When every device joins Wi-Fi but none reaches the internet, focus on modem/ONT, provider status, router WAN address and cabling—not individual device resets. Check the provider's status page or app and the modem's status lights. Look at the router's WAN status page for an address and a gateway.
Differential
Likely causes of “Wi-Fi says connected but no device has internet”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The provider has an outage or a provisioning problem
What separates it Every device joins Wi-Fi but no page loads, and the modem's online or internet light is off or red.
How to confirm Check the provider's status page or app and the modem's status lights.
- 2
The router's WAN link is down or has no address
What separates it The modem shows online but the router's internet light is off or red, and the router's status page shows no WAN address.
How to confirm Look at the router's WAN status page for an address and a gateway.
- 3
A failed or loose WAN cable
What separates it The lights flicker or the link speed is low, and the cable between modem and router has been moved or bent.
How to confirm Reseat both ends firmly or try a different known-good cable.
- 4
The modem needs a restart in the provider's order
What separates it The modem and router were restarted in the wrong order after a power cut and neither obtained an address.
How to confirm Restart the modem first until online, then the router, then a test device.
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The modem's and router's lights and the provider's status.
- The router's WAN address and whether it changes on a restart.
- Whether a device connected by Ethernet directly to the modem works.
Try in this order
0 of 4 completedCapture the exact symptom
ReversibleCheck provider status and modem/ONT lights, then try two unrelated sites on two devices.
Run the smallest isolation test
ReversibleRestart in provider order: modem/ONT first until online, then router, then one test device; inspect the WAN cable.
Correct only the proven cause
ReversibleCorrect the upstream outage, account/provisioning issue or failed WAN cable identified by status and lights.
Verify before changing anything else
ReversibleConfirm two devices can load sites and a video after the network has been stable for ten minutes.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Contact the provider with the light patterns and any WAN status if the modem itself shows no online state.
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
In what order should I restart the modem and router?+
Restart the modem first and wait until it is online, then restart the router, then test one device. Doing it the other way round can leave the router without an address.
What does Wi-Fi connected with no internet mean?+
Your devices reach the router, but the router cannot reach the internet. The fault is usually the modem, the provider or the link between them.
What should I try first?+
Restart the modem and router, wait a few minutes and check the modem's internet light. If several devices still fail, the problem is upstream.
When should I call my provider?+
If the modem shows no internet or a red or amber light after a restart, contact the provider to check for an outage or line fault.