The Digital Survival Guide to Staying Online During a Blackout

Many of us aren’t willing to live without the internet for long, so that means you’ll need to plan ahead to stay online during power outages. According to J.D. Power’s 2025 utilities report, 45 percent of U.S. homes experienced power outages in the first half of the year, rendering lights, appliances and, yes, Wi-Fi routers inoperable.

While most outages are short, longer ones are becoming more common, making planning ahead even more important. Good news: there are backup internet options available. Read on to learn more, with insights from J.P. Blackwood of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel and Nate Sumner, home internet and technology expert.

See What Still Works

Determine if a fuse has blown or if it’s a total outage. Flip lights on and off in several rooms, then check for tripped breakers in the breaker box. If nothing is working and all breakers are in place, you’ve lost electricity as part of a larger outage. If you still have cell phone internet service, it’s likely your local cell towers are not affected.

Use Your Smartphone as a Hotspot

For short power outages, keep tablets or laptops online using your cell phone’s hotspot. This shortens battery life, but “you could opt for a small DC backup battery to keep your phones charged during an extended outage,” Sumner says.

Backup Power Options

For longer power outages, use backup power options to keep your home online.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

A UPS prevents the abrupt shutdown of connected electrical devices by activating its battery power within milliseconds of a power outage. For residential use, opt for a small standby model. “This is the most common option, but it does need to power up at least your modem and wifi gateway or router,” Sumner says.

Portable power stations

Charge portable power stations before an outage to charge devices and power routers. ”I have a 150 Watt portable power station with AC outlets, DC ports and USB ports,” Blackwood says. “It could power a router or modem for many hours.” Some portable power stations also come with solar panels to recharge during extended outages.

Generators

Generators provide long-term power to either part or all of your home during an outage. Gas generators require gasoline to run, while solar battery units rely on the sun. Sumner recommends Jackery for those interested in solar battery generator systems. Run gas generators outside and away from your house to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, Blackwood says.

Power inverters

Transform your car battery’s DC power to AC with a power inverter. Connect it to the battery, turn on the engine, then run extension cords to power your router or modem. Inverters can also run lamps, a TV or a refrigerator, depending on its capacity. “I use an inverter to power electronic items when camping,” Blackwood says. “It’s very simple to use.”

Never leave a car running in a garage, as this can also pose the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Home Internet Backup Options

Xfinity and Cox include a battery-powered Wi-Fi extender in some of their home internet plans. This device detects when your internet service is disrupted and switches to cellular internet. It comes with a four-hour battery life to easily ride out short power outages. The Ring Alarm Pro from Amazon also comes with a power pack that provides eight hours of cellular internet service in the event of an outage.

How To Prep For an Outage

“It comes down to thinking ahead and being safe,” Blackwood says. Fully charge all phones, tablets, computers and portable power stations. Fill generators with gas, and consider securing extra fuel. Fill up your car’s gas tank to charge devices or run an inverter. Additionally, Blackwood recommends having a plan to keep medical equipment running during an outage.

FAQ

Will fiber or cable internet still work without power?

“It depends,” Sumner says. “Fiber and cable internet travel over different cables than power lines but often run on the same telephone poles or underground paths.” If the outage is caused by a transformer or distant power grid infrastructure, internet service will continue uninterrupted. “However, if the internet and power lines are taken down by a fallen tree, cable and fiber service would be out until a repair is made.

How long will cell towers stay online during a power outage?

Most (but not all) cellphone towers have backup batteries that last 4 to 8 hours and generators that run for 24 to 72 hours. However, there is no current federal regulation or enforcement of these policies.

About the Experts

• J.P. Blackwood is Legislative and Public Affairs Liaison for the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, a state agency that represents consumers’ rights for utilities.
• Nate Sumner is an engineer and host of the Nater Tater channel on YouTube, where he shares content about smart home tech, 5G home internet and lifestyle projects on his 47-acre property.

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