WiFi Connected but No Internet? 9 Fixes for Windows 11

Your laptop shows full Wi-Fi bars, but web pages will not load and Windows 11 says “No internet, secured”. This means your PC is connected to the router, but the router (or your PC’s network settings) is not passing traffic through to the internet. The good news: in most cases you can fix it yourself in a few minutes.

This guide walks through nine fixes in order, from the quickest checks to the more advanced resets. Work through them one at a time and test your connection after each step. If your internet is down on every device, not just one PC, start with our complete guide to fixing internet connection problems instead.

First: Is It Your PC or Your Network?

Before changing any settings, spend 30 seconds narrowing down where the problem is. It saves a lot of wasted effort.

• Only your PC has no internet (your phone works fine on the same Wi-Fi): the problem is almost certainly on the PC. Focus on fixes 2 to 9.
• Every device has no internet: the problem is the router, modem or your internet service provider (ISP). Start with fix 1, then see the ISP section below.
• It started right after a Windows update, VPN install or new antivirus: jump to fixes 7 and 8 first.

9 Fixes for “WiFi Connected but No Internet” on Windows 11

1. Restart Your Router, Modem and PC (Properly)

A proper power cycle clears the router’s memory and forces it to request a fresh connection from your ISP. Simply pressing the restart button is often not enough.

1. Shut down your PC.
2. Unplug the power cable from both the router and the modem (if they are separate boxes).
3. Wait at least 30 seconds.
4. Plug in the modem first and wait until its internet or “online” light is steady (usually one to two minutes).
5. Plug in the router and wait another minute or two, then turn on your PC.

If the internet or WAN light on the router is red, orange or off after restarting, the connection from your ISP is not arriving, and no setting on your PC will fix it.

2. Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter

Windows 11 has a built-in troubleshooter that automatically detects and repairs common problems, such as a disabled adapter or a stuck IP configuration.

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and click Run next to Network and Internet. On newer Windows 11 builds this opens the Get Help app, which runs the same checks. Follow the prompts and let it apply any fixes it suggests.

3. Forget the Wi-Fi Network and Reconnect

A corrupted saved network profile can cause Windows to connect without getting a working configuration. Removing and re-adding the network gives it a clean start.

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
2. Find your network and click Forget.
3. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar, select your network and enter the password again.

Make sure you know the Wi-Fi password before doing this. It is usually printed on a sticker on the router.

4. Release, Renew and Reset Your Network Settings

If your PC has a stale IP address or a corrupted DNS cache, a few commands will reset them. Right-click the Start button, choose Terminal (Admin), and run these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:

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

Restart your PC after the last command. The Winsock and IP resets only take full effect after a reboot.

5. Check for a “169.254” IP Address

This quick check tells you whether your PC is actually getting an address from the router. In the same Terminal window, type ipconfig and press Enter, then look at the IPv4 Address under your Wi-Fi adapter.

• Starts with 192.168, 10. or 172.: your PC is receiving an address normally, so the problem is more likely DNS (fix 6) or something blocking traffic (fix 8).
• Starts with 169.254: your PC could not get an address from the router. Restart the router (fix 1), then try fix 4 again. If other devices connect fine, update the Wi-Fi driver (fix 7).

6. Switch to a Public DNS Server

DNS translates website names into addresses. If your ISP’s DNS server is slow or down, you can be connected to the internet but unable to open any website, which looks exactly like “no internet”. Switching to a public DNS server often fixes this instantly.

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > [your network] properties.
2. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit and choose Manual.
3. Turn on IPv4 and enter 1.1.1.1 as the preferred DNS and 8.8.8.8 as the alternate DNS.
4. Click Save and try loading a website.

1.1.1.1 is Cloudflare’s public DNS and 8.8.8.8 is Google’s. Both are free and widely used.

7. Update or Roll Back Your Wi-Fi Driver

An outdated, corrupted or badly updated Wi-Fi driver is a common cause, especially if the problem appeared after a Windows update.

1. Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters and right-click your Wi-Fi adapter (it usually contains “Wireless”, “Wi-Fi” or “802.11” in its name).
3. Choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
4. If the problem started after an update, instead choose Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver (only available if a previous driver exists).

If Windows finds nothing, download the latest driver from your laptop manufacturer’s support page using another device or a wired connection.

8. Turn Off VPN, Proxy and Overzealous Security Software

VPNs, proxy settings and some antivirus or firewall tools route or filter your traffic. If one of them fails, you stay connected to Wi-Fi but lose internet access.

• VPN: disconnect or quit your VPN app and test again.
• Proxy: go to Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Under Manual proxy setup, make sure Use a proxy server is off unless your workplace requires it.
• Antivirus or firewall: temporarily disable third-party security software to test, then turn it back on straight away.

An unexpected proxy you did not set up can be a sign of malware or adware. If you find one, run a full scan, following our guide on how to remove a virus from your computer.

9. Use Network Reset (Last Resort)

If nothing else has worked, Windows 11’s Network Reset removes and reinstalls all network adapters and restores networking components to their default settings.

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
2. Click Reset now and confirm.
3. Your PC will restart automatically after about five minutes.

After the reset you will need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network and re-enter the password. VPN software and virtual adapters may also need to be reinstalled or reconfigured.

When the Problem Is Your ISP, Not Your PC

If every device in your home has no internet and restarting the router did not help, the fault is likely outside your house. Signs of an ISP problem include a red or blinking internet light on the router, an outage notice on your provider’s website or app, and neighbours on the same provider reporting the same issue.

In that case, check your ISP’s status page or call their support line, and have your account number ready. Our complete guide to fixing internet connection problems covers ISP-side problems and router checks in more detail.

How to Stop It From Happening Again

• Restart your router once every few weeks to clear memory leaks and keep it responsive.
• Keep Windows and your Wi-Fi driver updated, but create a restore point before major updates so you can roll back if something breaks.
• Place the router in an open, central spot, away from microwaves, cordless phones and thick walls.
• Avoid installing multiple VPN or “network optimiser” tools, which often conflict with each other.
• If your PC is generally slow as well as dropping connections, see our guide on how to speed up your Windows PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “No internet, secured” mean in Windows 11?

It means your PC is connected to the Wi-Fi network and the connection is password-protected (“secured”), but Windows cannot reach the internet through it. The fault can be in the router, your ISP, DNS or your PC’s network settings.

Why does my phone have internet but my laptop does not?

If your phone works on the same Wi-Fi, the router and ISP are fine and the problem is on the laptop. The most common causes are a stale IP configuration, DNS issues, a faulty Wi-Fi driver or a VPN or proxy setting. Fixes 3 to 8 above address these.

Will a network reset delete my files?

No. Network reset only affects network adapters and settings. Your files, apps and documents are not touched, but you will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi and may need to reinstall VPN software.

Is it safe to use 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 as my DNS?

Yes. Both are free, widely used public DNS services run by Cloudflare and Google. You can switch back to automatic DNS at any time in the same settings screen.