Home / FIX / Windows 11 / Network and Internet
Windows 11 network diagnosis

Windows 11 Wi-Fi Is Connected but There Is No Internet

A connected Wi-Fi icon only confirms that the PC reached the router; it does not prove that the router has internet access. Start by identifying whether the fault follows the PC or affects the entire network, then move from reversible checks to resets.

Reviewed September 13, 2026 · Safety-first troubleshooting · About 8–12 minutes

Read the symptom before changing settings

What you observeWhere to focus
Only this Windows PC is offlineFocus on the saved Wi-Fi profile, proxy, IP/DNS settings and wireless driver.
Every device is offlineRestart and inspect the router or contact the internet provider; Windows changes will not repair an upstream outage.
Some sites work but others failCheck date/time, VPN, proxy and DNS before resetting the adapter.
Internet works through phone hotspotThe PC is probably healthy; investigate the home router, its DHCP service or ISP connection.
ROHITH · DIAGNOSIS PATH

“Connected” proves Wi-Fi association, not internet access. Find the failing layer.

Compare another device first. If every device is offline, Windows is probably not the root cause. If only this PC fails, use the IP address, proxy/VPN state and adapter behavior to decide what to change next.

Every device is offlineFocus on the router/modem or ISP; Windows changes cannot repair an upstream outage.
Only this PC is offlineSaved profile, adapter, proxy, VPN, DHCP or DNS becomes the local investigation path.
Phone hotspot worksThe PC can reach the internet through another network, which shifts suspicion toward the original router/network.

Decision rule: Network reset is a last local step, not the first. It can remove adapter configuration and require VPN or virtual-network setup again.

IT connection · understand the networking layer

This FIX page uses a reusable Windows concept rather than treating the symptom in isolation. Open the matching IT explanation →

Confirm where the connection actually fails

Test the same Wi-Fi on a phone with mobile data turned off. If the phone is also offline, restart the modem or router and wait until its internet light becomes stable. Avoid repeatedly changing Windows settings for a network-wide outage.

If other devices work, open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi and confirm that the PC is connected to the expected network. Public, extender and guest networks can have similar names but different access rules.

1Restart the connection cleanly

  1. Turn Wi-Fi off for ten seconds, turn it back on and reconnect.
  2. Restart Windows normally. A restart clears a stuck DHCP lease more safely than jumping directly to Network reset.

2Forget and reconnect to the network

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
  2. Choose the affected network, select Forget, reconnect and enter the password again.
  3. Do not forget a business or campus network unless you know its credentials and any certificate requirements.

Check IP address, proxy and DNS symptoms

Open Terminal and run ipconfig. An IPv4 address beginning with 169.254 usually means Windows did not receive a usable address from the router. Restart the router, then disable and re-enable the Wi-Fi adapter. A normal private address commonly begins with 192.168, 10 or 172.16–172.31.

Open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Unless your workplace, school or VPN provider requires a proxy, leave Use a proxy server turned off. Do not delete organisation-managed settings.

1Refresh the Windows network lease

  1. Open Terminal as administrator.
  2. Run ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew.
  3. Run ipconfig /flushdns and test again. These commands do not repair a router or ISP outage.

2Reset Winsock only if apps remain offline

  1. In an administrator Terminal, run netsh winsock reset.
  2. Restart the PC before testing.
  3. If security or VPN software created network filters, its connection may need to be repaired afterward.

Repair the adapter without creating a driver problem

Open Device Manager > Network adapters. If the Wi-Fi device has a warning symbol, check its status and install the laptop or adapter maker’s Windows 11 driver. If the failure began immediately after a driver update, Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver can be safer than installing a random package.

Use Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset only after the earlier checks fail. Microsoft treats Network reset as a last step because it removes and reinstalls adapters and returns their settings to defaults.

Important: Network reset can remove VPN clients, virtual switches and custom adapter settings. Record anything important and have the correct manufacturer driver available before using it.
ROHITH · COMMAND CHECK

Inspect the Windows action before you run it.

Tools explains the command, required permission, risk, expected output, and what it can change. You can then return to this troubleshooting step.

Inspect current IP configuration →

Verification gate — prove the fix before moving on

A troubleshooting step is useful only when it changes the original symptom. Use this checkpoint before trying another fix:

  • Load more than one website and test an app that uses the internet.
  • Restart the PC and confirm it reconnects to the expected Wi-Fi without manual intervention.
  • If you changed proxy, VPN or DNS settings, confirm the original intended services still work.
Stop and escalate when: Stop local Windows troubleshooting when every device on the network is offline, the router reports an upstream fault, or the connection is managed by a workplace/school. Fix the network owner’s layer instead.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Windows say connected when there is no internet?

Connected describes the Wi-Fi link between the PC and access point. The router can still be offline, DNS can fail, or Windows can have an invalid IP, proxy or network filter.

Should I change DNS immediately?

No. First determine whether every device is offline and whether the PC received a valid IP address. DNS changes help only when name resolution is the failing layer.

Will Network reset delete my files?

It does not delete personal files, but it removes and reinstalls network adapters and resets their configuration. VPN and virtual-network software may need setup again.

Related Windows 11 network fixes

Ethernet not workingVPN not connectingMobile hotspot not workingWindows 11 troubleshooting hub

Official references

These references were reviewed for the Windows behavior and recovery steps used in this guide.