Spectrum Internet Not Working? Try These Simple Fixes

Spectrum Internet offers some lightning fast internet plans at a reasonable price, but the company isn’t necessarily known for its reliability … or its customer service. If you're having issues with your Spectrum Wi-Fi internet, the best bet may be a little DIY tinkering.

Don’t worry, we’re here to help you out if your Spectrum Wi-Fi and Internet is not working. Here are five ways to fix your Charter Spectrum internet when it’s acting up. One of these methods should work so you can get back to your important work (or your important marathon of Bridgerton season 2).

If you're brand new to Spectrum first visit our guide to self installation. 

Before you start fiddling around with your own devices and connections, you should check that the problem with your internet isn’t on Spectrum’s end. You can check if there’s a network-wide outage in your area using Spectrum’s website.

If you haven’t already, you should enable push notifications from the My Spectrum App. These notifications will let you know when there’s an outage in your area. To enable these notifications just follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the My Spectrum App.
2. Click on Account.
3. Select Set Notifications and then Manage Push Notifications.
4. Click the button next to Outages to enable the notifications.

If there isn’t a Charter Spectrum Internet outage in your area, then the issue might be with your own setup. You can begin investigating the issue by checking your Spectrum Wi-Fi connection.

Check your computer (or other device) network settings to be sure that you’re connected to the correct Wi-Fi network. If you are connected, but there’s still no internet, then you should move on to check your modem and router.

You can reboot your Spectrum modem and Wi-Fi router by following these easy steps:

1. Unplug your Spectrum modem from the wall.
2. Unplug any cords connecting your modem and router.
3. Wait 60 seconds.
4. Plug your devices back in and wait for the Wi-Fi and internet signal lights to turn green. (They may flash green.)

Rebooting your modem and router can free up memory and reset faulty connections with your devices. It’s kind of like the “take out the cartridge and blow on it” fix for internet connections.

If you’ve forgotten your Spectrum Wi-Fi network name or password, you may be able to find them printed on the bottom of your router. Look for a white sticker with a long list of numbers and letters.

If that doesn’t work, you can reset your password by logging into your Spectrum account. Go to the Service section and click on Internet, then follow the instructions for resetting your Wi-FI password.

A strong Wi-Fi network isn’t worth much if your devices aren’t able to connect. Assuming that your modem and router are working just fine, the issue could be with the connection between your computer, tablet, smart TV, or other device.

If your Spectrum Wi-Fi isn't working, Try restarting your internet-connected devices to see if that solves the problem. If your internet still isn’t working, you can sign into your Spectrum account to reset your equipment online. Just follow these steps:

1. Log in to your account using the Spectrum website or the My Spectrum App.
2. Click on the Services tab.
3. Select Internet and then your modem/router.
4. Click on the Experiencing Issues? button.
5. Select Reset Equipment.

You may need to manually reconnect all of your devices after a reset, but hopefully your internet will be working!

Sometimes the problem with your internet isn’t the connection, but the speed of the connection. If you’re experiencing excruciatingly slow internet, there are a few tricks you can try to boost your speeds.

First of all, take an internet speed test. This will give you a baseline for understanding what’s going on with your internet. If you’re paying for 50 Mbps internet, but only getting 10 Mbps speeds, then something’s amiss.

Here are some common causes of slow internet that you can fix with just a few simple tweaks:

• Firewalls: Check your operating system’s firewall to make sure that your browsers and other programs aren’t being blocked.
• VPNs: All virtual private networks will slow your internet speeds to a certain extent. Get a better VPN for your Mac or Windows device to up your speeds.
• RAM overload: If you have too many programs running on your computer at once, it can slow your speeds dramatically. Close any programs you aren’t actively using.
• BitTorrent and other file-sharing programs: File-sharing programs will use some of your internet bandwidth to transfer files to other users. Shutting down these programs (or turning off file-sharing on them) will boost speeds.
• Malware: There’s all kinds of malware out there that will clog up your computer and suck bandwidth from your internet. Run an antivirus program to rid yourself of pesky malware.
• Outdated modem/router technology: Old modems and routers that were made for slower internet technology can muzzle your internet speeds, even when you're paying for a high speed plan. Look into upgrading your equipment.

If you’re still experiencing problems with your internet, you may need to reach out to Spectrum and Charter Communications directly. They may be able to boost your speeds remotely (yes, they can often do this when you complain) or send a technician to help you fix your equipment.

You can reach Spectrum customer service in the following ways:

• 24/7 online chat
• Call (833) 267-6094
• Use the Internet support page