Digital essentials for a blackout: a checklist for your computer and smartphone

Why everyone needs a digital minimum

During power cuts, home internet doesn’t go down straight away, nor does it affect everyone in the same way. Mobile internet isn’t always the answer either: base stations have backup batteries, but these are only designed to last for a limited time, and when thousands of people switch to mobile data at the same time, the network quickly becomes overloaded — videos won’t load, and messaging apps take a minute to respond.

So the main rule for a power cut is simple: everything important must be stored on the device itself, not somewhere on the internet. Next, we’ll look at exactly what to put there and how.

Checklist for your smartphone

During a power cut, your smartphone becomes a torch, a map, a notebook and your main channel of communication with your family. That’s why it’s worth starting your preparations with it.

1. Battery charge

A smartphone with a flat battery is simply useless. So start with the basics:

• Charge your devices in advance, as soon as you have the chance – don’t wait until the battery is down to 20 per cent.
• Keep a power bank and its cables to hand. For a family of two or three, it’s better to have two portable batteries rather than just one.
• Switch on power-saving mode («Battery Saver» on Android, «Low Power Mode» on iPhone) before the battery runs out.
• Reduce the brightness, switch to a dark theme (particularly useful on OLED screens) and turn off automatic background app updates.
• Close any unnecessary apps — even when minimised, they can sometimes «drain» the battery, just as an open window lets heat escape from a house.

2. Offline maps

When your mobile data connection drops, navigating without downloaded maps becomes a guessing game. Simply download your town or neighbourhood once, and routes, addresses and street names will be displayed even without a network connection.

• Google Maps. Tap your profile picture → «Offline maps» → «Choose your own map», select the area you need and download it.
• Apple Maps. In the app, open your profile → «Offline maps» → add a map of the area you need. This feature is available in iOS 17 and later in supported regions.
• Alternatives. Organic Maps and OsmAnd support offline navigation. Whilst you have power and a signal, download a map of the area you need — and you’ll be able to use the main navigation features without a mobile data connection. As navigation is often difficult during emergencies, it’s best to study your route on the map in advance.

Download not only a map of your town, but also of the area where your parents or friends live, as well as routes to the nearest emergency centres, chemists and hospitals. The maps take up around 100-300 MB — that’s less than a single film.

3. Downloaded videos, music and books

Long hours without power are easier to get through when you have something to listen to or watch. Most streaming services allow you to save content to your device — to do this, look for the «Download» button or the «Downloads» section.

• Music and podcasts. Create a separate «Offline» playlist and download it via Wi-Fi.
• Videos and films. Choose a few TV series or cartoons for the children and download them in a suitable quality — medium quality is usually sufficient for a smartphone screen, and it takes up half the storage space
• Audiobooks and e-books. The most battery-friendly form of entertainment.
• For children. A few downloaded cartoons are a «lifeline» for parents in the dark or when things get hectic.

Remember: you should download content in advance and via a stable Wi-Fi connection, rather than using mobile data, which is already worth its weight in gold.

4. Documents — on your device, not just in the cloud

Imagine that your documents are your house keys. They should be in your pocket, not in a safe that requires an internet connection. Here’s our advice:

• Save digital copies of your passport or ID card, tax registration number, insurance policies, certificates, prescriptions, statements and important medical test results — as PDFs or photos.
• Store them in a secure folder (many smartphones have a «Secure Folder», «Hidden Photos» or a safe within the file manager), rather than simply in the general gallery.
• Check government apps. Update them in advance and make sure the necessary documents are already downloaded and can be opened without an internet connection.
• Create a note titled «Important». Include the blood groups of children and adults, allergies, any medication your family members are taking, and doctors’ addresses and contact numbers.

Another tip: it’s useful to have some documents in paper form as well. A printed copy of your passport and a list of phone numbers in your wallet won’t run out of battery.

5. Emergency numbers and important contacts

In an emergency, there’s no time to search the internet. Save the following in your contacts (and write them down on a piece of paper to keep in a visible place):

• 112 — the single emergency number;
• 101 — the fire and rescue service;
• 102 — the police;
• 103 — ambulance service;
• 104 — gas emergency service;
• the numbers of family members and neighbours, as well as your housing association, owners’ association or property manager;
• your internet service provider’s support service — in particular, Maxnet’s technical support: 0800-31-0800.

In your smartphone’s settings, complete the «Emergency Information» section (Android) or «Medical ID» section (iPhone) and add an emergency contact: this can be accessed even from the locked screen.

6. Messaging apps: set them to «economy mode»

During a blackout, messaging apps are your main channel of communication with loved ones. But a large message is like a lorry on a narrow road: it takes a long time to get through, and might even get stuck. So:

• Send text messages rather than voice or video messages. A text message will reach the recipient even with a weak signal.
• Disable the automatic download of photos, videos and files in the «Data and Storage» (Telegram) or «Multimedia» (Viber, WhatsApp) settings. This way, the app won’t use up your data or battery on images from group chats.
• Enable data-saving mode during calls, if available.
• Pin your most important chats (family, neighbours, home) and turn off notifications from entertainment groups.
• Subscribe to official channels providing air-raid alerts, power cut schedules and news for your town — well before a blackout occurs.
• Agree on «communication slots» with your family: for example, «we’ll check in at 10.00, 14.00 and 20.00». This will help you save battery and reduce anxiety.

Calls and text messages on the network often work better than mobile data, so don’t forget to use them as a backup option.

7. Useful little things to have ready

During a power cut, you may need more than just charged devices and internet access. Certain smartphone features and pre-configured apps can help you find your way around without a network, access your accounts and avoid falling victim to scammers. Check that you have everything you need ready for when connectivity is limited.

• Offline translation. Download language packs in Google Translate if you need the service for work or personal matters.
• Authenticator and recovery codes. Authenticator apps generate codes without an internet connection, unlike SMS, which relies on network coverage. Read more about this in our article on two-factor authentication.
• A password manager with offline access. We’ve previously explained why you need one and why, without it, you could easily find yourself unable to access your accounts in a stressful situation.
• The torch and SOS signal on your smartphone — check where they’re located so you can find them in the dark in a matter of seconds.

Checklist for computers and laptops

Если вы работаете или учитесь удаленно, блэкаут — это не только неудобство, но и риск сорвать дедлайн. Чтобы избежать этого, советуем придерживаться следующих рекомендаций.

1. Charging and Power

• Keep your laptop fully charged (100%) whilst the power is on, and enable power-saving mode in Windows or macOS.
• Check whether your power bank can charge your laptop. To do this, you’ll need a model with a USB-C port and sufficient Power Delivery support (usually 45-65 W or more). So, check the specifications of both your laptop and power bank in advance.
  
  
• Reduce the load: close any unnecessary tabs or programmes, switch off the keyboard backlight and lower the screen brightness.

2. Working files with offline access

Cloud storage is great as long as you have an internet connection. Without it, a file «in the cloud» is like a book in a library that’s closed: it’s there, but you can’t read it.

• Google Drive. Mark the files you need as «Available offline» and enable offline mode in Google Docs.
• OneDrive. Select «Always keep on this device» for important folders.
• Email. If you use Gmail or Outlook, enable offline mode — you’ll be able to read and write emails without an internet connection, and they’ll be sent as soon as you’re connected.
• Download the latest versions of presentations, spreadsheets, contracts and study materials that you might need in the coming days.

3. Backups

The basic idea is simple — don’t keep all your data in one place. You should keep at least one copy of your important files outside your computer and the cloud: on a USB stick or an external hard drive. This applies particularly to photos, documents and work projects.

• Find out how to download your data from Google services using Google Takeout, so you have a copy of your emails, photos and documents.
• Learn some quick ways to transfer files from your mobile to your laptop — you’ll need them for backups too.

4. Settings to save data and battery life

• Pause automatic updates for Windows, macOS and software — otherwise the system will use up your data and battery at the worst possible moment.
• Pause cloud synchronisation (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox) whilst working on battery power and with a weak connection.
• Set up a mobile hotspot on your smartphone («Tethering») so you can share your internet connection with your laptop if necessary. Choose a strong password and remember: this drains your phone’s battery quickly, so only use the hotspot for important tasks.

5. Useful resources saved in advance

Instructions, articles, diagrams, recipes, reference guides and training courses can be saved as PDFs or added to your browser’s «Reading List». And to avoid getting lost amongst hundreds of tabs, read about how to organise your bookmarks and saved content.

6. Entertainment without the internet

Download a few films, games that work offline, e-books and educational videos — it’s not just for children. A pre-prepared «offline library» helps you stay calm during long power cuts.

How to prepare your home internet for power cuts

A well-prepared home internet connection can still work without electricity, but part of the preparation is up to you.

GPON technology is a «passive» optical network: the cable runs from the provider to your home without any intermediate equipment that requires a power supply. To put it simply, it’s like a pipe through which water flows by itself, without a pump. However, the «tap» in your home — that is, the optical network terminal (ONT) and Wi-Fi router — needs to be powered separately.

Maxnet ensures a backup power supply for its network equipment using uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and generators, so the internet can continue to work for up to 72 hours without mains power under standard conditions. To ensure it works in your home too, please make sure you have the necessary equipment:

• A power bank with a USB-DC cable will power a router for approximately 4-6 hours.
• A mini UPS for a router will provide power for approximately 6 to 18 hours.
• The ONT must also be connected to a backup power source if it is plugged into a mains socket. Otherwise, you’ll have a router but no internet connection.

The operating time depends on the battery capacity and the number of connected devices, and you should charge the power bank or UPS in advance. Maxnet’s specialists can help you select compatible equipment.

So, preparing for a power cut is actually easier than it seems: a few settings on your smartphone, a bit of storage space, a power bank and a fully charged laptop. This digital minimum won’t protect you from power cuts, but it will help you get through them more calmly: with a map in your pocket, your documents to hand and the ability to stay in touch with your loved ones.

Save this checklist for yourself and go through it. And do send it to your loved ones, so that everyone in the family is prepared for scheduled or emergency power cuts.

Smartphone

• ☐ 100% charge, power bank fully charged, cables to hand
• ☐ Power-saving mode enabled, brightness reduced
• ☐ Offline maps of your town and your family’s home town downloaded
• ☐ Music, podcasts, films and children’s cartoons downloaded
• ☐ Copies of documents in a secure folder
• ☐ Emergency numbers (112, 101, 102, 103, 104) and family contacts saved
• ☐ «Emergency Information» / «Medical Card» completed
• ☐ Auto-download of media in messaging apps disabled
• ☐ Agreement with family members regarding «communication windows»

Computer

• ☐ Laptop fully charged, with power-saving mode enabled
• ☐ Necessary files available offline
• ☐ Backup on a USB stick or external hard drive
• ☐ Automatic updates paused
• ☐ Instructions and materials saved as PDFs or in a reading list

Home internet

• ☐ Router connected to a power bank or mini UPS
• ☐ Backup power supply for the optical network terminal (ONT)
• ☐ ISP support number saved

And if you want your home internet to stay connected for as long as possible, even during a power cut, check Maxnet’s GPON coverage at your address or call us on 0800-31-0700 — we’ll advise you on how to set it up and choose the right equipment.