Is EarthLink Internet Down?
Find out if you're in an EarthLink outage, and get tips on getting back online fast
Mar 20, 2026 | Share 
Brand Guides, Equipment Guides, Internet Outage
If you’re an EarthLink customer and you can’t get on your home Wi-Fi network, there are a few steps you can take to see if the problem is on your end. We’ll walk you through the basics, then help you reach out to EarthLink customer support to see if the problem is on its end.
We can’t promise you’ll find easy answers, though. EarthLink piggybacks on the networks of multiple providers, including AT&T and Verizon. If any of these services are down and EarthLink is using their infrastructure, your internet will be down too.
First, reconnect to your EarthLink mobile network or EarthLink Wi-Fi. Then, click below.
Download speed
000 Mbps
Upload speed
000 Mbps
Latency (ping)
00 ms
Jitter
00 ms
What to look for in your speed test results
If you’re in an EarthLink outage, the speed test will say “Loading,” and a light blue circle will spin, but you won’t get any results.
If you get results that show download speeds, upload speeds, and latency, though, you aren’t in an outage.
You could still be having problems, of course. Ideally, you should get speeds reasonably close to what your plan promises, but you need the following for a healthy fiber or fixed wireless connection:
- Download speeds of at least 20Mbps
- Upload speeds of at least 5Mbps
- Latency of less than 100 ms
In this guide:
Troubleshoot | Get a refund | Leave a review | Decide whether to switch | My take | FAQs
In this guide:
How to troubleshoot EarthLink connection issues
If you get stuck on “Loading” on the speed test above, go through the steps below one by one.
Step 1: Try logging into your EarthLink network with a different device, such as a gaming console, smart TV, or smartphone. Try both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.
Step 2: Check your EarthLink wireless gateway (router + modem).
Step 3: Check your Ethernet and power cables to make sure they are connected securely and haven’t been damaged.
Step 4: Restart (or unplug and reboot) your affected devices and your gateway. A full reboot usually takes about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Check your EarthLink app or log into your EarthLink account for any outage-related notifications.
Check the lights on your router
This 5G router from EarthLink shows connection status using green lights above each icon. If the lights are orange (solid or blinking), it means the system is setting up. Courtesy of EarthLink.
EarthLink offers a wide variety of modems, routers, and gateways. What you get depends on your connection type, when you signed up, and where you live. Some customers use their own Wi-Fi equipment too.
Most of the time, a series of lights on the router can help you determine whether the internet is down.
Learn more and troubleshoot your EarthLink connection
Still can’t get online? Contact EarthLink
If you can’t get online and can’t figure out why, it’s time to reach out to EarthLink. Here are the best ways:
- Call EarthLink at +1-866-383-3080 and press 3.
- Send a text message to +1-888-441-9144 and say you need help with your EarthLink service.
You can also get help through different platforms, available 24/7:
Does EarthLink offer refunds?
EarthLink does not offer refunds for outages or slowdowns, and performance isn’t guaranteed for EarthLink’s fully wired residential customers.
Its terms and conditions for fixed wireless customers also say it does not guarantee any bandwidth specifications and can’t be held liable for unavailability or quality of service.
Leave a review about your EarthLink service
If you’re an EarthLink customer, we want to hear from you! Your honest reviews help us give better advice to other customers looking for great home internet. Once you’re done, check out what other EarthLink customers have to say.
How EarthLink compares
EarthLink uses third-party infrastructure to provide fully wired internet access to most of its customers, and that means its plans are more expensive than comparable plans from those providers. EarthLink also requires two-year contracts, though contracts are becoming less common industry-wide.
EarthLink offers fixed wireless internet too. In some cases, EarthLink piggybacks off networks from other 4G LTE and 5G providers. In other cases, it offers traditional fixed wireless plans.
Most EarthLink fixed wireless plans come with strict data limits, ranging from 100GB to 300GB. If you use up your data, you’re cut off from the internet for the rest of the month unless you buy more or upgrade your plan. If you go with the unlimited data plan on an EarthLink fixed wireless connection, you still get throttled speeds after 300Mbps, but your connection won’t be cut off.
Other fixed wireless companies offer unlimited data, but may deprioritize your connection after 1.2TB. That’s four times more high-speed data than you get from EarthLink.
Plans vary widely based on locations, but here’s a look at what to expect:
Tired of slowdowns and outages with EarthLink?
Enter your zip code to find other home internet providers where you live.
My take: Call support or consider shopping for alternatives
EarthLink has a great reputation for customer service, but it rents space on other networks so you end up paying slightly higher prices. If you’re having trouble with your service, call for help. You already pay a premium for it!
If you can’t get the help you need, shop for alternatives. That’s especially true if you’re no longer in a contract with EarthLink. But even if you are, you might be able to get your new provider to help pay EarthLink’s early cancellation fees.
Read more about EarthLink
EarthLink outage FAQ
How do I know if EarthLink is down in my area?
Why is EarthLink not working?
Why is my EarthLink Wi-Fi connected, but I don't have internet?
Does EarthLink work when the power is out?
Author - Chili Palmer
Chili Palmer covers home tech services, with a special focus on understanding what families need and how they can stay connected on a budget. She handles internet access and affordability, breaking news, mobile services, and consumer trends. Chili’s work as a writer, reporter, and editor has appeared in publications including Telecompetitor, Utah Business, Idaho Business Review, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and Switchful.com.
Editor - Jessica Brooksby
Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.
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