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

Wi-Fi connected, but no internet is a frustrating problem, and anyone can face it. If you are struggling with Wi-Fi connected by no internet on Windows PC, you are reading the right post. This post explains how to fix no internet connection error.

The Wi-Fi connected but no internet error message means that your device can connect to a local network (router or modem) but not with other systems like websites or servers. On Windows systems, the issue is shown by a small yellow warning triangle with a black exclamation point. Now that it is clear why you get the error message. Let’s learn how to fix no internet connection issue.

Common Causes for Internet Connectivity Issues

• Faulty Wi-Fi adapter.
• ISP is down.
• Incorrect internet protocol (IP) address.
• Security software 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• Outdated wireless drivers.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• Outdated wireless mode on PC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 Connection?

To troubleshoot Wi-Fi connected but with no internet error, you need to determine whether it impacts a single device or the entire local area network. Doing so will help narrow down the cause and apply the correct fix to solve the internet access problem.

If your computer is the sole device that says it has a connection but no internet, you most likely have a misconfigured settings, problematic driver or Wi-Fi adapter, DNS difficulties, or an IP address problem.

The best way to update outdated, problematic drivers is to use Advanced Driver Updater.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.

However, if all of your network devices have a WiFi connection but no internet access, there is likely an issue with your router or modem. Also, there are chances that your internet service provider is down.

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

Workable Fixes to Solve Wi-Fi Connected But No Internet, Error Message

Wi-Fi Connected But No 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.
• Wait for 30 seconds before restarting them.
• Next, restart the PC to check if everything is in order or not.

Once all of the devices are reset, generally, reconnection works. If it doesn’t 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 make sure that 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 you are not sure 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, before proceeding, connect your computer to your router or modem through an Ethernet wire 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 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 but no internet problem. You know the culprit. If not, proceed to the next step.

Also, we suggest you scan the PC for malware, virus, 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 Network & Internet option.

3. From the left pane, click the Status option > Network troubleshooter.

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

Now check if this helps. If 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 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.

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

9. Disable VPN

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

However, sometimes this extra layer creates problems while connecting to the internet. Therefore, if your VPN service has a technical difficulty or outage, you might get connected but no internet access error message. In such cases, try disabling the VPN and then connecting to the network; you should not face any problems.

10. 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 in processing. If your computer’s internal time differs from the internet time, you will have various problems and be unable 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.

11. 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.

12. 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 again password protect the router.

The reset button is hidden within a tiny hole, so you’ll have to 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 of the lights flicker and the router restarts. When the router restarts, you should be able to connect to the internet.

13. Reset Network

1. Type Network Reset in the search bar.

2. Click Reset Now.

Wrapping Up: 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. However, if there is a hardware issue, such as a faulty network card or router, you must contact the technician.

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