How to Solve The “Wi-Fi connected but no internet” Problem in Windows PC

When it comes to internet connectivity, users usually face two common issues –

1. There is a connection but no internet access.
2. There is no connectivity at all.

If it is a wireless connection, then the “Wi-Fi connected but no internet connection” issue is encountered.

Knowing there is no internet connectivity is frustrating in each case. Anyone can face the issue anytime on all devices connected to the same network or only on a single device.

If you are struggling with a similar problem or are connected without the internet, you are reading the right post. This post explains how to fix no internet connection errors.

What does the Wi-Fi Connected But No Internet Access message mean?

When you see the “Wi-Fi connected but there is no internet access” error message, it means your device can connect to a local network (router or modem) but cannot interact with other systems online, like websites or servers.

On Windows, when you connect to the Wi-Fi but there is no internet connectivity, you see the following messages:

• Connected, no internet.
• No internet, secured.
• WiFi has no internet access.
• Wi-Fi connected but no internet.

      

Now that you understand the issue, it is best to know the causes before jumping to the fixes. It will help identify the right fix.

Common Causes for Internet Connectivity Issues

The common reasons why you encounter any of the error messages explained above are:

• Faulty Wi-Fi adapter.
• ISP is down.
• Incorrect internet protocol (IP) address.
• Security software is interfering with internet access.
• Outdated wireless drivers.
• Incorrect DNS server settings.
• Corrupt DNS cache.
• Faulty router.
• Outdated wireless mode on PC

How to fix No Internet Access?

To troubleshoot Wi-Fi connected but without internet, we first need to check whether the problem is only on one device or all devices connected to the network.

Once you determine whether it impacts a single device or the entire local area network, you can narrow down the cause and apply the correct fix to solve the no-internet connection problem.

A. PC can connect to Wi-Fi, but there is no internet connectivity

If you use the Wi-Fi only on your computer, and there is no connectivity, it is most likely because of the misconfigured settings, outdated Wi-Fi driver, DNS issues, or a problem with the IP address.

Connect a phone or any other device to the same Wi-Fi network to ensure it is not a hardware issue. If you can access and browse a website, then the problem is with the PC.

B. All Devices connect to Wi-Fi, but there is no internet

Usually, when all devices are connected to the network without internet connectivity, the issue lies with the modem or router. In some cases, ISP can also be down. To narrow down the issue connect with an alternate Wi-Fi network. If you cannot access the internet, the issue is with the network, not the devices.

Quickest Way To Update Drivers and Fix Wi-Fi Connected by No Internet Error

When the ISP, modem, router, and DNS settings are all working, outdated drivers are the reason behind the issue.

The best way to handle the drive problem is to use Advanced Driver Updater. The tool detects obsolete drivers and shows the latest and most compatible driver updates. Click the download button to get the best driver updater for Windows and update network drivers to fix the issue.

Must Read: How To Update And Download 802.11n WLAN Adapter Driver

Workable Fixes For Wi-Fi Connected But No Internet Internet Access

1. Restart PC

Most of you might have done it a few times. However, if you haven’t, we recommend rebooting the PC to update network devices to refresh their IP tables and reload configuration files. To do so, follow these steps:

• Switch off both the router and the modem.
• Please wait for 30 seconds before restarting them.
• Next, restart the PC to check whether everything is in order.

Once all of the devices are reset, generally, reconnection works. If it doesn’t, there is no need to worry. Move to the next step.

2. Check Modem Lights

Instead of the devices connected, there might be a problem with your internet connection. To ensure this is not the case, check the WAN light on the router. They should be flashing, and the DSL lights should be ON or green. Furthermore, the Wi-Fi indication lights should flash. If unsure how to proceed, contact your ISP’s customer support.

3. Check whether the ISP is working or not

Using your mobile data search on the web, whether your ISP is working or not. You can visit sites like Downdetector and search for information about your ISP. Select the Live Outage option to determine whether it is down in your area.

4. Update Network Driver

If you update your PC but do not update your hardware drivers, an out-of-date network adapter driver may cause a communication issue between the two. Below, we will explain how you can update drivers. However, remember to update the driver; you need an active internet connection. Therefore, connect your computer to your router or modem through an Ethernet wire before proceeding and confirm you have internet access.

Now, follow the steps to update the driver. We will use Advanced Driver Updater to update the driver as it is the safest and easiest way to update drivers. To use the tool, follow these steps:

1. Download and install Advanced Driver Updater.

2. Launch the tool.

3. Click Start Scan Now to scan the PC for an outdated network driver.

4. Review scan results and update the driver. Trial users need to click Update driver next to it. However, registered users can update all outdated drivers at once by clicking the Update All option.

5. Restart the PC to apply changes.

Now try to connect to the Wi-Fi; you should not face any problems.

5. Temporarily Disable Antivirus

Antivirus software is known for interfering with other software and causing internet issues. Therefore, we suggest you temporarily disable your antivirus and other security programs. If doing so helps fix the Wi-Fi connection, you know the culprit. If not, proceed to the next step.

Also, we suggest you scan the PC for malware, viruses, and other infections, as they can also be the reason behind internet issues.

6. Run Windows, built-in Troubleshooter,

Another way to fix network connection issues is to use the built-in Windows Network Troubleshooter. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + I to open Windows Settings.
2. Click the Network & Internet option.

3. Click the Status option > Network troubleshooter from the left pane.

4. Run it > Select the network adapter to diagnose.

Now, check if this helps. Suppose it doesn’t move to the next step.

7. Flush DNS

A DNS cache can occasionally dispute with the PC, resulting in a Wi-Fi connection but no internet access problem. Therefore, we suggest you flush DNS to ensure it’s not creating any issues. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In the theWindows search bar, enter Command Prompt > Run as administrator
2. Now type the following commands

ipconfig /flushdns

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

3. Exit Command Prompt and see if you have the internet connection restored.

Want to learn? – More ways to clear DNS

8. Obtain IP and DNS Automatically

1. In the search bar, type Network and sharing center.

2. Click on Change Adapter Options.

3. Right-click on your current network adapter or Wi-Fi and choose Properties.

4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties in the pop-up.

5. Select Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS Server address automatically > OK.

Restart the PC to enable automatic IP address configuration. Now try connecting; you should not face any problems.

If the Server IP address could not be found this post will help you.

9. Change the DNS Server Address

DNS server settings are responsible for connecting you to the internet. Therefore, when there is an outage, you can connect to Wi-Fi without the internet. To fix this issue, we suggest changing the DNS server address. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In the search bar, type Network and sharing center.

2. Click on Change Adapter Options.

3. Right-click on your current network adapter or Wi-Fi and choose Properties.

4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties in the pop-up.

5. In the new window, select the radio button next to “Use the following DNS server addresses.” Enter 8.8.8.8’ for the Preferred DNS server and ‘8.8.4.4’ for the Alternate DNS server.

6. Press OK and exit the window.

This should help fix the connection to Wi-Fi, but no internet issue.

10. Disable VPN

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are an excellent way to stay anonymous online. They hide the IP address and make you appear to be browsing from another nation. Also, it allows you to bypass geo-restrictions.

However, this extra layer sometimes creates problems while connecting to the internet. Therefore, if your VPN service has a technical difficulty or outage, you might get connected without an internet access error message. In such cases, try disabling the VPN and then connecting to the network; you should not face any problems.

To disable the VPN, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + I to access Windows settings.

2. Click Network & Internet options.

3. Choose VPN from the left pane > select the VPN you are using and disconnect.

Now try to connect to the internet; you should not face any problems. If this doesn’t help, try the other fixes before re-enabling the VPN.

11. Disable Proxy

Proxy servers act as a gateway between your device and the internet. Therefore, when there is an issue with the proxy server, you might encounter no internet access but connected. To fix it, disable the proxy by following the steps below:

1. Press Windows + I to access Windows settings.

2. Click the Network & Internet option.

3. Choose Proxy from the left pane.

4. Scroll down and disable the Use a proxy server option under Manual proxy setup.

12. Check Time Synchronization

Opening a web page in your browser might seem straightforward, but an extended sequence of events is involved. Every communication event between your computer and the internet carries a timestamp, which aids processing. If your computer’s internal time differs from the Internet time, you will face various problems and won’t be able to connect to the Internet. Therefore, you need to set the right time. To do so,  follow these steps to set time automatically on Windows.

1. Right-click the system clock present in the system tray.
2. Select Adjust date/time.

3. Enable both Set the time automatically and Set the time zone automatically options > click Syn now.

4. Now check you should have internet access.

13. Disable Fast Startup

Using the Fast Startup tool to shut down and restart your computer quickly may interfere with your connection. To turn it off, do the following.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window
2. Type powercfg.cpl in the Run window and click Ok

3. Click Choose what the power button do option from the left pane.

4. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable

5. Under the shutdown settings & uncheck the box next to Fast Startup & reboot PC to apply changes.

You should now be able to connect to the internet.

14. Reset Router

Resetting the router helps fix all network-related problems as it resets it to factory settings. But this also means you will have to password-protect the router again.

The reset button is hidden within a tiny hole, so you must inspect the router carefully to discover it. Once located, use a paper clip or mobile SIM tray opener to push and hold the button for 5-15 seconds or until all the lights flicker and the router restarts. When the router restarts, you can connect to the internet.

15. Reset Network

1. Type Network Reset in the search bar.

2. Click Reset Now.

Wi-Fi Connected But No Internet Access

There is no one solution to fix the Wi-Fi connectivity but no internet access. The recommendations provided above should be sufficient to resolve most software-related issues. If that doesn’t help, try updating the firmware, using an ethernet cable, switching Wi-Fi bands, and checking mobile data if using Hotspot.

If this doesn’t help, you can contact the technician for a hardware issue, such as a faulty network card or router.

Please let us know in the comments which solution worked for you or if you discovered another way to resolve this annoying internet connectivity problem.

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