Internet & Network / Wi-Fi

How to Fix Wi-Fi Connected but No Internet

Quick answer

First check whether another device on the same Wi-Fi can reach the internet. If nothing works, restart the router and wait a few minutes. If only this PC fails, restart it, turn Wi-Fi off and on, then clear the DNS cache and renew the address Windows is using. If websites load but feel slow, use [slow internet on a Windows PC](/guides/slow-internet-windows-pc); if only a few sites fail, use [some websites won't load](/guides/some-websites-wont-load-windows).

Practical PC editorial teamUpdated November 2, 202613 min readBeginner-friendlyAbout 15 to 30 minutes

Quick diagnosis

If several of these match what you see, you are in the right guide.

Wi-Fi shows Connected but websites never load
Windows says "No Internet" or "Connected, no internet"
Only some sites work, or names will not resolve
A phone on the same Wi-Fi still works, or also does not

Possible causes

The router needs a restart
The internet service is down
Windows has a stuck network profile or old DNS cache
The PC has Wi-Fi radio issues (driver or airplane mode)
The router is online but DNS is failing

What you need

A second device if you have one (phone or tablet)
Router you can reach to restart

What this problem usually means

"Connected" only means your PC found the Wi-Fi network and joined it. It does not guarantee a path to websites. The break can be between you and the router, between the router and your internet provider, or in how Windows looks up website names (DNS).

The most useful split is: other devices work, or they do not. That one observation prevents a lot of guessing.

Use this as the entry guide for total or near-total internet failure. It intentionally sends partial failures to DNS, slow-internet, Ethernet, and website-specific guides so you do not repeat the wrong fix.

Before you start

Confirm Airplane mode is off and Wi-Fi is on (look at the network icon on the taskbar).
If you use a VPN for work, disconnect it once to test. A VPN outage can look like "no internet."
You do not need to reset the router to factory settings as a first step. A simple power restart is enough to try.

Quick fixes

1. Restart the router and modem

Unplug the router's power (and the modem, if it is a separate box).
Wait 60 seconds. This is not superstition, it lets the hardware drop a stuck session.
Plug the modem in first if you have one, wait until its internet light is steady, then plug in the router.
Wait two minutes, then try a website again.

2. Restart the computer

Windows can keep a broken network state until a full restart. Use Restart, not only Sleep.

3. Check another device

Join the same Wi-Fi on a phone. If the phone also has no internet, the PC is probably not the main problem, continue with the router and your provider. If the phone works, stay with Windows steps below.

If the phone works but Windows says the Wi-Fi adapter is missing entirely, switch to missing Wi-Fi adapter or toggle. That is a different failure from being connected with no internet.

4. Turn Wi-Fi off and on

Select the network icon on the taskbar.
Turn Wi-Fi off, wait 10 seconds, turn it on, and reconnect.

Step-by-step troubleshooting

If Wi-Fi works on other devices

The network is probably fine. Focus on this PC: forget the network and rejoin it (Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks), then try a wired connection if you have an Ethernet cable. If Ethernet works and Wi-Fi does not, the issue is wireless on the PC (driver, adapter, or interference), not the whole internet. If the cable itself never connects, see Ethernet not working on Windows.

Clear the DNS cache

Windows stores recently used website addresses in a temporary DNS cache. If that list is stale, you can be "connected" and still fail to open sites by name. For the full walkthrough, see how to flush DNS cache in Windows.

ipconfig /flushdns

What this does: Deletes the local DNS cache.
Why run it: A bad cached address can block sites even when the connection itself is up.
What you should see: A message that the DNS resolver cache was successfully flushed.
If it fails: Open Command Prompt or Terminal and type the command exactly, including the space. If you see "The requested operation requires elevation," right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator, then try once more.

Renew the PC's network address

Administrator Command Prompt

ipconfig /release && ipconfig /renew

What this does: Drops the current IP address and asks the router for a new one.
Why run it: A stuck or duplicate address can show Wi-Fi as connected with no useful path to the internet.
What you should see: After renew, Windows lists a new IPv4 address. It often starts with 192.168 or 10.
If it fails: Run Command Prompt as administrator. If renew fails or the address starts with 169.254, the PC is not getting an address from the router, restart the router again and check the cable to the modem.

About the && in that command

In Windows Terminal or PowerShell, && runs the second command if the first succeeded. In older Command Prompt you can run ipconfig /release, press Enter, then ipconfig /renew.

If no device has internet

Treat this as a home-network or provider issue. Confirm the router's internet or WAN light. Log in to the router only if you already know how; do not follow random videos that reset it to factory defaults and lock you out.

If Ethernet says "Unidentified network" on the same router, compare with Ethernet unidentified network. That points more toward address assignment from the router than a Wi-Fi password or signal issue.

Check your provider's status page from a phone on cellular data. If they report an outage, waiting is the fix. If they do not, a router restart plus a support call with "all devices offline" is more useful than changing Windows settings.

Reset the Windows network stack only if the PC is the outlier

Windows can reset network adapters to a default state. You will need to rejoin Wi-Fi and re-enter the password. This is a reasonable later step, not the first one. Read how to reset network settings in Windows 11 before you click, so you know what is removed.

Open Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings.
Choose Network reset, read the warning, and restart when Windows asks.

You will rejoin Wi-Fi after this

Have the Wi-Fi password ready. VPN or special workplace network software may need to be set up again.

Where is the break?

Choose an answer. The next question appears below, no account or download required.

Does another device on the same Wi-Fi have internet?Yes, a phone or tablet worksNo, nothing on this Wi-Fi can get onlineI only have this one device

What does the Windows network icon say?No internet, or a globe with no accessIt looks connected, but sites still fail

Stay with Windows network troubleshooting: restart, toggle Wi-Fi, flush DNS, renew the IP address, then Network reset if needed.

Try more than one site, including a simple one. If names fail, DNS is a suspect, flush the cache, then see DNS server not responding if the error names DNS. If nothing loads, test Ethernet or a phone hotspot to see whether only this Wi-Fi adapter is at fault.

Restart the router and modem, then check with your internet provider if it is still down. Windows tweaks will not restore a dead line.

What does the Windows network icon say?No internet, or a globe with no accessIt looks connected, but sites still fail

Stay with Windows network troubleshooting: restart, toggle Wi-Fi, flush DNS, renew the IP address, then Network reset if needed.

How to know the problem is fixed

Open two different websites, not only one that might be down.
Confirm the taskbar no longer shows "No internet."
If you use a VPN, reconnect it only after the basic connection works.

If the problem continues

If other devices work and this PC still does not after Network reset, update the Wi-Fi driver from the PC maker's support site (Lenovo, Dell, HP, and so on), not from a generic "driver booster." If no device works after router restarts, contact your internet provider; they can see whether the line is down.

When this may be hardware failure

A failing Wi-Fi card is uncommon compared with router and settings issues, but it happens: the PC cannot see any networks while a USB Wi-Fi adapter or phone hotspot works fine. That points to the built-in adapter or its antenna cable (more common in laptops after a drop). A shop can test that. Do not pry antenna wires unless you already know the hardware.

Common mistakes to avoid

Factory-resetting the router as step one and losing the admin password.
Changing DNS to a random address from a social media post without noting the original settings.
Downloading a "Wi-Fi repair" utility from an ad.
Assuming the PC is at fault when the whole house is offline.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my phone work on Wi-Fi but the laptop does not?

The phone proves the internet and router are probably fine. The laptop may need a restart, a forgotten-and-rejoined network, a DNS flush, or a driver update. Follow the "other devices work" path in this guide.

Is flushing DNS safe?

Yes. It only clears a temporary list of website names. Windows will fetch them again. You will not delete files or passwords. There is a dedicated flush-DNS guide on this site if you want the command explained in more detail.

Should I disable my firewall?

No. A firewall blocking all web traffic is unusual on a default Windows setup. Do not turn off Windows Security to test "just in case."

Written by Practical PC editorial team. We write practical Windows and PC troubleshooting guides for home users, students, and office workers. Guides are researched from official documentation and widely observed support patterns, then reviewed for safety and plain language. We do not invent lab tests, certifications, or first-hand repair experience we do not have.