router, or internet service.

And if your device says it's connected to Wi-Fi but websites still won't load, that can mean the device is connected to the router but the router itself isn't reaching the internet.

The takeaway

You don't need to diagnose your entire home network every time one device misbehaves.

Start by asking:

Is this happening on one device—or all of them?

That one question can point you in the right direction before you start unplugging anything.

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