Wi-Fi connected but no internet on Windows: step-by-step fixes

“Connected, no internet” means your computer has joined the network, but data isn’t getting through to the internet. The first job is to work out where the problem is: the internet line, the router, or your PC.

1. Is it just your PC?

Check another device on the same Wi-Fi, such as a phone with mobile data turned off.

What you see	Where the problem is	Go to
No device on this Wi-Fi has internet	Router or internet line	Step 2
Other devices work, your PC doesn’t	Your PC	Step 3 onwards
Only some websites fail	DNS, VPN or the website itself	Step 5 and Step 7

2. Restart the router (and modem)

1. Unplug the router (and the separate modem or fibre box, if you have one).
2. Wait 30 seconds, then plug the modem in first, then the router.
3. Give it 2–3 minutes to fully start.

If no device has internet after this, check the provider’s status page or call them. The line itself may be down.

3. Reconnect and restart your PC

1. Turn Wi-Fi off and on from the taskbar network icon.
2. If that doesn’t help, forget the network and join it again: Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks → select the network → Forget, then reconnect with the password.
3. Restart the PC.

4. Turn off VPN and proxy

A VPN or proxy that has stopped working can block all traffic.

• Disconnect any VPN app.
• Check Settings → Network & internet → Proxy. Unless your workplace requires a proxy, Automatically detect settings should be on and Use a proxy server should be off.

5. Flush DNS and renew your IP address

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these one at a time:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

Then test again. If ipconfig /renew returns an address starting with 169.254, your PC isn’t getting an address from the router at all. Restart the router, and check the next step.

6. Check the IP address and gateway

Run:

ipconfig

Under your Wi-Fi adapter, look for IPv4 Address and Default Gateway.

• No default gateway, or an address starting with 169.254: the router isn’t handing out addresses. Restart it, and make sure the PC isn’t set to a manual IP: Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → (your network) properties → IP assignment should be Automatic (DHCP).
• Address looks normal (often 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x): test whether you can reach the internet by address rather than by name:

ping 1.1.1.1
ping google.com

If ping 1.1.1.1 works but ping google.com fails, the problem is DNS. Go to step 7.

7. Change your DNS server

1. Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → (your network) properties → DNS server assignment → Edit.
2. Choose Manual, turn on IPv4, and enter:
   • Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1
   • Alternate DNS: 8.8.8.8
3. Save, then run ipconfig /flushdns again.

On a company laptop, leave DNS settings alone and contact IT. Company networks often need their own DNS servers to reach internal systems.

8. Reset the network stack

If settings have become corrupted, reset them. In Command Prompt as administrator:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

Restart the PC afterwards.

9. Use Windows Network reset

This removes and reinstalls all network adapters and returns networking settings to default. You’ll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords, and reinstall VPN software afterwards.

Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset → Reset now. The PC restarts after a few minutes.

10. Update or roll back the Wi-Fi driver

1. Right-click Start → Device Manager → Network adapters.
2. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter:
   • Update driver, or better, download the latest driver from the laptop or adapter manufacturer’s website.
   • If the problem started after a Windows update, open Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver if it’s available.

Still not working?

• Check the PC’s date and time are correct; a wrong clock breaks secure websites.
• Temporarily disable third-party antivirus or firewall to test, then re-enable it.
• Try an Ethernet cable. If wired works and Wi-Fi doesn’t, the issue is the Wi-Fi adapter or signal.
• If several PCs on the same network show this at once, the router or firewall may be out of available IP addresses (DHCP pool exhausted) or blocking traffic. That’s a job for whoever manages the network.