Is Spectrum Internet Down?

If Spectrum is your internet provider and you’re having trouble connecting, start with a speed test to see if you’re in an outage.

First, reconnect to your  Spectrum Wi-Fi. Then, click below.

What to look for in your speed test results

If you’re in a Spectrum 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

How to troubleshoot Spectrum connection issues

If you get stuck on “Loading” on the speed test above, go through the steps below one by one.

Step 1: Check your Spectrum wireless gateway (router + modem). A solid white light means you’re connected, a blinking white light means the system is setting up, and an amber or red light means no connection.

Step 2: Check your Ethernet and power cables to make sure they are connected securely and haven’t been damaged.

Step 3: Try logging into your Spectrum network with a different device, such as a gaming console, smart TV, or smartphone. Try both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.

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 My Spectrum app or Spectrum account for any outage-related notifications.

Check the lights on your router

Spectrum offers a variety of internet gateway models, and yours will depend on your plan and when you signed up. For most models, a steady blue light means you’re connected to the internet, while flashing blue means setup is underway. A red light means you don’t have an internet connection, and no light means you aren’t connected to power.

Learn more and troubleshoot your Spectrum connection

• How To Troubleshoot Your Spectrum Wi-Fi
• How Often Should You Reboot Your Router?
• Your Guide to Spectrum Internet Installation
• Internet Troubleshooting Hub

Still can’t get online? Contact Spectrum

If you still can’t get online, it’s time to contact Spectrum support. You’ll need the phone number of the account holder or your Spectrum account number. You can find that number at the top left corner of your printed bill or the top right corner of our account page online.

In the My Spectrum app, tap Your Account in the top-right corner of the home screen, and then tap View Account Info.

Does Spectrum offer refunds?

Spectrum doesn’t offer automatic refunds to home internet customers, but you may be able to ask for a refund if you’ve had a lot of problems.

Here’s the official policy, according to the terms of service: “Spectrum may give credit with respect to Subscriber’s recurring monthly subscription fee for qualifying outages.” But Spectrum maintains it isn’t required to do so.

Leave a review about your Spectrum service

If you’re a Spectrum 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 Spectrum customers have to say.

Write a Spectrum internet review

Read other Spectrum reviews

How Spectrum compares

Spectrum offers service in states and cities throughout the country, so it competes with dozens of internet providers. Here’s a look at what to expect if you’re thinking of switching:

Spectrum vs. AT&T: Spectrum offers 100% Fiber-to-the-Home internet or fiber-backed service delivered through coaxial lines, depending on your address. AT&T also delivers 100% residential fiber internet along with 5G home internet branded as AT&T Internet Air. If you have access to either fiber service, AT&T is the better long-term deal, although Spectrum has the fastest plan (for now). If not, choose Spectrum’s coaxial-based internet over 5G home internet.

Spectrum vs. Verizon: Spectrum and Verizon offer 100% Fiber-to-the-Home internet service. Of the two, Verizon is the better long-term megabit-per-dollar deal, but Spectrum currently has the fastest plan. Spectrum also offers fiber-backed internet delivered over coaxial lines, while Verizon provides 5G home internet—which may be a better deal if you have Verizon’s cellular service.

Spectrum vs. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: If you have a choice of either T-Mobile or Spectrum, you’re probably looking at wired vs. fixed wireless internet. While fiber and coaxial connections are still your best option, T-Mobile’s 5G home internet has a solid reputation. You get the best deals when you bundle with mobile.

My take: Troubleshoot, then shop Spectrum alternatives

Most of Spectrum’s footprint consists of legacy coaxial-based connections backed by an all-fiber network. It continues to roll out upgrades to offer faster speeds and symmetrical connections—up to 5Gbps by the end of 2025.

In new areas, Spectrum offers full Fiber-to-the-Home service. Spectrum’s fastest fiber plan is 7Gbps, but it’s currently limited to a handful of markets. The availability of 100% fiber or coaxial-based internet depends on your location.

However, 5G home internet is getting better all the time, and providers nationwide have been building out fiber internet infrastructure, so the chances of getting AT&T Fiber and Verizon Fios are higher than they were years ago.

We recommend Spectrum often, and encourage you to contact the company to troubleshoot before you jump ship. That said, we also recommend shopping for a new internet provider about once a year.

Who knows, you might have more options than you thought! Learn how to switch internet providers in five easy steps.

Read more about Spectrum

• Spectrum Advanced WiFi vs. INVINCIBLE WiFi
• Is Bundling Spectrum Internet and Mobile Worth It?
• How To Get Low-Income Internet Through Spectrum
• Fiber vs. Cable Internet: Compare Options and Providers

Spectrum outage FAQ