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How Candidates can verify they are connected to the Internet

Updated over a year ago

Mac:


Check the status of your network on Mac

You can check the status of your network connection, such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi, using Network settings. The information you see here may be useful if you are troubleshooting a connection problem.

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Network in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)

  2. View the network connection status on the right.

    A green, yellow, red, or gray status indicator appears below the service name.



    iPhone:

    Make sure that your router is on and that you're within range

    If you're too far from your Wi-Fi router, you can't get a signal, so ensure you're within range.

    Make sure that Wi-Fi is on and that you can see your network

    Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and make sure that Wi-Fi is on. Tap the name of your Wi-Fi network to join. A blue checkmark beside a network name means that you're connected.

    If you see Auto Join disabled under Settings > Wi-Fi > [Your Network], tap the More Info button and then tap Auto-Join.
    ​

    An iPhone showing the Wi-Fi screen. There's a blue a checkmark next to the Wi-Fi network's name.


    If asked, enter your Wi-Fi password

    If asked, enter the password for your Wi-Fi network. If you don't know your password, get help.

    Even if you enter the correct password, you might see an "unable to join the network" or an "incorrect password" message. Restart all of your devices, then try to enter your password again.

    Check for issues with your Wi-Fi network

    If iOS or iPadOS detects an issue with your Wi-Fi connection, you might see a Wi-Fi recommendation under the name of the Wi-Fi network that you're connected to. For example, you might see the alert "No Internet Connection." To get more information, tap the Wi-Fi network.
    ​

    An iPhone showing the Wi-Fi screen. There's an alert message under the Wi-Fi network's name.


    Check your cables and connections

    If you still can't connect to your network or get online, make sure that your router is connected to the modem and turned on.

    Restart

    Restart your iOS or iPad device.

    You can restart your router, cable, or DSL modem by unplugging the device and then plugging it back in.

    After you restart each device, see if you fixed the issue.

    Reset your network settings

    If you're using iOS or iPadOS 15 or later, tap Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [Device] > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

    If you're using iOS or iPadOS 14 or earlier, tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

    This also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings you've used before.


    ​

    An iPhone showing the Transfer or Reset iPhone screen.

  3. Get more help

    • If you're connected to a Wi-Fi network but can’t get online, try using your Wi-Fi network on other devices. If you can't get online using your other devices, there might be a service outage. Call your cable company or internet provider for help.

    • Try connecting to a Wi-Fi network in a different location. If your device can connect, you need help with your Wi-Fi network. If your device can't connect to any Wi-Fi networks, contact Apple directly.

    • Update your Wi-Fi router with the latest firmware and ensure that it supports your Apple product. For more information, contact the router's manufacturer.



      Windows 11


      ​
      Make sure Wi-Fi is on. Select Start > Settings > Network & internet, then turn on Wi-Fi. Next, select More options (>) next to Wi-Fi, then select Show available networks. If a network you expect to see appears in the list, select it, then select Connect. Open Wi-Fi settings

    • See if you can use the Wi-Fi network to access websites from a different device. If you can’t, restart your modem, router, and device and reconnect to the Wi-Fi.

    • Try turning the Wi-Fi on and off. This can solve issues by restarting your connection.

Windows 10:

Use the Network troubleshooter. Select Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Under Change, your network settings, select Network Troubleshooter. Open Status settings

  • Make sure Wi-Fi is on. Select Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Next, select Show available networks, and if a network you expect to see appears in the list, select it, then select Connect. Open Wi-Fi settings

  • See if you can use the Wi-Fi to access websites from a different device. If you can’t, restart your modem, router, and device and re-connect to the Wi-Fi.


​

Android:

Try these troubleshooting steps if you can't access the Internet on your Android device, either through an app or a website.

Signs of a bad connection

  • Downloads don't start, time out, or remain at 0%.

  • Google Play is stuck on "Loading..."

  • You can't load web pages in a browser.

General troubleshooting tips for Android devices

  1. Restart your device. It might sound simple, but sometimes, fixing a bad connection is all it takes.

  2. If restarting doesn't work, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data:

    • Open your Settings app and tap Network & internet or Connections. Depending on your device, these options may be different.

    • Turn Wi-Fi off and mobile data on, and check for a difference.

    • If not, turn mobile data off and Wi-Fi on and check again.

  3. Try the troubleshooting steps below.

Mobile Data Troubleshooting

Check mobile data & data connection

  1. Open your Settings app and tap Network & internet or Connections

    and then

    Mobile data or Cellular data.

    • You may need to select Data usage on some devices before you find this.

  2. Turn Mobile data or Cellular data on. If it's already on, turn it off and on again.

  3. Check that there is a data indicator, like 2G, 3G, 4G, or H, next to the signal strength bars at the top of the screen

    .

  4. Sometimes this won't display if you have an active Wi-Fi connection. If this is the case, turn Wi-Fi off and check again.

You may be in an area without coverage if you don't get a signal data indicator. If you can, move to a different area, or go outside, and check your signal again.

Tip: If this happens a lot, contact your mobile service provider.

Turn airplane mode on & off

  1. Open your Settings app and tap Network & internet or Connections

    and then

    Airplane Mode. Depending on your device, these options may be different.

  2. Turn Airplane mode on.

  3. Wait for 10 seconds.

  4. Turn Airplane mode off.

  5. Check if the connection problems have been solved.

If you still have problems after you complete these steps, contact your mobile service provider.

Fix Wi-Fi problems

Check that Wi-Fi is turned on & you're connected

  1. Open your Settings app and tap Network & Internet or Connections

    and then

    Wi-Fi. Depending on your device, these options may be different.

  2. Turn Wi-Fi on.

  3. Find the Wi-Fi connection indicator at the top of your screen

    .

  4. If this isn't displayed, or none of the bars are filled in, you may be out of range of a Wi-Fi network.

  5. Move closer to the router, check if you have a stronger Wi-Fi connection, and try again.

Restart your wireless router

If you are connecting to Wi-Fi at home, check your router's manual for instructions on resetting it. Often, you can:

  1. Unplug the router from the electrical outlet and ensure the lights on the router go out.

  2. Wait 30 seconds.

  3. Plug the router back in and wait 30 seconds for all the lights to come back on.

If you still have connectivity issues after you complete these steps, contact your internet service provider or the host of the Wi-Fi network.

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