Having a smart device with no internet can be frustrating. It can even be infuriating for someone trying to get their work done online. Though there are several occasions that this can happen, the one we will discuss is one of the worst.
Your Windows computer can connect to a network connection but still not have internet access. Surprising? This is a very common issue and nothing to be worried about. The article below will find all the solutions and reasons for the WiFi connected with no internet Windows issue.
Factors that cause Wi-Fi Connected No Internet Issue In Windows
Inactive Network servers
The network’s servers can be down due to several reasons. Unlike other platforms, the users do not have a portal to check the availability of these servers. You must contact the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for more information.
Enabled VPN proxy
An enabled VPN service can be the cause of this issue. It might give you a different IP address that will cause several other issues. The easiest way to fix this is to disable the VPN proxy.
Network-adapter driver issues
The network adapter is the Windows element that controls connectivity on your PC. The drivers for this feature can be corrupt or out-of-date. Both of these reasons could be why you can’t surf the internet even when connected to a wireless network.
Disabled WiFi
Some modems have a button to enable and disable the wifi network. Some users disable the wireless hotspot and use the LAN option with an ethernet cable. If this happens, you can push the button to enable the WiFi connection again.
Incorrect or Corrupt DNS server cache
Since we are dealing with an internet-related issue, there is a chance for the network’s DNS address to be incompatible. In addition, there is also the possibility of the DNS cache being corrupt. We recommend switching to an open DNS server address.
Interferences from the Antivirus Firewall
The antivirus software can be an issue when trying to a network. Either the third-party antivirus or the Windows Defender prevents network access for anti-malware safety reasons. To use the network, you have to turn the antivirus off.
Wrong IP address
The device can have an incorrect IP address because of a VPN or manual configuration. You can change the IP through the router settings interface. Alternatively, getting help from the ISP is also an option.
Issues with the Router hardware
The router could have problems with the hardware. This means that the router has trouble initiating a connection even when the network is functioning normally. The user can take the router to a service center or get a new one.
Solutions for the Wi-Fi Connected No Internet Issue In Windows
- Check with your Internet Service Provider
- Try connecting with other devices
- Enable and Disable Airplane mode
- Reboot the System
- Restart the Router
- Troubleshoot the Network
- Verify the IP address
- Switch to a different DNS address
- Disable the VPN
- Disable and Re-Enable the Network Adapter
- Reset the Network on your Device
- Reset the Network Stack with Command Prompt
- Delete the Temporary Files
- Download the latest Network Adapter driver
- Make the WiFi profile again
Fixing the WiFi Connected with No Internet Windows Issue
Check with your Internet Service Provider
The status of your network is known only to your ISP. Since an inactive network server can cause the “no internet” issue, there’s nothing we can do about it as users. The server could be under maintenance or down due to technical inconveniences.
You will have to contact the service provider to get more information about the server status. Until the servers are back up, no internet will be accessible even after the connection. We have to wait it out or use a different network.
Try connecting with other devices
The problem could lie within your device. This is why we suggest you try connecting to a different system; mobile or PC. If the connection is established on an alternate device, the issue is specific to the primary device.
In the case of an unsuccessful connection, you should be able to get help from the service provider. This workaround can also help us determine if the problem is only on one or all connected devices.
Enable and Disable Airplane mode
Enabling airplane mode should refresh the network settings. This minor solution can remove temporary changes made in the configuration and bring the previous settings back. Let’s try the airplane mode method if the configurations are responsible for the no internet error.
There are two different ways to disable airplane mode on Windows. The easy method is to click on the network icon on the taskbar and choose the Airplane mode toggle switch.
The second method is as follows –
- Open the Windows Settings through the Start menu or by pressing Windows and I keys.
- Go into the Network & Internet tab on the left panel.
- Click on the toggle switch adjacent to the Airplane mode option. You can use the same option to disable this feature.
Reboot the System
Another workaround for this error is to restart the system. Restarting the PC is an excellent solution for most minor issues.
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Click on the Power button at the bottom-left corner of the Start menu.
- Choose Restart and wait for the system to reboot.
If the WiFi option is enabled, the device will automatically be connected to the network.
Restart the Router
Just to be safe, we can try restarting the router as well. Turn the router off and turn it back on after a few minutes to refresh the network. This will allow the router time to switch off entirely and launch again without issues.
You can reset the router using a toothpick if this does not work. Prod the reset button at the modem’s back gently and hold it. If you see the lights go off and come back on, the reset process is successful.
Troubleshoot the Network
Network troubleshooting can help narrow down both the source of the issue and the solution as well. You wouldn’t have to carry out many procedures as the Windows network troubleshooter fixes it automatically, with only a prompt.
- Open the Windows Settings and go to the System tab.
- Navigate to the Troubleshoot option and click on it.
- Go into the Other troubleshooters section.
- Locate the Internet connections option. To launch it, click on the Run button.
- Select the Troubleshoot my connection to the internet option in the Troubleshoot wizard. This process can take a few seconds to finish.
- If an issue has been detected, apply the fix to resolve this error.
- Reboot your system to save the changes.
Verify the IP address
You can check your device’s IP address if only this computer is affected by the no internet error. If you are using a home network, you can check the IP address that your router allocates for your device.
- Open the Windows Settings and go to the Network and Internet settings.
- Expand the section of the network type you are using.
- Click on the Network properties option.
- Select the View additional properties link.
You should be able to check the IP address here. Importantly, we have to ensure that the IP and DNS server assignment options are set to Automatic (DHCP).
If this IP is incompatible, you can change it, manually or automatically. Check the next solution for the steps on how to do this.
Switch to a different DNS address
If you have an automatically assigned DNS address, switching it to Google DNS is best. This is a long and delicate procedure so follow the steps to change DNS server address, very carefully.
- Open your Control Panel using either the search bar or the run tool.
- Select the Network and Internet option on the main page.
- Go into the Network and Sharing center link at the top of the page.
- On the list of options on the left, choose the Change adapter settings link. This will show you a window with all the connections made on the computer.
- Right-click on the active connection and choose the Properties option.
- Double-click on the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) checkbox in the Properties window.
- Now, check the Use the following DNS server address option.
- Type in the following DNS server addresses –
- Primary – 8.8.8.8
- Secondary – 8.8.4.4
- Save these changes by clicking on the OK button.
- Reboot your system once you are done with the procedure.
In the IPV4 properties window, you can get the DNS automatically by choosing the Obtain DNS server address automatically radio button.
Google DNS can also help you get the maximum internet speed and gain access to all global sites that are available to the user.
Disable the VPN
VPN proxies can be helpful in a lot of places. But since this is a factor that causes the no internet issue on your Windows PC, it is not a friend here. The user can use the VPN application to disable it.
If this solution helps, you will have to browse without an active VPN. If this is required, you can try connecting to different proxies and check if you can work with them.
Disable and Re-Enable the Network Adapter
The network adapter could be disabled on your system. There is also a possibility of the same component experiencing bugs. You can try enabling the network adapter when disabled. Use the steps below –
- Launch the Control Panel on your PC.
- Click on the Network and Internet option from the main menu.
- Select the Change adapter settings link, located in the left panel. In the window that appears, you’ll see a list of all the network adapters available on your PC.
- Look for the active network connection and right-click to open its context menu.
- Choose the Disable option. This will disable the network on your device.
- Right-click on it again and choose Enable.
You might have to log back into the network with your password to attempt the authentication.
Reset the Network on your Device
Windows also allows its users to reset just the network. This procedure will bring all the network configurations back to default when the issue did not exist.
- Push the Windows and I keys, simultaneously to open the Windows settings.
- Look for the Network & Internet option on the left panel.
- Here, click on the Advanced network settings option.
- Select Network reset at the bottom.
- On the next page, click the Reset now option.
- Confirm this in the pop-up prompt box and the process will begin.
Reset the Network Stack with Command Prompt
Launch the command prompt window when you are done with the previous solution. You can use the search bar (Windows + S) to open this quickly.
In the CMD window, type them in and press enter to execute the following commands in the given order –
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
Delete Temporary Files
Unnecessary temporary files might have to be removed to fix this issue. Deleting temporary files will not set any saved changes or progress back.
- Bring the Run tool up by pressing the Windows and R keys together.
- Execute the
C:\Windows\temp
command by hitting the Ok button. If you aren’t in the admin profile, you might get a dialog box requesting permission to access the Temp folder.
- Select all the files by pressing Ctrl + A and delete them.
- Restart the PC and connect to the wireless network again.
Download the latest Network Adapter driver
Outdated network drivers can be corrupt or incompatible with the network. This is why we’ll be helping you get the latest network adapter driver updates.
- Run the
devmgmt.msc
command in the Run tool. This will launch the Device manager window. - Double-click on the Network adapters category.
- Locate the wireless drivers from the list of network adapters and right-click on them.
- Choose the Update driver option to bring the Driver update wizard up.
- Now, select Search automatically for drivers, This will run a scan of the internet for available updates and download it when there is an internet connection.
- Reboot your system when the download is complete to install it.
Make the WiFi profile again
The last trick in our bag requires you to make a very similar profile for the troublesome wi-fi network. If the Wi-Fi connection is not properly set, a lot of network issues could arise. Making a new wifi profile with the steps below can help you.
- Launch the Windows Settings and go to the Network & Internet tab.
- Click on the WiFi option at the top of the page.
- Choose the active network and select Forget to disconnect and remove the network.
- Now, bring the system tray up and choose the WiFi option.
- You’ll see a list of all available networks. Connect to the same network again.
When the connection is successful, it will be saved as a profile on your quick WiFi settings.
You can also check with the wireless adapter developers’ customer support for more help. If you are using an office network, the IT admin can help you.