Network connections issues can bring a halt to your life if you’re a tech-dependent person! While they are a big pain, they’re relatively easy to solve. Network troubleshooting is a process to identify an error/ fault, look for its cause, and fix the issues. You can use tools to troubleshoot network, but doing it yourself is easy.

If your home network or work network is down, try troubleshooting the network error before panicking. Stay calm and identify the type of issue you’re facing. This could be a network connectivity issue, bandwidth issue, connectivity device configuration issue, or IP address issue. Check physical connections too. We’ll discuss these in this guide in a bit!

How to troubleshoot network connection issues?

The first thing to do is identifying the issues. You can start by understanding the nature of the problem. Determine which resources have been impacted and think if you’ve faced such issues before or not. This process may even hint at the culprits behind the disruption. 

Assess how serious the is problem!  

To check how serious the issue is, you can use tools that help you diagnose and monitor Network connectivity. You should also try to find out whether the issue is restricted to a specific local network or has something to do with the internet connection on on a large-scale. Ask your network providers, check with other users, or search the web for any large-scale connectivity disruption. 

Also, Check Network Alterations and see if your devices were recently updated or modified. This could be a software alteration, operating systems, hardware, or connectivity apparatus. You can identify these alterations in your system by looking for the following: 

• Were there recent system or software upgrades or updates? 
• Have new devices been added the network recently? 
• Were any devices configuration or reconfiguration? 
• Assess user activity, for example, new users, new devices, or any unauthorized activity? 

Once you’ve run a thorough check-up and diagnostic analysis, follow the steps given below to fix the issues and errors with you. Here’s a free and accurate network troubleshooting step-by-step guide for you:

Basic Network Troubleshooting

• Check Physical Connections: Ensure that all cables, including Ethernet cables and those from your modem/router, are securely connected. 
• Check duplication of IP address: To check whether the computer is receiving a valid IP address or not, type “ipconfig” in the command prompt.

If the IP address starts with 169, it’s receiving an invalid IP. 

• Restart Your Device: It might seem obvious, but restarting your computer can solve a number of tech issues, including network connection problems. 
• Restart Your Modem/Router: Turn off your modem and router for about 30 seconds, then turn them back on. Wait for all lights to stabilize and then check the connection. 

Network Troubleshooter

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. 
• Click on Internet Connections and run the troubleshooter.
  Windows will attempt to diagnose and fix any detected issues automatically. 

Reset Network Configuration

• Using Command Prompt, you can refresh your network settings: 
• Right-click on the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). 

Type the following commands one by one: 

• Restart your computer. 

Update Network Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause connection issues. Update step-by-step as mentioned below: 

• Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager. 
• Expand the Network Adapters section. 
• Right-click on your network adapter and choose Update driver. 
• Follow the on-screen instructions. 

Forget Network

If you’re using a wireless connection: 

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. 
• Click on Manage known networks. 
• Find your network, click on it, and select Forget. Reconnect by selecting your network and entering your password. 

Configure IP Settings Manually

Sometimes, setting a static IP can resolve connection issues: 

• Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings. 

• Click your connection and choose Properties. 

• Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). 
• Choose “Use the following IP address” and “Use the following DNS server addresses” and input the appropriate values.
  Note: Consult your network admin or Internet Service Provider for these values. 

Disable VPN or Antivirus Temporarily

VPN software or antivirus programs can sometimes interfere with network connections.
Try disabling them temporarily to see if your connection improves. 

Reset Network Settings

This will reinstall network devices and set other networking components back to their original settings. Be cautious, as you’ll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks and reconfigure other network settings afterward. 

Check for Windows Updates

Sometimes, the solution can be as simple as updating Windows. New updates may come with patches that address network issues. 

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. 
• Check for updates and install any available ones. 

Contact your Internet Service Provider 

If all else fails, the problem might not be on your end. It’s possible that your internet service provider is experiencing issues. Give them a call to inquire. 

 FAQs  

1. How to troubleshoot network connectivity problems?  

Test connectivity Ping. Its a remote device to test connectivity.  OR Find out your IP address. Try resetting your IP address to check for a DHCP error.

2. What are the 7 steps of network troubleshooting?  

7 basic steps to troubleshoot a network are:

• Step one: Identify and understand the problem.
• Step two: Communicate.
• Step three: Figure out the cause.
• Step four: Find the solution.
• Step five: Implement the solution.
• Step six: Document the issue.
• Step seven: Analyze the issue and implement measures to prevent it.

3. What are the 6 basics of network troubleshooting?  

First identify the problem. Then, establish theory of probable cause. Next, test the theory. After that establish a plan of action and implement it. Verify system functionality. Finally, document everything.  

4. What is troubleshooting in ICT terms?  

Troubleshooting is a process to identify an error/ fault, look for its cause, and fix the issues.

5. What is a troubleshooting checklist?  

A troubleshooting checklist is a set of guidelines that contain information about potential errors and suggest problem-solving steps for systems that are not working properly. This guide is a type of technical documentation. 

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