connected with wifi, no internet

James Pasternak 0 Reputation points
2026-10-24T19:10:02.11+00:00

I can connect my computer to my wifi, but have no internet

Windows for home | Other | Internet and connectivity
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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-24T19:10:36.32+00:00

    Test the same Wi-Fi network with a phone or another computer first, because this determines whether to troubleshoot the router/Internet service or only the Windows PC.^1^

    If other devices also have no Internet

    1. Unplug the modem and wireless router from power.
    2. Wait at least 30 seconds.
    3. Reconnect the modem first and wait until its lights stabilize.
    4. Reconnect the router, wait a few minutes, and test again.
    5. If every device remains offline, check for an outage with your Internet service provider.

    Restarting the equipment temporarily disconnects everyone using that network.

    If other devices work normally

    The issue is limited to the Windows computer. Work through these steps in order:

    1. Forget and reconnect to Wi-Fi
      • Windows 10/11: Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks.
      • Select your network and choose Forget.
      • Reconnect and enter the Wi-Fi password.
    2. Turn off a manual proxy
      • Open Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy.
      • Turn off Use a proxy server if it is enabled and not required by your organization.
    3. Reset the Windows network stack
      • Search for Command Prompt.
      • Select Run as administrator → Yes.
      • Run these commands in order:
    netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

    Restart the PC afterward. These commands reset TCP/IP and Winsock, request a new address from the router, and clear the DNS cache.^1^

    1. Check the assigned IP address
      • Run ipconfig in Command Prompt.
      • Find the Wi-Fi adapter’s IPv4 Address.
      • An address beginning with 169.254 means Windows did not receive an address from the router. If the network does not intentionally use static addresses, verify that DHCP is enabled in the router’s settings.^1^

    If it still does not connect

    Reinstall the Wi-Fi adapter driver:

    1. On another Internet-connected device, download the correct Wi-Fi driver from the PC manufacturer and save it to a USB drive as a backup.
    2. On the affected PC, open Device Manager → Network adapters.
    3. Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and select Uninstall device.
    4. Select Attempt to remove the driver for this device, then Uninstall.
    5. Restart Windows. It should reinstall the adapter automatically; otherwise, install the manufacturer’s backup driver.^1^

    Use Network reset only as a final step after the preceding options; Microsoft identifies it as the last troubleshooting measure.^1^

    References

    1. Windows 10
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. EmilyS726 278.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-24T19:43:23.94+00:00

    Hello James,

    As initial steps to narrow down the issue -

    Can you tell me, does this only affect the computer? Can other devices in the same wifi work?

    On the affected computer, what if you connect to a different wifi, such as your phone's hotspot, does it work?

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  3. Bulldog 5,510 Reputation points
    2026-10-24T20:45:43.6333333+00:00

    Connecting your computer to WiFi connects it to your home network ... connecting your home network to the internet requires an extra step.

    We don't know how you get your internet connection, but if you live in the United States or Canada, the most common way to get connected to the internet is with a router. If that's true in your case, and the router came from your Internet Service Provider, ask the ISP how to connect it to the internet. If you purchased a router on your own, it's slightly more complicated.

    Every router from the major manufacturers ships with an owner's guide that begins with illustrated instructions for connecting the router to the internet. Follow those instructions and you should be all set.

    (In my personal experience with this community, people sometimes err in trying to setup an internet connection through Windows. Your router - if that's what you have - is what connects you to the internet, and so your internet setup should go through the router.)

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  4. Kapil Arya 38,701 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-10-25T08:14:02.5366667+00:00

    Please run Network Adapter troubleshooter from Settings app > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Let us know what it reports back. 

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