Landline not working but internet is? Here's why

If your internet works but your home phone has no dial tone, the problem is usually not the whole line. It is usually the phone service itself, a setting, or a cable inside your home. Here's how to narrow it down.

First, find out what kind of phone service you have

Phone plugs into a box from your internet company

Phone plugs into the wall jack

Phone plugs into a box from AT&T

Your phone runs over the internet, often called VoIP or digital voice. The phone port on the box can fail even when the internet works.

You may have a traditional copper landline. Internet and phone can share the same wires, so a filter or wiring problem can affect only the phone.

You may already be on AT&T Phone - Advanced. The phone port and the box's own power and signal matter.

Quick fixes to try

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Restart the box your phone plugs into: unplug the power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait 5 minutes.

Check that the phone cord is firmly plugged into the phone port, not the internet port.

Try a different phone and a different phone cord.

Step 4

Step 5

If you have DSL internet, check that every phone jack in use has a small DSL filter attached.

Check that a cordless phone's base has power.

Got a letter from AT&T?
Check my medical alert

If it still doesn't work

Call your phone or internet company from a cell phone. Ask whether your phone service is active and whether your area is part of a landline shutoff. If you received a letter about your landline ending, your copper phone service may have been switched off while internet stayed on.

Check your medical alert and alarm

If your phone line is down, devices that use it may not be able to call for help. Test your medical alert and ask your alarm company to run a signal test.