Connected to Wi-Fi but No Internet: How to Fix It

Quick answer

When your Wi-Fi is connected but there is no internet, your computer is talking to the router, but the router can’t reach the internet, or your computer can’t use the connection properly. The quickest fix is to restart the modem and router, then disconnect and reconnect to the network. If other devices also have no internet, the problem is likely your router or your internet provider. If only one computer is affected, the steps below for Windows 11 and Mac usually sort it out.

Before you start

It helps to know the difference between your home network and the internet. Wi-Fi is the wireless link between your device and your router (the box that shares your connection around the home). The internet arrives through your modem (the box that connects to your provider’s line), which is sometimes built into the same box as the router. “Connected, no internet” means the first link works but something past it does not.

• Check another device. Turn off mobile data on your phone and see whether it can load a web page over Wi-Fi.
• Look at the modem’s lights. A red, orange or blinking light that is normally steady can point to a line or service problem. What each light means differs by model, so check the label or the provider’s documentation.
• Check for an outage. Use your internet provider’s app or website on mobile data.
• Public Wi-Fi? At a hotel, café or school, you often have to accept terms on a sign-in page before the internet works. Open a browser and try visiting any ordinary website to make the page appear.

Restart and reconnect

This order fixes most home cases, because it lets each box start up in the right sequence.

1. Unplug the power from the modem and the router (or the single combined box).
2. Wait about 30 seconds.
3. Plug the modem in first and wait until its lights settle, which can take a few minutes.
4. Plug the router in and wait again.
5. On your computer, turn Wi-Fi off and back on, or restart the computer.
6. Open a browser and try a few different websites.

If every device in the home still has no internet after this, skip ahead to “When to get professional help”: the problem is most likely with the provider’s line or equipment, not your computer.

Fix it on one computer

If phones and other devices work but one computer does not, work through the steps for your system.

Windows 11

1. Forget and rejoin. Open Settings, then Network & internet, then Wi-Fi, then Manage known networks. Select your network, choose Forget, then join it again.
2. Run the troubleshooter. Open Settings, then System, then Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters, and run the network or internet troubleshooter. Some newer versions send you to the Get Help app for this.
3. Renew the connection. Search the Start menu for Terminal or Command Prompt and open it. Type `ipconfig /release` and press Enter, then `ipconfig /renew`, then `ipconfig /flushdns`. These commands ask the router for a fresh network address and clear the computer’s stored list of website addresses (the DNS cache). They don’t delete any files.
4. Check proxy and VPN settings. Open Settings, then Network & internet, then Proxy. Unless your workplace or school set up a proxy, it should normally be set to detect automatically with no manual proxy turned on. Also quit any VPN app for a quick test.
5. Network reset, as a last step. Settings, then Network & internet, then Advanced network settings, then Network reset. This reinstalls the network adapters and returns settings to defaults. You will need to rejoin Wi-Fi and may need to reinstall VPN software.

macOS

1. Turn Wi-Fi off and on from the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.
2. Renew the address. Open System Settings, click Network, then Wi-Fi, then Details next to your network. Open the TCP/IP section and click Renew DHCP Lease. Names can differ slightly between macOS versions.
3. Check VPN apps. Quit or pause any VPN app briefly to test, then turn it back on whatever the result. Leave your antivirus and firewall on.
4. Run Wireless Diagnostics. Hold Option, click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar, and choose Open Wireless Diagnostics.
5. Forget and rejoin the network from System Settings, then Wi-Fi.

If this does not work

Try these next steps, easiest first:

• Check the date and time. A clock that is badly wrong can make secure websites fail to load. Set the date and time to update automatically.
• Try a cable. Connect the computer to the router with an Ethernet cable. If the internet works by cable, the problem is the Wi-Fi link; if it doesn’t, the problem is the router or the service.
• Try another network. If the computer works on a phone’s hotspot, its own settings are probably fine and your home equipment needs attention.
• Look at the router’s settings. Parental controls, device blocking or time limits can cut off one device. Router admin pages and apps differ by brand, so use your router’s documentation or your internet provider’s help pages rather than guessing.
• Update the router. Routers get firmware updates (built-in software updates) through their app or admin page. Check your router maker’s instructions.

Other things on your network can be affected the same way: a printer may show as offline when the network drops. See how to fix a printer that says it’s offline once your connection is back. If your computer won’t join the network at all, read how to fix a computer that won’t connect to Wi-Fi.

When to get professional help

Contact your internet provider, the router maker, or a qualified technician if:

• No device in your home has internet, even after restarting the modem and router.
• The modem’s lights show a fault that does not clear after a restart.
• The internet drops several times a day at roughly the same time.
• The equipment is hot, smells burnt, or has damaged cables or power adapters. Unplug it and stop using it.

When you contact your provider, use the phone number or chat listed on your bill or their official website. Be wary of anyone who calls you first claiming your connection or computer is infected and asking for remote access or payment: that is a common tech-support scam.

FAQ

Why does my phone have internet but my laptop doesn’t?

The router and service are working, so the laptop’s settings are the likely cause. Forget and rejoin the network, renew the connection, and check for a VPN or proxy setting. Updating the laptop’s Wi-Fi driver through Windows Update or the computer maker’s site can also help.

What does “No internet, secured” mean in Windows?

It means Windows joined the secured Wi-Fi network but could not reach the internet through it. Restart the modem and router first, then follow the Windows steps above. If every device shows the same message, contact your provider.

Will the ipconfig commands harm my computer?

No. They ask your router for a fresh network address and clear a temporary list of website addresses. They don’t change your files or permanently change your settings.

Should I reset my router to factory settings?

Only as a later step, and only if you are ready to set it up again. A factory reset erases your network name, password and other settings, so every device must reconnect. Check your router’s documentation or ask your provider before doing it.

Why does public Wi-Fi say connected but nothing loads?

Most public networks need you to accept terms on a sign-in page first. Open a browser and visit any normal website to bring that page up. Avoid entering sensitive information on public networks you don’t trust.