Is CenturyLink down? How to check for an outage

CenturyLink shows outages in your account, not on a public map. Here's how to check, how to tell an outage from a problem at home, and what to do if your service is actually Quantum Fiber or Brightspeed now.

Steps cover CenturyLink home internet. Business and Lumen enterprise services use separate support.

How to check if CenturyLink is down

1. Check your account. In the My CenturyLink app or at centurylink.com, sign in and run the service status check. It shows known outages at your address and can test your line.
2. Look at the modem. A red or unlit internet light usually means the line to your home is down, not your Wi-Fi.
3. Check Downdetector or a similar site. A sudden jump in reports in your area points to a wider outage, sometimes before CenturyLink confirms it.
4. Run a speed test on a wired device. Our speed test shows whether you have no connection or just a slow one.

What the modem lights mean

Light colors vary by CenturyLink modem model; check the label or the model's guide in the My CenturyLink app.

Check who runs your line now

CenturyLink has been split up, so the right outage page depends on your address. Our guide to what replaced CenturyLink explains the history.

If there is no outage

• Unplug the modem for a minute and plug it back in. Give it five minutes to reconnect.
• Try a computer plugged into the modem with a cable. If that works, the problem is Wi-Fi; see how to tell your internet from the service.
• Check the phone cord or fiber cable at the wall and the modem.
• Still down? Call CenturyLink repair at 800-201-4099 (24/7), or book a visit in the Troubleshooter, so the problem is logged against your address. Ask for a ticket number.

CenturyLink repair and support numbers

Source: CenturyLink "Need help?" contact page, Oct 2026. Ignore other numbers in search results; many belong to resellers.

Schedule a repair online

CenturyLink's Troubleshooter at centurylink.com checks for outages, tests your line and lets you book a technician visit without calling. Sign in with your account number, phone number or email.

If your CenturyLink phone line is out too

Many CenturyLink customers still have a landline on the same copper line. If both phone and internet are dead, the fault is almost always on the line outside, so report it as a line problem rather than an internet one. Keep a charged cell phone for emergency calls until it's fixed, and if your landline is being retired, see what to do about copper landline shutoffs.

Returning a CenturyLink modem

If you're switching providers or CenturyLink is replacing a faulty modem, send the old one back within 30 days. Leased modems that aren't returned are billed at up to $200.

1. Get a return label at centurylink.com/returnmodem, signing in with your account or phone number. CenturyLink also emails a prepaid UPS label after you cancel; check your spam folder if it hasn't arrived.
2. Pack the modem and its power adapter. You don't need to send back phone or Ethernet cables.
3. Drop the box at a UPS location, such as The UPS Store or Staples, and keep the receipt and tracking number until your final bill is closed.

If you bought your modem, you don't have to return it, though CenturyLink will recycle it for free. Brightspeed customers use brightspeed.com/returnmodem instead. Leaving for good? See what replaced CenturyLink and compare options with our address check.

Getting a credit

CenturyLink doesn't publish an automatic outage credit like AT&T's. If you were without service for a day or more, ask for a prorated credit when the ticket is closed, and quote the ticket number.

Why other sites go down when Lumen does

Lumen, CenturyLink's parent, also runs one of the large backbone networks that carry other companies' traffic. A Lumen backbone outage, such as the 10-minute one on Oct 14, 2026, can briefly knock out websites and apps for people on other providers too. Those usually clear within minutes.

If outages keep happening

Copper DSL lines fail more often in storms and heat than fiber or cable. If CenturyLink keeps dropping, see what else reaches your address with our address check, compare CenturyLink vs. T-Mobile 5G Home, or keep a backup: T-Mobile vs. Verizon backup internet.

Questions

How do I check a CenturyLink outage by ZIP code?

CenturyLink checks outages by service address. Sign in to the My CenturyLink app or centurylink.com and run the status check; outage-tracking sites such as Downdetector show reports by area without signing in.

Is CenturyLink the same as Quantum Fiber?

Not anymore. AT&T bought Quantum Fiber on Feb 2, 2026, so Quantum Fiber customers now use AT&T Fiber support and outage pages.

Is CenturyLink the same as Brightspeed?

Brightspeed bought CenturyLink's local networks in 20 states in 2022. If your bill says Brightspeed, check outages with Brightspeed.

Will CenturyLink credit me for an outage?

There is no published automatic credit. Ask for a prorated credit for the time you were down and give your repair ticket number.

What does a red internet light on a CenturyLink modem mean?

Usually that there's no internet signal on the line. Check the cables, restart the modem, then check for an outage in your account.

What is the CenturyLink repair phone number?

Call 800-201-4099, open 24/7, for internet and phone repair. General account and tech support is 800-244-1111, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

How do I return my CenturyLink modem?

Print a prepaid label at centurylink.com/returnmodem, pack the modem and power adapter, and drop it at a UPS location within 30 days of cancelling. Unreturned leased modems are charged up to $200.