Tech Tips to Stay Connected to the Internet During Power Outages

On average, U.S. households lose power for about five and a half hours over the course of a year, according to the Energy Information Administration. That's just the national average. As many who experience extreme weather know, outages can last for much longer.

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When the power does go out, it's possible it will knock your internet connection out as well, but it doesn't have to. With pre-storm preparation (here's how to track oncoming storms such as hurricanes) and possibly some help from the internet providers -- many have offered free service after hurricanes Helene and Milton -- you can stay connected while your power is still out.

Here's how to stay connected to the internet when you lose power.

Best ways to keep your internet on during a power outage

• Use a mobile hotspot or cellular data connection
• Sign up for a backup internet service
• Invest in a generator or other power sources

Quick Fix to losing internet during a power outage: Mobile hotspot and tethering

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Activating a mobile hotspot on your phone essentially turns the device into a router, broadcasting its mobile internet connection for other devices to use. It's not the same as your home Wi-Fi -- speeds are likely to be much slower and will only support a limited number of devices -- but it should get you by.

Read more: How to Use Your iPhone or Android Phone as a Mobile Hotspot.

Tethering is similar in that it shares your phone's internet data with other devices, but it does so via a wired (USB or Ethernet) or Bluetooth connection rather than Wi-Fi. A few things to keep in mind when using a mobile hotspot or tethering:

• Having the mobile hotspot function on your phone doesn't necessarily mean the service is included with your cellular plan.
• The connection only works until your phone dies. If you can safely access it in your car, consider charging it when your battery starts to run low before the power comes back on.
• You'll be using your data. If you have a cap, using a mobile hotspot can put you over the limit, resulting in added fees or throttled speeds. Even if your mobile plan offers "unlimited" data, there may be a soft cap or a limit specific to hotspot use.

Contact your cellular service provider to find out if mobile hotspot use is included in your plan and if any data limits apply. If you have a data cap, check out CNET's guide to managing your data use.

Automatic fix: Cellular internet backup service

Select internet providers offer a separate cellular plan or service add-on to keep you online. Xfinity's Storm-Ready Wi-Fi and T-Mobile's Home Internet Backup plans provide equipment and a cellular connection, for example, when your standard connection goes down.

Comcast's Storm Ready gateway, battery and device.

Comcast

Storm-Ready Wi-Fi is available to Xfinity Internet customers for $7 a month for 36 months or a one-time fee of $252 for the rechargeable 4-hour battery backup. When the power goes out, or your cable internet connection is lost, internet service automatically switches to a 4G LTE cellular connection with unlimited data.

T-Mobile offers a 5G home internet connection (where available) but with a data cap and a slightly higher monthly fee. The Home Internet Backup plan includes 130GB of data and free equipment starting at $30 monthly or $20 for T-Mobile voice customers.

You will need power to the T-Mobile router, so if you intend to use your Home Internet Backup service during power outages, you may want to invest in a battery backup or other portable power device.

Long-term fix: Generators or other power sources

Getting power to the modem or router may be all you need to keep your internet going when the power goes out.

In many cases, a local power outage doesn't stop internet service from coming to your home. Wireless and fiber internet don't need power to travel, although a power outage at the point of distribution may cause a temporary outage.

Cable internet requires power to the nodes (connection points that send internet service along), but many ISPs will have a backup power source, enabling them to keep your internet service going.

So the problem isn't necessarily getting internet service to your home. It's how to access it. Without power to your modem or ONT device, you can't connect to the internet and without power to your router, there's no Wi-Fi.

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Quality portable power stations and generators are ideal for continuously powering things like your refrigerator, heaters, fans or internet equipment. Generators can get pricey, but you can often find reliable generators on sale. If you're wondering which generator is best for your home, check out our generator buying guide and tips for finding the right-sized generator.

What about battery backups or a UPS?

Rechargeable battery backups will keep your internet equipment running for a few hours at best before needing to be recharged. Without a power source, this can be difficult, but a solar battery may be the solution.

As for a UPS, or uninterruptible power supply, most devices aren't designed to last more than 15 minutes or so. That's long enough to save your work or send any last-minute emails before losing your connection, but not much more.

What if my power is back on but my internet is still out?

Like most internet issues, the problem likely lies at the source of your connection, the modem and router. It's possible that the power outage caused your equipment to malfunction and a simple router restart should do the trick. In the case of electrical storms, a power surge may have damaged your equipment, rendering it inoperable. To prevent this, consider plugging your router into a surge protector.

If your modem and router seem to be working fine, but you still can't get online, it's possible that your ISP is experiencing an outage. Your power may be back on, but theirs may still be out and affecting their ability to send service.

Network or infrastructure disruptions could also keep your internet out after your power returns. Remaining precipitation or cloud coverage in your area may hinder your satellite internet while downed telephone lines will knock your DSL connection offline. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do in such situations. It's like a power outage; you'll just have to wait until service is restored.

Keep connected and stay safe

Maintaining your internet connection is important when the power goes out, particularly if you're using it for information or communication, but safety comes first. Always use caution when dealing with electrical equipment and avoid tampering with any internet lines coming into your home.

For more tips on how to make the most of your home internet connection, check out the CNET Home Internet page. Be sure to visit the CNET Home Energy and Utilities page for more info related to your home's power supply.