JustfixemailVerizon Fios Internet Not Working — Router & ONT Fixes
1. Check the Internet indicator light
If it's off or red, that points to the connection between your router and Verizon's network rather than anything on your home network.
- Restart both the router and the ONT (the box fiber connects into) — unplug both for about 30 seconds, then plug back in, router first or ONT first depending on your specific setup instructions.
- Check Verizon's status page or the My Fios app for a known outage in your area before assuming it's your equipment.
2. Connection drops repeatedly rather than staying down
If the internet cuts out for a minute every few hours, rather than going down entirely, this is a different pattern from a full outage. A router system log showing repeated "reboot by power cycle/software fault" entries on a regular schedule is a specific, real symptom worth recognizing.
- Try a full factory reset of the router rather than just a restart — this clears out whatever corrupted state is causing the scheduled faults.
- After resetting, restore your saved WiFi name and password from the router's settings backup if you have one, rather than starting completely from scratch.
3. Router lost connection during heavy uploads
If the connection specifically drops during large uploads or sustained heavy usage, and a router restart doesn't fully resolve it, try disconnecting the ONT's battery backup (if it has one) for about a minute in addition to power-cycling the router itself — this has resolved persistent drop patterns that a router-only reset didn't fix.
4. Can't access the router's admin settings
If myfiosgateway.com won't load, try the router's direct IP address instead (commonly 192.168.1.1, though this can vary by router model) — the domain name occasionally fails to resolve even when the router itself is working fine.
5. Switched to your own router or a direct Ethernet connection
If you've asked Verizon to run internet directly from the ONT via Ethernet rather than using their router, or you're using your own router alongside Verizon's equipment for MoCA/coax needs, connection issues after the switch are usually a MAC address binding problem — the network still expects the previous device's identity. Restarting the ONT after the equipment change, not just the new router, often resolves this.
6. A router's LAN ports specifically stopped working
If WiFi and internet both work fine but wired devices plugged into the router's LAN ports lose connection, that points to a hardware fault in the router's ports specifically, not your internet service. Confirm this by checking whether the ONT and WiFi both still test fine — if so, the router itself likely needs replacing.
FAQ
Does resetting my router delete my WiFi name and password?
A normal restart (unplugging and plugging back in) doesn't change any settings. Only a full factory reset erases your custom network name, password, and any port forwarding rules — that's a last resort, not something to do routinely.
How do I know if it's a Fios outage versus my own equipment?
Check the My Fios app or Verizon's outage map first — if there's a confirmed outage in your area, no amount of resetting your own equipment will fix it, and it's not worth troubleshooting further until Verizon resolves it on their end.
Will I be charged for a technician visit?
It depends on whether the issue is traced to Verizon's network or to something on your side, like in-home wiring or customer-owned equipment. Ask when you schedule the appointment, since this varies by plan and situation.
Can I use my own router instead of the one Verizon provided?
Yes — many people run their own router alongside Verizon's ONT, either through the Verizon router in a pass-through arrangement or by having Verizon run Ethernet directly from the ONT. See the section above on switching equipment for what to expect during that transition.