WiFi Connection

Reset a router and modem if you suspect your network isn’t working as it should. Maybe web pages aren’t loading, Netflix freezes halfway through a movie, or your smart speakers suddenly stop playing music.

Whatever the case may be, restarting the router gives it time to cool off and flush out its memory. Sometimes, especially with older hardware, having the router on and working in overdrive for too long is enough to demand a restart.

Steps To Reset A Router:

1. Unplus both router and modem. If you have other managed network hardware, such as a network switch, unplug that hardware too.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds
3. Plug the modem back in
4. Wait at least 60 seconds
5. Plug the router back in
6. Wait at least 2 minutes
7. Test to see if the problem was fixed

A Frequent Fix To Router Problems 75% Of The Time

Resetting a router is one of the simplest troubleshooting steps you can take to fix your Wi-Fi connection. We know this answer can be annoying but the fact is, resetting a router fixes a lot of problems.

Restarting also fixes problems with network hardware, such as a digital modem (be it cable, DSL, satellite, or fiber) as wells as a router. Did your smartphone and laptop both lose connection to the internet? Is your NAS no longer showing up on your desktop? Are your connected devices sluggish when it comes to streaming and browsing online? If so, reboot the router and modem. Rebooting network hardware corrects network and internet issues 75 percent of the time or more.

The router and modem must be restarted in the right order for the reboot to fix the problem. If the devices are not rebooted in the correct order, you could lose internet connectivity completely.

If Resetting Doesn’t Work?

If rebooting the router and modem didn’t fix the problem, You need more specific troubleshooting methods for the network or internet use. ClickAway can do this for you or continue with DIY tips. If the modem has trouble getting a signal from your ISP (the first three lights aren’t solid), contact your ISP for help. Otherwise, look closer at the network setup inside your home.

A Reboot Doesn’t Change Your Settings 

There is a fundamental difference between resetting a router or modem and rebooting one. One is more temporary than the other and both are used for unique purposes.

A Reset Reverts to Factory Settings 

To reset a router or modem is the short version of a factory reset of the device, which means removing the wireless settings and other configurations. Resetting puts the router or modem in its original default state before any changes were made to it, which includes reinstating the default router password, clearing the Wi-Fi password, deleting custom DNS servers, and more. Reset a modem or router by using the Reset button that’s usually located on the back or side of the device.

How Often Should I Reboot My Router?

There is no hard and fast rule about how often to restart your router. For smoother performance overall, consider taking this step on some schedule outside of addressing sluggish network issues as they arise. You may prefer to create your own weekly or monthly routine or look to the router’s manufacturer for guidance.

Steps to connect Alexa to WiFi

To connect Alexa to WiFi network or a new network, open the Alexa app and tap Devices. Then select Echo & Alexa and choose the Alexa device you want to connect. Finally, tap Change next to WiFi Network and enter the WiFi password for that network. Don’t forget to read our FAQ about the best passwords for WiFi as we are seeing an increasing number of hacks. Amazon also provides some tips that might be useful.

My Alexa is Not Connecting to the Internet

• Check your internet connection to be sure it’s working properly. … 
• Manually restart both the modem and wireless router, wait five minutes, then connect Alexa to Wi-Fi. … 
• Restart the Alexa-enabled device. … 
• Confirm that the Wi-Fi password is correct.

How to connect Google Home to WiFi

Your Google Home or Google Assistant Speaker hangs on your every word in order to bring music requests, smart home control and answers to queries – but only if it’s connected to Wi-Fi.

This link should be made during the initial setup of your Google Nest Mini, Nest Audio or Nest Hub. If you’re changing Wi-Fi networks or connecting again after the initial setup, you’ll need to scour through the menus of the Google Home app.

During initial setup, you’ll be prompted to connect your speaker to a Wi-Fi network, but you can always go into the settings menu of an individual device and reconnect if, for whatever reason, the device has forgotten your network.

You will need the Google Home app installed on your phone or tablet, which you can do through the App Store or Google Play store.

Connecting to Wi-Fi during initial setup

• Open the Google Home app.
• Click the + sign top left and tap Set up device.
• Go through the menus, selecting the location of your device and its name.
• When the list of Wi-Fi networks appear, choose your network, enter the password and tap Connect. 
• The pair will then shake hands for a few moments, before the app notifies you the device is connected. 

Connect to Wi-Fi after initial setup

• Open the Google Home app. 
• Select the device you want to connect to Wi-Fi from your list of rooms (or from the Local devices section in Account), then select the settings cog in the top-right. 
• Select the Wi-Fi tab ( and choose your network from the list, entering the password and tapping Connect.

Troubleshooting – Google Home won’t connect to WiFi

The above steps should be enough to see your speaker connect to your Wi-Fi network, but we know through experience this isn’t always the case. If your Google Home can’t connect to Wi-Fi, try the steps below:

• Restart your router and wait 30 seconds.
• Reset your Google Home or Assistant-enabled device to factory settings.
• Update the firmware on your router.
• Ensure your speaker and phone/tablet is within ample range of the router.
• Check your phone or tablet is connected to the same network you’re trying to connect your speaker to.

Knowing how to change Wi-Fi password will keep your internet safe. Changing your Wi-Fi password to something more protected rather than the factory settings, and to something you can remember is important.

A Wi-Fi password allows devices to connect to the wireless network created by the router in your home or business. This is either the router’s default Wi-Fi password or a password that you assigned to the router when you set it up. Without a good password, your network could be vulnerable to snoopers, drive-by hackers, or other types of threats. 

Hacking isn’t just for computers. Wi-Fi routers and cable modems can get hacked, too. And since router hacks can affect your entire Wi-Fi network, they can be even more dangerous. 

Steps to change Wi-Fi password

Your password should be complicated enough to be difficult to guess yet still straightforward for you to remember it. The actual steps to know how to change Wi-Fi password will vary based on the brand and model of your router, but the basic process is the same.

The only negative to changing your password is that after it is reset, you will have to log back into your network from every wireless device in your home or business. This includes all laptops and desktops, tablets, cell phones, smart TVs, Blu-ray players, smart speakers, gaming consoles and any other smart home device you have connected to the network. ClickAway can do this for you quickly in person if you’d rather. But here are the DIY steps to learn how to change Wi-Fi password and create a more secure wireless network:

1. Log into your router’s firmware. To do this, open your browser and type the IP address of your router in the address field. In Windows 10 you can go through the settings app >network & internet > Status. Select “view hardware and connection properties.
2. Change your router settings. At the firmware’s home page, select a tab that says “wireless” or similar. Make sure security is set to WPA2. That’s the strongest level available for personal Wi-Fi networks. Now, look for an entry for your current password. Type the new password in the correct field and click apply.
3. Log into all your other connected devices and change the network settings to the new Wi-Fi password.

How to create a strong Wi-Fi password

If your password is something like 123456789 you should create a stronger password immediately. Likewise, if your password is long and difficult such as #$%54GN@!*, this will be quite hard to remember. When choosing a new password, try to follow these suggestions:

• It is better to have a longer password — 8 characters at least. A 16-letter password using only lower-case letters yields a brute force time to break of about 14 years. Adding a single upper-case letter increases this to over 400,000 centuries.
• Forgo regular dictionary words, they are very easy to hack. 
• You can play with spelling — deviating from the correct spelling is a good thing for passwords.
• Avoid weak obvious passwords like 1234567890 or abc12345.

Signs your Wi-Fi network has been hacked

Your router is responsible for managing the connection between your internet-connected devices and your home Wi-Fi. Once your router has been successfully hacked, the third-party can carry out malicious activities including identity theft, malware attacks and website reroutes. Here are a few symptoms of a compromised router:

• Your router login is no longer effective
• Foreign IP addresses are listed on your network
• You’re receiving ransomware and fake antivirus messages
• Software installations are taking place without your permission
• Your internet service provider reaches out to you.

Depending on the culprit behind your router’s hack, you may notice any one of several signs that your network has been compromised. If the hacker is simply looking to access a free Wi-Fi connection, your only sign may be a foreign IP address listed on your network and slower speeds than usual. opens in a new windowForbes published an article recently about drive-by hackers and the importance of resetting your router and password. Contact ClickAway for details on how to reset a router or for help learning how to change Wi-Fi password.