12 Step by Step Fix to WiFi Connected But No Internet Access.
It is often confusing and intimidating when you connect Wi-Fi, but there is no internet access error. It could be a problem with your operating system settings or even your router. Over the years, we have often encountered the problem “No internet when connected to Wi-Fi” and finally put together a step-by-step guide to help you solve this problem.
Note. In this article, we focus on troubleshooting desktop issues. In case you are having a problem on your Android, check out our other article about Android connected to Wi-Fi but no internet.
Where are you looking?
There are usually two places to go if you are experiencing network problems:
- Router
- Device itself
If the Internet is not working on all devices connected to the network, then the problem is most likely with your router / modem. You can also take a quick look at the ADSL cable to see if it’s broken or kinked.
If the Internet is not working on one device, the problem is most likely with the device’s Wi-Fi adapter, which is preventing the device from communicating with the router. Here are 9 steps to fix your Wi-Fi connection but no internet error.
Fix Wifi connection but no internet access error
1. Restart the device
I know what it sounds like and most of you have probably done this a couple of times before, but if not, it’s worth it.
A good old reboot forces network devices to update their IP address tables and reload configuration files. Turn off your router and modem (if you have one). Then wait 30 seconds before restarting them again. In addition, you should also restart your computer to make sure everything is in order. After resetting all devices, try connecting again to see if it works.
2. Check your modem’s lights
The problem might be related to your internet connection and not connected devices. Check the WAN LED on your router to confirm it is blinking. Make sure the WAN LED is not permanently or completely off.
Ideally, the DSL LEDs should be on, or in some cases green, and the Wi-Fi LEDs should be blinking. If you are unsure how to check this, contact your ISP’s support team and confirm that the Internet problem has not been resolved. Ask them how long it will take to solve the problem.
Related: Find Out Who Is Stealing Your Wi-Fi
3. ISP is disabled
Visit Downdetector from your mobile data and find your ISP. Let’s say it’s AT&T. You can find the most popular ISP here and check if their servers are down or not. This handy site tracks coverage around the world, so you can check it based on your location as well.
Click on the Live Outage option to see if it works in your part of the world. A simple search on social media like Twitter can also help you figure out if other users are facing similar problems when Wi-Fi is connected but no internet.
4. Antivirus or other security applications
Antivirus programs have been known to cause internet problems in the past. Temporarily disable your antivirus and other security apps like malware and check if it allows wifi connection but no internet error. If so, you know where to look next. If not, go to the next step.
At this point, I also recommend that you run a full or complete scan with your antivirus and Malwarebytes to make sure that you are not infected with anything dangerous causing this error.
5. Use the troubleshooter
If the internet connection on the ISP’s side is fine and works on at least one of the connected devices, there is most likely a problem with the Wi-Fi adapter. This can be easily fixed with the built-in troubleshooter that ships with Windows and Mac.
Right-click the network icon in the taskbar and select Troubleshoot. Windows will automatically find network problems and fix them. If he cannot fix it, he will at least let you know what the problem is. You can find a solution online or even ask a question in the comments below.
The same option is available for Mac OS X and Ubuntu.
6. DNS flushing
Sometimes DNS cache conflict can lead to wifi connection but no internet access error. You can flush DNS to make sure it isn’t causing any problems. Go to the Windows start menu and type “cmd” to open a command prompt and run it as an administrator. Type the following command and press Enter to flush DNS. ipconfig / flushdns
Here are a few more command line commands that can help you troubleshoot Wi-Fi and other network errors.
Resetting files stored on Windows for internet access: netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset
Free up your old IP and set a new one automatically. ipconfig / release ipconfig / update
If that doesn’t work, give the following commands one after the other, but one after the other right away. ipconfig / flushdns nbtstat -R nbtstat -RR netsh int ip reset c: resetlog.txt netsh winsock reset
7. Change the wireless mode on the router
This is an exceptional case and only happens if you have an old card or Wi-Fi device installed. If you access the Internet on your PC by connecting to your router with an Ethernet cable, there is likely a communication barrier between the two devices. And one way to fix this is to change the wireless mode.
The router has several wireless modes. For example, you might see something like – 802.11 b or 802.11 b / g or 802.11 b / g / n, etc. These b, g, n and ac are different wireless standards. Usually the wireless mode is set to 802.11 b / g / n / and is fine for most users. Sometimes older devices such as smartphones are not compatible with this mode, leading to network problems.
Log in to your router’s control panel and look for the Wireless option. This should be in the wireless settings, where you set the Wi-Fi SSID and password. Select 802.11 b from the drop-down menu next to Wireless Mode and save your changes. Restart your Wi-Fi and see if that solves the problem. If that doesn’t work, try 802.11g instead. Check again if Wi-Fi is connected but the internet access error persists.
Also Read: How To Access Your Router Remotely
8. Obtain IP and DNS automatically
Can you connect the same computer / smartphone to a different Wi-Fi network? Try using a mobile hotspot to check. This could be a DNS or IP address conflict. Another way to test this is to ping the router from the command line. If you receive a timeout response or the target host is unavailable, it might be an IP address conflict.
Open a command prompt with administrator rights and enter this command: ping 192.168.1.1
Ideally, you should set up your network settings to automatically obtain an IP address and DNS settings from your router to ensure minimal conflicts. However, sometimes assigning a static IP address to your devices or changing the DNS server will fix the Wi-Fi connection, but not the internet access error.
Following are the steps to change IP settings in Windows. If you’re using macOS or Android, check out our article on how to change DNS on all platforms and how to assign static IP addresses on all platforms.
On Windows, we need to change the settings of the network adapter to get the IP address automatically. To do this, click on the Start menu and find Network and Sharing Center.
When the network window opens, click “Change adapter settings”.
In the Network Connections window, right-click your current network adapter or Wi-Fi and select Properties.
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4) and click Properties in the pop-up window.
Here select Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically and click OK to save the changes.
You should connect automatically, and if not, try restarting your computer to start using automatic IP configuration.
9. Fix network driver problems
Sometimes a corrupted network driver can lead to bad internet. Press Window + R keys and enter “devmgmt.msc” to open Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters and find your wireless adapter. No matter what brand you have, it must have the suffix “Wireless Network Adapter”. Right click on the network adapter and select Update Drivers.
You will now see two options. You can update the driver manually or automatically (online). Try connecting your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable. If there is no problem with your router or internet connection, you should connect without issue. Once connected, click “Search automatically for updated driver software†and Windows will automatically find and install the correct driver.
If you are unable to connect, you will have to manually download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website to another Internet-connected device and move it to your computer. After installing the latest driver, use the “Look for drivers on my computer” option to manually install the driver.
10. Reset the router
This option can solve all types of router problems. You can reset your router to factory settings to force reset any new changes that might be causing the problem. This also means you will have to password protect your router again and change the basic settings to suit your needs.
While you can reset your router from its settings, an easier way is to press the physical reset button on the router itself. The reset button is usually hidden inside a tiny hole, so you’ll have to check your router carefully to find the button. Once detected, use a paperclip or mobile SIM opener to press and hold the button inside for 5-15 seconds, or until all lights flash and the router restarts. You should be able to connect to the Internet after restarting your router.
Before resetting the router, be sure to log into the router’s web interface and write down the username and password used to log in to the provider’s server.
On the subject: What to do if you forgot your Wi-Fi password
11. Reset your network
As the name suggests, Network Reset disables and then reinstalls the network adapter and restores other network components to their original settings. Windows will forget your Ethernet network, Wi-Fi networks, VPN connections, etc. This is why a network reset should be your last resort.
To do this, in Windows, type “Network Reset” in the search menu “Start”.
A new window will open with a warning about what will happen when your network is rebooted. Click the “Reset Now” button to continue and restart your computer.
12. Contact your ISP
Ultimately, it is up to your ISP to ensure a constant Internet connection, especially if they provided a router and modem. If none of the tips above helped, call your ISP and tell them the exact problem. They should be able to provide calling instructions for solving the problem. If they cannot resolve the issue on call, you can ask them to send an agent to physically examine the device.
Conclusion: Wi-Fi connection but no internet connection
There is no definitive answer to the question of whether Wi-Fi is connected, but there are no problems with Internet access. The tips above will help you solve most of the software problems. However, if there is a hardware problem – for example, a damaged network card or router – you will have to contact a technician.