Wi-Fi connected but no internet on Windows 11? 9 fixes that work

What “connected, no internet” means

Your laptop has a working link to the router, but the router is not passing traffic to the internet, or your PC cannot translate website names into addresses. The fix depends on which side is broken, so start by finding out.

Step 0: Is it just you?

Check another phone or computer on the same Wi-Fi.

• Nothing works on any device? The problem is the router or your internet provider. Go to step 1.
• Other devices work fine? The problem is your PC. Skip to step 2.

Step 1: Restart the router and modem

1. Unplug the power from your router (and modem, if separate).
2. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Plug the modem in first, wait for its lights to settle, then the router.
4. Give it 2–3 minutes to fully start.

If no device gets online after this, check your provider’s status page or call them. The issue is outside your home.

Step 2: Turn Wi-Fi off and on

Select the network icon on the taskbar, turn Wi-Fi off, wait 10 seconds and turn it on. Also make sure Airplane mode is off.

Step 3: Forget the network and reconnect

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
2. Select your network and choose Forget.
3. Reconnect and type the Wi-Fi password again.

Step 4: Turn off VPN and proxy

A VPN or a leftover proxy setting can block traffic.

• Disconnect or quit any VPN app.
• Go to Settings > Network & internet > Proxy and make sure Use a proxy server is off unless your workplace requires it.

Step 5: Renew your IP address and clear DNS

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (Admin).
2. Run these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

3. Restart your PC.

These commands ask the router for a fresh address, clear stored website lookups and reset Windows networking components to their defaults. They are safe and commonly recommended.

Step 6: Change your DNS server

DNS turns names like zrontech.com into addresses. If your provider’s DNS is having trouble, websites will not load even though you are connected.

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > [your network] > Hardware properties.
2. Next to DNS server assignment, select Edit and choose Manual.
3. Turn on IPv4 and enter:
   • Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
   • Alternate DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Google)
4. Select Save.

Step 7: Run the network troubleshooter

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run Network and Internet. Windows will test common problems and may fix them automatically.

Step 8: Update or reinstall the Wi-Fi driver

1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters and right-click your Wi-Fi adapter (often named Intel, Realtek, Qualcomm or MediaTek).
3. Choose Update driver > Search automatically.
4. If that does not help, choose Uninstall device, then restart. Windows reinstalls the driver on startup.

You can also download the latest driver from your laptop maker’s support website.

Step 9: Network reset (last resort)

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
2. Select Reset now and confirm.
3. Your PC restarts in about five minutes.

This removes and reinstalls all network adapters and returns settings to default. You will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi and reinstall any VPN software. Your files are not affected.

Still not working?

• Test with an Ethernet cable or your phone’s hotspot. If those work, the problem is the Wi-Fi adapter or router compatibility.
• Check if your router has a device limit or MAC filtering that blocks new devices.
• Ask your laptop maker’s support. A failing Wi-Fi card can cause these symptoms.

How to prevent it

• Keep Windows and your Wi-Fi driver updated.
• Restart your router once in a while, and update its firmware from its admin page.
• Avoid leaving old VPN or proxy apps installed if you no longer use them.