When the power goes out — whether it’s severe weather, a transformer malfunction or even a wayward squirrel — your internet-connected devices can be out of business for the outage duration.Power companies always strive to keep their customers’ electricity on, using technology to automatically switch paths to reroute the power if a problem crops up.Still, some outages can result in homes and businesses being in the dark for hours.
How much trouble it causes you depends on how much of your life is tied to the internet and online services.If you work from home, are a heavy streamer or gamer or have smart-home and home security gadgets, a power outage can do more than leave you in the dark—it can affect your work, entertainment and even safety. Possible impacts of power loss At home, a disruption in the power supply used to mean lighting candles (no longer recommended due to the risk of fire), turning on flashlights, opening or closing windows and waiting it out.In our interconnected world, however, we demand more than light.
If you have a battery or generator backup to your home’s electrical system, you may still be able to remain online. If cable or fiber ISPs are in the path of an electrical outage, most of them will have some sort of auxiliary power for a temporary wait until the main power comes back online.If it’s a large enough outage lasting a day or more, you will most likely lose that connection eventually. Satellite internet will not be affected, nor will dial-up connections.How to get internet during a blackout The viable solutions depend on the length of the service disruption.
How can I fix a short-term power outage? Invest in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) — This is a battery backup that can keep your devices online for a short period of time when a power outage occurs, allowing users time to save any work or shut down devices to prevent data losses.It can also protect against power surges that could damage your devices.Use a mobile hotspot – A mobile hotspot tethers your devices to your phone to provide internet connectivity.
Your mobile plan must include hotspot coverage to connect your devices to a mobile phone hotspot, but it will provide a connection through cellular network technology.Keep in mind that constant use will drain your phone’s battery and use a large amount of data, so this is best for short-term use to avoid hefty overage fees.Move to an area with power – Head to a café or library and use public Wi-Fi if you need to stay online during a power outage – just keep in mind the risks of using public Wi-Fi if you have sensitive data on your devices. Portable power bank – If you have a portable power bank, you can use this to charge your phone or other devices during a power outage, freeing up the battery limit constraints of using a mobile hotspot.
Always keep this charged up in preparation for a power outage.Use a portable hotspot device – Unlike a cellular hotspot that you tether to your devices over a cellular connection, a portable hotspot is like a mini router—a physical device that can provide connectivity in a pinch. Enable low-power mode on your devices – This can help conserve your battery during a power outage How can I fix a long-term power outage? Use a generator – A fuel-powered generator can keep your power on indefinitely, barring any fuel shortages.Just remember that it not only keeps your lights on, but powers other household appliances like your refrigerator, water heater and furnace. Use a mobile hotspot device – If you have one, these devices are helpful during long-term outages, too.
You can buy a prepaid plan with Verizon, for example, for its 4G LTE Jetpack.Other wireless services, like AT&T, also offer them.You can also purchase a mobile hotspot on Amazon or at Walmart.
The device itself will cost about $100 to buy outright or can be billed monthly.Use a cellular hotspot – If you have unlimited data or aren’t concerned with overage fees, you can use a cellular hotspot to stay online.The only thing you’ll need to worry about is charging your phone to keep the hotspot going. How to set up a portable hotspot Step 1: Go to your phone’s settings application.
Choose the personal hotspot tab, and turn on your hotspot.If this isn’t an option, you likely don’t have a mobile plan with a hotspot and will need to upgrade your plan in order to use this feature. Step 2: Open your device’s list of Wi-Fi options and pick your phone.You may be prompted to enter a password, which you will find under the “Personal hotspot” tab in your phone’s settings.
Step 3: If you’ve entered the information correctly and activated the device, your computer should connect.Phone hotspot Step 1: Under your phone’s settings tab, turn on Hotspot.Step 2: Open your device’s list of Wi-Fi options and pick your phone.
How to prepare for a power outage When the lights go out, it’s not the time to consider your options.Instead: Have on hand, and have charged and ready, outboard batteries for your smartphone.These are relatively inexpensive, so you can have two or three, and they will restore your phone to a 100% charge via a USB cable in a fairly short time.
Amazon is a good source for many varieties of these.Have your laptop charged, and if you absolutely must have it working, invest in — and keep charged — extra batteries for it as well.Consider purchasing a UPS if your work is critical; it can also help in cases of brownouts, which may cause a loss of data.
Give some thought to buying a mobile broadband device if you’re concerned that you may need to use tethered laptops during a power outage.A home generator can be a smart investment if you live in areas with high winds and frequent power outages.Depending on the size and power, they can run from $500 to over $6,500.
You can keep your electronic devices running, as well as power important appliances like your refrigerator.If you live in a high-hurricane or other natural disaster area, Mission Telecom has developed an emergency broadband kit that can keep communities and homes online during natural disasters.What if my internet service itself fails? If the cause of the internet outage is not a lack of power but damage to the internet provider’s cable or fiber lines, then your situation is a bit different than a simple power outage.
Whether its from weather or just a light ISP outage, here are some steps you can take if your ISP’s infrastructure fails: Contact your ISP – First things first, check with your internet provider to check your service status Use an alternative connection – Mobile hotsports, either a physical device or through your phone, will keep you connected if your ISP is down Back up your important info – Back up your passwords, ISP account info and other critical personal information offline so you always have access Power outage FAQs Do you lose Wi-Fi when the power goes out? Yes, when the power is off, your Wi-Fi service will go out.That’s because it relies on hard-wired equipment like routers and gateways.Can I use a modem and router without power? You can only keep your modem and router running in a power outage if they are connected to a battery back up or if you have a home generator.
Will my hotspot work if cell towers lose power? No, if cell towers near you lose power, your hotspot will not work since they depend on the tower to provide you with a connection.Is satellite internet immune to all power outages? While the satellites in space don’t lose functionality, your internet equipment that delivers your internet connection, your satellite dish, modem and router, require electricity.What should I do if I work from home and experience frequent outages? If you experience frequent power outages, it’s wise to prepare by investing in some equipment, like a UPS, a portable Wi-Fi hotspot and a mobile power bank to keep your devices charged.
How long can a home UPS power my devices?
Depending on your USP battery capacity, it can power your devices for anywhere between a few minutes to a few hours.
What to read next
Read more
Featured
Heat waves and wildfires: How to prepare for internet outages
Robin Layton —
6 min read
Featured
Does your internet or TV provider owe you money for their service outages?
Robin Layton —
4 min read
Featured
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…12,000 satellites
David Anders —
5 min read
Latest
Friday, November 7, 2025
How to get internet without electricity in 2025
Robin Layton —
5 min read
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
The real cost of internet in a new home
Lisa Iscrupe —
7 min read
Monday, November 3, 2025
Staying online when disaster strikes: Mission Telecom’s solution
Camryn Smith —
4 min read
