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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.

Updated July 26, 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.

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.

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

Windows 11 Wi-Fi Keeps DisconnectingThe Wi-Fi Option Is Missing in Windows 11Ethernet Is Not Working in Windows 11Internet Is Slow on Windows 11See every Network and Internet guide

Official references

For platform-specific behavior and recovery options, compare this guide with the current documentation from the relevant official source.