Keep working when the power drops: phone tethering, power banks, UPS basics, offline files and a simple plan for telling your team.
- Save work, tell your team and check whether the outage is local.
- Use phone tethering with a power bank; keep video calls to a minimum.
- A UPS buys minutes to save and shut down, not hours of power.
An outage in the middle of a workday is stressful, especially when a deadline or a client call is waiting. A little planning means you can save your work, stay reachable and decide calmly whether to keep going or call it a day.
This guide covers the basics for remote workers, without getting into expensive gear.
First five minutes
- Save your work and close files properly. Laptops on battery are fine, but a desktop will shut off at once.
- Check whether the outage is just your home. Look at your breaker panel, then check your utility's outage map or app.
- Message your manager or team that you may be offline, and give a time you will check back.
- Switch your phone to low power mode and lower screen brightness.
Keeping a standard message ready on your phone saves time. Something simple like "Power is out at my home, I will update you by 10:30" is enough.
Internet without power
Your router and modem need electricity, so home wifi usually drops with the power. Cell towers often have backup power, though service can get congested or fail in long outages.
- Phone tethering (hotspot) lets your laptop use your phone's mobile data. Check your plan, since some plans limit hotspot data or speed.
- Tethering drains the phone quickly, so keep it plugged into a power bank while it works.
- Video calls use a lot of data and battery. Switch your camera off, or join by phone audio.
- Text and email use far less than calls and file uploads.
Test tethering once on a normal day so you know how to turn it on before you need it.
Power for the laptop, phone and router
A laptop battery commonly lasts a few hours, depending on the model and what you are doing. Lowering brightness and closing heavy apps helps. A power bank can charge phones, and some can charge laptops if they support the right output; check the laptop's charger rating and the bank's specifications on the label. For a deeper look, see power banks for outages.
A larger battery power station can run a laptop, router and modem for much longer. Use our sizing guide and the power station hub to work out what you actually need. Add up the watts of your devices first and avoid running anything you do not need.
UPS basics
A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is a battery box that keeps a computer running for a short time when power cuts. Its main job is to give you a few minutes to save work and shut down safely, not to power your office for hours. Check the rated output against what you plug in, and plug only the essentials into it, such as a desktop and monitor or the modem and router. Laser printers and heaters should not go on a small UPS. Read the label for limits.
Offline files and habits
Do a bit of prep now so that work can continue without internet.
- Turn on offline access for your key documents in your cloud storage or office apps.
- Keep a local copy of files you need most, and a list of contact numbers on paper or in your phone.
- Turn on auto save and set it to save often.
- Download maps, notes, and reference material you rely on.
- Know your employer's policy on outages, and whether you are expected to find a co-working space or take leave.
When to stop
If the outage looks long, or the house is cold or hot, safety and family come first. Move to a library, cafe or office with power if it is safe to travel, or tell your manager you are offline. Charge devices and conserve battery for emergency use. Do not use your phone's last battery for a routine task if you may need to call for help. The what to do when the power goes out guide covers general priorities, and the outage planner helps you build a household plan.
Quick answers
Will my wifi work in a power outage?
Usually not, because the router and modem need power. A phone hotspot or a battery that runs the router can keep you online.
Can I use a power bank to charge my laptop?
Only if the power bank supports the laptop's required output. Check the labels on both.