Connected to WiFi, but no Internet? Fix it in 5 minutes!

When you're connected to WiFi but not the Internet, it can be confusing and frustrating. During the past few years, we've all encountered the "WiFi connected but no Internet" error, but unfortunately there isn't a single solution. Most often, the cause is a change in your operating system or router settings, but the cause may not always be as obvious. You will have to experiment with different fixes to find the right one. Here are some tested solutions to fix the WiFi connected but no Internet error.

Internet but no WiFi connection? Here's how to make it work

So long as you can connect to the internet, it is wonderful. One of two things is likely to happen when it comes to internet connectivity problems. It is either showing that there is no internet connection at all, or it is showing that there is a connection, but that you cannot access the internet. Wireless connections may show an error message that states "WiFi connected but no internet." This means that your computer/device is connected to your router/modem correctly, but it is not connecting to the internet. In order to solve this problem, we need to determine whether the problem is isolated to one device or if it affects the entire network. By knowing this information, you can determine what steps to take to resolve the issue.

Are You Seeing This Error & What Causes It?

Windows computers display this error as a tiny, yellow warning triangle with a black exclamation mark, while Android and iPhone devices display a black exclamation mark. You will then see one of the following error messages:

Connected to WiFi, but no internet
Access to the internet but not connected
WiFi does not have Internet access
Internet connection not available

You see this message when your device is connected to the local network (your router/modem) but something is blocking access to the internet. The most common causes are:

The WiFi adapter on your computer is faulty.
There is a problem with your internet provider.
The IP address of your computer is incorrect.
(Antivirus) Security software prevents access.
The wireless drivers on your computer are out of date.
DNS server settings are incorrect.
There is a problem with your DNS cache.
The router you are using is faulty.
The wireless mode on your computer is outdated.

Before you begin troubleshooting, find out if the problem is with one device or the network.

The first step in determining which resolution steps you need is to determine if the "WiFi connected but no internet" error affects a single device or your entire local network. This will help us figure out the likely cause of the problem and then determine the best way to fix it.

There is only one computer with a WiFi connection, but no internet. It is likely that you have misconfigured settings, faulty drivers, a faulty WiFi adapter, DNS issues, or a problem with your IP address if your computer is the only one that talks to the internet.

There is no internet connection on any of the devices. There may be a problem with your router/modem, or your internet service provider is down, if all your devices on the network have a WiFi connection but don't have access to the internet.

In the section below, we will list the solutions depending on whether the error occurs on a single computer or on a network-wide basis.

10 Solutions For the “WiFi Connected But No Internet” Error Message

Follow the steps outlined in the methods below to resolve this error on a single device. The issue may be with your network, so move on to the next section.

1. Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter.

You can try using the built-in Windows Network Troubleshooter as a first step. It might be able to fix the problem right away.

Tap Windows Key + R to open the run dialogue box. You can also type "run" into the search bar on your computer and open the corresponding result.

Click on "powercfg.cpl" and type the following command.
A menu called "power options" will appear.
Click the "choose what power buttons do" option on the left-hand side.
Under the "define" section, select "change settings currently unavailable".
There is an option for fast startup under the "shutdown settings" section.
Hit save after unchecking the fast startup option.
Check if you have internet access by restarting your computer.

2. Disable Fast Startup.

It may be interfering with your connection if you use Fast Startup to shut down and restart your computer. Here's how to disable it.

Tap the Windows key + R to open the run dialog box. Search for "run" on your laptop and click the corresponding result.
Click "powercfg.cpl" and type it in.
You will now be able to choose power options.
Click the "choose what power buttons do" option on the left-hand side.
Choose "change settings currently unavailable" in the "define" section.
You can choose fast startup in the section called "shutdown settings".
Hit the save button after unchecking the fast startup option.
Check your internet connection by restarting your computer.

3. Flush Your Domain Name System (DNS).

By either malicious code or technical glitches, you can get a mismatch in your IP address if your DNS cache becomes corrupted. You will not be able to connect to the internet even if there is a WiFi connection. Follow these steps to flush your DNS.

Search for "command prompt" in your computer's search bar and right-click it.
Run the command prompt application as an administrator.
Enter each of these commands after you type it.
Enter /flushdns in IPconfig.
IP configuration /release [Enter].
IP configuration /renew [Enter].
If the internet still does not work, close the command prompt window.

4. Update the network adapter driver.
You could experience a communication issue between your computer and network adapter if you regularly update your operating system but don't update your hardware drivers. Follow these steps to update your driver.
1. Open the device manager by typing "device manager" in your computer's search bar.
2. Expand the Network Adapters section by clicking on it.
3. You will have to find the "wireless" option and right-click it.
4. Select the "update driver" option.
5. You may need to manually install the right driver from your motherboard's manufacturer or your computer's manufacturer if your computer does not automatically update to the newest version.

An adapter for wireless is usually either marked with a wireless connection name outright, or it will list a wireless mode, like 802.11, on it.

5. Double-check that the address you are using is valid.

If you cannot access the internet, it may be because your computer has an incorrect IP address.

Select the "Open Network & Internet Settings" option by right-clicking the network icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
You can change your network options by clicking on "Change Adapter Options".
Click "Properties" at the bottom of the window, then locate and double-click the entry labeled "Internet Protocol Version 4".
Ensure that both your IP address and DNS server address are set to be automatically obtained, then hit OK and reconnect to the internet.

6. Change the DNS server address.

There is a possibility that your DNS server settings are incorrect. This is often the case when setting up your computer and/or network for the first time.

You can open the Run menu by pressing the Windows Key and R together.
Enter "control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter" then click OK.
In the window that opens, click "Change Adapter Settings" in the top left corner.
Select "Properties" by right-clicking on the "WiFi" icon in the center.
Click the "properties" button below after finding and selecting "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)".
Another window will appear showing how your IP address and DNS server are obtained. Make sure it is set to "Use the Following DNS Server Address" at the bottom.
Enter “8.8.8.8” for the Preferred DNS server and “8.8.4.4” for the Alternate DNS server, then click OK.

Check your internet connection again to see if this resolves the problem.

7. Temporarily disable firewall and antivirus software, uninstall conflicting applications.

Even if your computer says it has a connection to the internet, certain applications can prevent it from accessing the internet. The most common culprit is antivirus software. Try disabling third-party antivirus software on your computer to see if the problem resolves itself.

You can disable Windows Defender Firewall temporarily by following these steps:

On your keyboard, press the Windows key.
Open the Control Panel by typing "Control Panel" into the Windows search box.

3.Click System and Security.

4.In the new window, choose Windows Defender Firewall.

5.On the left side of the window, choose “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off“.

6.Disable Windows Defender Firewall for the network that is causing problems.

Make sure you do the same with any other antivirus or firewall software you have installed on your computer.

8. Reset TCP/IP Using the Command Prompt.

The reason for "WiFi Connected No Internet" occurs for a number of reasons. If you use the Command Prompt, you can reset TCP/IP by typing:

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
Once the Run window opens, type “cmd” to open the Command Prompt.

3.After each line, type the following commands and hit Enter:

netsh int ip reset

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

4.Check to see if the no internet issue has been resolved.

9. Turn Off IPv6.

It is also possible to disable IPv6 on your system as a quick fix for the "No Internet Access" error, forcing your computer to connect through IPv4 instead. The steps are as follows:

On your keyboard, press the Windows key.
Then click on Settings.

3.Select Network & Internet.

4.You can change the adapter options by scrolling down.

5.Select Properties from your active network adapter by right-clicking.

6.You need to uncheck the box beside Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) in the Properties window.

To save your changes, click OK.
The fix might work after re-starting your computer.

10. Disable 5 GHz bandwidth or change the wireless channel.

Unlike 5G, 5 GHz refers to the frequency of your WiFi router. Your router's frequency determines its overall speed as well as its reach. Compared to 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz offers faster speeds at a shorter range. In case you think your 5 GHz bandwidth is affecting your internet connection, you can turn it off so your device switches to 2.4 GHz automatically.

On your keyboard, press the Windows key.
Click on Settings.
Choose Network & Internet.
Click on Change adapter options.
Click the Properties option next to your active network adapter.
Click Configure in the upper right-hand corner of the Properties window.

7.Select the Wireless mode property under the Advanced tab.

8.On the right, click the Value drop-down and select 802.11b/g.

9.To save your changes, click OK.

10.Reconnect to your WiFi after disconnecting.

11.Check to see if the no internet issue has been resolved.

This configuration instructs your WiFi card to only scan the 2.4 GHz b/g band, and it will not attempt to connect to your router using the 5 GHz 802.11a band. After making this change, if your WiFi still doesn't work, you can also test with the other wireless modes available in the drop-down menu.

4.How to Fix "WiFi Connected but No Internet" Across Your Entire Network

1. Find out if your ISP is down.

In the event that all your devices are connected to your network's wireless internet but you are not able to access the internet, it may be caused by an outage with your service provider. The only way to determine this is to use cellular data to look up your internet service provider's network through their website or social media pages or to call them directly. In some cases, if you are able to use cellular data to access the internet, you can use websites like DownDetector to see if service is down or if others are reporting the same issue.

You may be experiencing an issue with your router if your internet service provider is not experiencing an outage. Proceed to step 2.

2.Reset or reboot your modem or router.

Turning off your router and modem, then turning them back on, is a simple step anyone can try, and usually resolves most issues. Unplug your router if you only have one. Plug it back in and turn it on again after about a minute. Both the router and modem should be unplugged and turned off. Connect the modem first, and wait about 30 seconds before turning on the router. 5-10 minutes after everything has finished powering up, test your devices again to see if the issue has been resolved.

3. You should check your router's MAC address filtering settings.

Media Access Control (MAC) addresses are unique identifiers that can be used to control device access to networks. A feature of most routers allows filtering devices based on their MAC addresses.

It is important to check if this feature is enabled and if it is in the allow or deny mode. The selected mode determines whether the MAC addresses listed in your router - and ONLY those that are listed - can connect to the internet (allow mode), or if they are prevented from connecting (deny mode).

You can access your router's management console from any web browser, provided you know its IP address. It can usually be found on the bottom of your router. Using the command prompt, you can retrieve it if you can't find it there:

The Windows key is pressed and you type "cmd" into the search box.
Right-click the Command Prompt app and choose Run as administrator.
Type "ipconfig" in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.
192.168.X.X is your Default Gateway IP Address.
Go to this IP address in your favorite web browser to access the router's management console.
In most cases, you will need to log in with your router's credentials, which are not the same as your WiFi credentials. You can find these on the back of your router, or they may simply be "admin" if you've never changed them before.

Once you have access to your router settings, make sure that the MAC address filtering feature is disabled or that you are not blocking internet access for your device with a filtering rule.

4. Reset Your Entire Network.

In case you are still experiencing the "WiFi connected but no internet" error after following all of the steps above, you may need to reset your entire network. Your network settings will be reset to their default state, and all network adapters will be removed as well. As a result, you will need to set everything up again, including updating default network adapters and reconnecting to your local network. In order to do so, you will need your internet network's password. Follow these steps to reset your network.

Enter "settings" into your computer's search bar.
Navigate to the "network & internet" option.
Select the "status" option in the left-hand menu.
Go to the "network troubleshooter" section.
Choose "network reset" from the options.
Follow the on-screen instructions after clicking "network reset".

Click the internet icon in your taskbar to reconnect to the internet after the network has been reset. You may need to find your network on a list of available networks, then connect to it.

Conclusion

It's possible that one of the methods listed above has solved your WiFi connected but no internet issue. However, if you are still unable to access the internet on your computer, you should consult an IT technician for further assistance.