Free Tech Help in Illinois: Guides, Scams, Internet

This page collects free, independent starting points for tech help in Illinois. Free Tech Support is not a local repair shop and has no office or phone line in Illinois; nobody from this site will call you or ask to connect to your computer. What we can do is point you to the step-by-step guides on this site and to the official public services that people in Illinois can use.

Fix the most common problems yourself

The fixes for everyday computer and phone problems are the same everywhere, so these guides apply in Illinois as they do anywhere else. Start with the one that matches what you see on screen:

• Wi-Fi connected but no internet
• printer says “offline”
• pop-ups and browser redirects
• a slow laptop
• a forgotten Microsoft account password
• an iPhone that will not join Wi-Fi
• fake tech-support calls
• backing up your files

If your problem is not listed, use the search box at the top of the page or browse all guides.

Check which internet providers serve your address

Providers and speeds change from street to street, so a city-wide list is not reliable. The most accurate public source is the FCC National Broadband Map (broadbandmap.fcc.gov). Type your street address and it lists the fixed and mobile providers that report service there, with the advertised speeds. If service at your address is worse than what is advertised there, the same site explains how to report it. Before calling your provider about a slow or dropping connection, run through slow internet fixes and restart your router correctly; they solve a large share of problems without a technician visit.

Report a tech-support scam

If someone phoned you out of the blue about a virus, or a pop-up told you to call a number, treat it as a scam. Microsoft, Apple and antivirus companies do not contact people that way. In Illinois, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and internet crime to the FBI at ic3.gov. Then follow our checklist on what to do after a tech-support scam: disconnect from the internet, remove any remote-access software, call your bank using the number on your card, and change your passwords from a different device.

Recycle or donate old computers and phones

The U.S. EPA keeps a page on electronics donation and recycling that explains your options, including manufacturer and retailer take-back programs. Before you hand over any device, back up and wipe it so your photos, passwords and accounts do not go with it.

Free in-person and online learning

Public libraries in many communities, including around Illinois, offer free computer classes or one-to-one help sessions; check your library’s website or ask at the front desk. For self-paced learning, DigitalLearn.org, run by the Public Library Association, has free self-paced lessons on using a computer, email and the internet.

Pages for places in Illinois

Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, Will County.

See the list of all locations.