What to Do When the Whole Office Loses Internet

When everyone in the office loses internet at the same time, here's the fastest path to getting back online. Step 1: Confirm it's the whole office Ask a colleague or check another device (your phone on Wi-Fi). If only you are affected, see the "No Internet Connection" article for individual device troubleshooting. Step 2: Check the modem/router lights Look at the lights on your modem (the device from your ISP — Comcast, AT&T, etc.) and router. - Solid lights = device is working - No lights or all red/orange = power or hardware issue - Blinking lights in unusual patterns = often indicates an ISP problem Step 3: Power cycle the modem and router This fixes the majority of office-wide outages. 1. Unplug the modem power cable (the device connected to the coax or phone line from the wall) 2. Unplug the router power cable 3. Wait 30 seconds 4. Plug the modem in first — wait 1–2 minutes until its lights stabilize 5. Plug the router back in — wait another minute 6. Test internet on any device Step 4: Check if the ISP has an outage Use your phone's mobile data to check your ISP's status page or social media: - Comcast/Xfinity: xfinity.com/support/status - AT&T: att.com/internet/outage/ - You can also search "[ISP name] outage" on Twitter/X for real-time reports Step 5: Call the ISP if the problem is on their end If their status page shows an outage, call their business support line. Business accounts typically get faster support than residential. Step 6: Call us If the modem/router restart doesn't help and the ISP says there's no outage, the problem may be with your internal network equipment (router, switch, access points). Call us at (269) 261-0269 and we'll remote in or come on-site. Temporary workaround: If internet is critical and you're waiting for repair, mobile hotspots (using a cell phone or dedicated hotspot device) can keep key staff working. Most smartphones can share their data connection via Settings > Hotspot.