How to Fix a Linksys Router That’s Not Connecting to the Internet

First things first! Confirm your ISP status. If there is a network outage at your ISP end, there is nothing to be done on your part than wait.

When your Linksys router cannot connect to the internet, it could be due to loose or damaged cables, network outage at the ISP end, outdated router firmware, or network drivers.

Check all the cables connected to your Linksys router and ensure they are properly connected.

Unplugged or loose cables might be the primary reason your router cannot connect to the internet.

If cables are fine, restart the router. Most of the time, a simple restart is enough to fix all the internet connectivity problems of your Linksys routers. Here’s how to do that:

1. Turn off your Linksys router using the power button on its back.
2. Unplug it from the power source.
3. After 1 minute, plug it back in and turn it On.

If your Linksys router model does not have a power button, skip step # 1.

if restarting the router does not do the trick, try restarting the phone or computer you are trying to use the internet on .

Disable MAC Address Filtering

If MAC Address Filtering is enabled on your Linksys router, it only allows the approved devices to join your network. For most users, disabling this feature has fixed the no internet issue.

Here’s how to disable MAC address filtering on your Linksys router:

You need to perform these steps on a computer or mobile that is connected to your Linksys router.

1. Open a web browser and visit “192.168.1.1” (without inverted commas). You will be asked to enter login details.

The default username & password is admin.

3. Once logged in, click the Wireless tab.
4. Next, select Wireless MAC Filter option, and select Disable. See the screenshot below:

5. Click Save to apply the changes.

Still having trouble? Disconnect from VPN (if you’re using), update network card drivers, and the router firmware.

Don’t worry; I will explain each of the above methods in detail.

Disconnect from VPN

If you are using a VPN, the outage or issues at the VPN end of things can also disrupt your internet.

So, try a different VPN or temporarily disconnect from the VPN and check if this fixes the problem.

Still, having issues? Continue reading.

Update Network Drivers

If you haven’t updated the network drivers lately on your Windows PC, there is a high possibility that updating them will fix the problem.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Open Device Manager. Expand the Network adapters section.
2. Right-click on your network adapter and click on Update Driver option.
3. Select Search automatically for the driver option.

Once the drivers are updated, restart your PC.

Update your Router’s Firmware

For proper functioning, your Linksys router firmware needs to be updated regularly.

Although Linksys router updates its firmware automatically, sometimes the automatic update might fail. In that case, you will have to install them manually.

First, you will need to download the firmware file for your router. To do that:

1. Visit the Linksys support page and enter your router model number. As my router model was E1200, I have written E1200 in the search field.
2. Click on the Get Support button.

3. Click Downloads/Firmware to download your router’s latest firmware and save it to your desktop.

The file format of firmware file should be .bin, .img, or .bix.

4. Now, connect your computer to your router through an ethernet cable.
5. Open a web browser and visit “192.168.1.1”. You will be asked to enter login details.
6. Once logged in, click the Administration option in the left side panel and select Firmware Upgrade.
7. Click the Browse button and select the firmware file you downloaded.
8. Click on the Start Upgrade button. Now, your router will start upgrading its firmware.

Do not turn off your router during the upgrade process, as it can cause permanent damage to your router.

9. Once the upgrade is successful, click on the Continue button.

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If you have any questions about this guide, ask me!