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"No Internet Access" With Wi-Fi Connected

Beginner Network & Wi-Fi Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 11

Wi-Fi shows connected, but nothing loads and there's a warning icon on the network tray.

Before you start: save any open work and note down what you were doing when the problem started — that context helps if you need to search further or ask for help.
  1. Check if other devices on the same network can get online — if not, the problem is your router or ISP, not this PC.
  2. Check your actual IP address: an administrator Command Prompt with ipconfig — an address starting with 169.254 means your PC never got a real address from the router at all, which points squarely at the connection itself rather than anything further downstream.
  3. Restart the router: unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for it to fully reconnect.
  4. Run the built-in Network Troubleshooter: right-click the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar > Diagnose network problems.
  5. Check Device Manager for a warning icon on your network adapter, and update its driver if one shows.
  6. Forget the network and reconnect: Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks > Forget, then reconnect and re-enter the password.
  7. Flush the DNS cache and, if the problem persists, reset the network stack entirely — see our full ipconfig commands guide for both, including netsh winsock reset for a deeper fix than DNS flushing alone covers.
Mentioned above: ipconfig Commands for Fixing Network Problems
Still not fixed? Send us the details and we'll help you dig further, or browse related guides in Network & Wi-Fi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does it say "connected" if there's no actual internet?
Windows checks that you're connected to the Wi-Fi network itself, which is a separate thing from that network actually reaching the internet. You can be successfully connected to a router that has no working internet connection of its own.
Will restarting the router disconnect other devices in my house?
Briefly, yes — every device connected to that router will lose its connection for the roughly 30-60 seconds it takes to restart, then reconnect automatically once it's back up.
Do I need to know my Wi-Fi password again after forgetting the network?
Yes — "forgetting" a network removes its saved password from Windows, so you'll need to type it in again when you reconnect. Check the sticker on your router if you don't remember it.

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