Router Has No Internet, Wi-Fi Connected but Nothing Loads
When devices connect to the Wi-Fi but nothing loads, the router is usually working and the break is between the router and the internet. The usual message on phones and computers is “Connected, no internet” or “Wi-Fi connected, no internet access”. Start with the modem and the line, not with Wi-Fi settings.
The fix, in order
Check whether every device is affected. If only one device has no internet, the problem is that device, restart it and forget and rejoin the Wi-Fi network. If every device is affected, keep going, the problem is the router, modem, or line.
Power cycle modem first, then router. Unplug both from power, wait 60 seconds, plug the modem back in and wait until its lights settle (usually one to three minutes), then plug the router back in. This clears a stale session with your provider.
Check the modem lights. If the modem's online or internet light is off or blinking and never goes solid, the modem has no connection to your provider. See the modem no internet guide for the light-by-light checks.
Check the cables. Reseat the cable from the wall or fiber box into the modem, and the Ethernet cable from the modem into the router's WAN or Internet port. A loose coax or fiber cable is a common cause after cleaning or moving furniture.
Check for an outage. Using mobile data, check your provider's status page or app for a known outage in your area. If there is one, no router setting will fix it until the provider repairs it.
Bypass the router to test. Plug a computer directly into the modem with an Ethernet cable. If the internet works, the line is fine and the router needs attention, try a factory reset. If it does not work, the problem is upstream, contact your provider through its official support channel.
A factory reset erases your Wi-Fi name and password and every custom setting. Write down your Wi-Fi password before resetting, or you will have to set the network up from scratch.
If it still happens
If the modem's online light stays off after a proper power cycle, tight cables, and no reported outage, the fault is usually on the provider's side: a line fault, a provisioning problem, or a failed modem. Contact your provider through its official support channel and tell them the modem's online light never goes solid, that detail points them at the line rather than your Wi-Fi.
Common questions
Why does my Wi-Fi say connected but there is no internet? Connected only means your device can talk to the router. It does not mean the router can talk to the internet. The break is usually between the router and your provider.
Will restarting the router fix no internet? Often, yes. A restart clears temporary glitches and forces a fresh connection to your provider. It is the first fix to try, and it solves the majority of sudden no-internet cases.
Is it my router or an outage? Check the modem lights and your provider's status page on mobile data. If the modem cannot get online and the status page shows an outage, it is the outage. If there is no outage and the modem light stays off, the line or modem is the suspect.