Why isn't the internet working on my computer, but Wi-Fi works on other devices through the same router?

You turned on your computer, and suddenly your internet connection went down—even though your smartphone, tablet, or smart TV is perfectly connected to the same router via Wi-Fi. This situation is familiar to many: There is a network, but not on the PC.Is it a Windows glitch, a driver issue, a virus, or a faulty router?

This article will help divide problems into two groups: those related to the computer (90% of cases), and those that depend on the router or provider (the remaining 10%)We won't recommend "rebooting the router" or "calling support" - instead, we'll break it down. specific technical reasons and we'll provide instructions with pictures (where needed) for Windows 10 and 11. If you're not an expert, start with diagnostic section — there is a 5-step checklist that will narrow down the troubleshooting area.

Important: If you have Mac or LinuxSome solutions will differ - check the details for your OS. If the problem appeared after a Windows update, skip straight to block about system file failures.

1. Quick Diagnostics: 5 Steps to Understanding Where to Look for the Problem

Before you dig into the settings, answer the questions:

• 🔌 How is the computer connected? Via cable (Ethernet) or Wi-Fi? If via cable, check if the indicator light on the PC's network card and the router port is lit.
• 💻 Is there a network icon in the tray? If there is an exclamation mark or a cross, click on it and see the error message.
• 📱 Does the internet work on other devices? If not, the problem is with your router or ISP. If yes, look for the cause on your PC.
• 🔄 After what did the problem appear? Windows updates, program installations, router settings changes?
• 🛠️ Have you tried doing anything yet? Rebooting, resetting network settings, checking the cable - these are basic steps, but they don’t always help.

If you find it difficult to answer all the questions, use this checklist:

Check the physical connection (cable, Wi-Fi adapter)

Launch the command prompt and enter ping 8.8.8.8

Check your connection status in Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center

Open device Manager and check if there are any errors in the network adapters

Try connecting your computer to a different router or access point-->

If the problem persists after these steps, read on. We'll figure it out. all possible reasons, from the simplest to the most complex.

2. Problems with cable connection (Ethernet)

If your computer is connected to the router via cable and the internet isn't working, start by checking the physical connection. Even if the cable appears intact, it could be damaged internally or corroded at the connector.

What to check:

• 🔌 Cable: Try another patch cord (better Cat 5e or Cat 6). If you don't have a spare one, connect this cable to another device (for example, a laptop).
• 🖥️ PC port: If you have a desktop computer, try connecting to a different port on the motherboard or network card.
• 📡 Port on the router: Switch the cable to a different LAN port on the router (there are usually four). If the port's LED isn't lit, the port may be burned out.
• ⚡ Router power supply: Sometimes, if the power supply is unstable, the router will mute certain ports. Try unplugging the power supply for 30 seconds.

If the cable and ports are fine, but the internet still doesn't work, check your network adapter settings:

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.
2. Find the local area network (Ethernet) connection, right-click → Properties.
3. Make sure the following items are checked:
   • Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
   • Client for Microsoft networks

If the Internet still doesn't work after these steps, try manually entering DNS:

1. In properties IP version 4 select Use the following DNS server addresses.
2. Enter:
   • 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS)
   • 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare DNS)

⚠️ Attention: If after manually setting up DNS the internet works, but after some time it disappears again, the problem may be in DHCP server of the router. Try accessing your router settings (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and restart the DHCP server or reset the settings to factory defaults.

3. Problems with Wi-Fi on the computer (the adapter is connected, but there is no Internet)

If your computer is connected to Wi-Fi, but the internet isn't working (while other devices on the network are working fine), there may be a number of possible causes:

The most common problem is Automatic connection to the network without Internet accessThis happens when the router distributes an IP address but can't extend the connection further (to the ISP). To check this:

1. Open Command Prompt (Win + R → enter cmd).
2. Enter:

   ping 192.168.1.1
   ipconfig /all

3. If ping It passes (no packet loss), but there is no internet - the problem is in the router or provider settings. If ping If it doesn't work, there's a problem with the adapter or driver.

If in the results ipconfig /all you see an IP address like 169.254.x.x This means the computer hasn't received the correct address from the router. This can be fixed by resetting the network settings:

1. Launch the command prompt as administrator.
2. Enter in turn:

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

3. Restart your computer.

4. Problems with network adapter drivers

Outdated, damaged, or incompatible drivers are one of the main reasons why the internet doesn't work on a computer but works on other devices. This is especially true after a Windows update or a network card replacement.

How to check the driver:

1. Open device Manager (Win + X → device Manager).
2. Expand the section Network adapters.
3. Find your adapter (eg. Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller for cable connection or Intel Wireless-AC 9560 for Wi-Fi).
4. If there is a yellow exclamation mark next to the adapter, the driver is not working correctly.

How to update the driver:

• 🔄 Automatically: Right-click on the adapter → Update driver → Automatic search.
• 💾 Manually: Download the driver from the manufacturer's website (for example, Realtek, Intel, Qualcomm Atheros) and install it.
• 🗑️ Uninstall and reinstall: If the update does not help, remove the driver (right click → Remove device), then restart your PC - Windows will try to install the driver automatically.

For laptops Lenovo, HP, Dell And ASUS It's better to download drivers from the official website of the laptop manufacturer, rather than from the website of the network card manufacturer. For example, for Lenovo Legion driver for Intel AX200 may differ from the universal one.

⚠️ Attention: If after updating the driver the internet connection is completely lost (even the local network doesn't work), roll back the driver to the previous version. To do this, Device Manager Right-click on the adapter → Properties → tab Driver → Roll back.

5. Crashes after Windows update

Windows 10/11 updates often disrupt network connections. This can happen due to:

• 🔧 Driver conflict: The new update breaks compatibility with old drivers.
• 📜 System file corruption: For example, service failures DHCP client or DNS client.
• 🔒 Changes in security policies: Windows may block the connection if it deems the network "unsafe."

How to fix:

1. Roll back the update:
   • Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update → View update history → Uninstall updates.
   • Uninstall the latest update (usually labeled as a "Feature Update" or "Cumulative Update").
2. Restore system files:
   • Run Command Prompt as administrator.
   • Enter in turn:

     sfc /scannow
     dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

5. Check Windows services:
   • Click Win + R, enter services.msc.
   • Find services DHCP client, DNS client And Network connections.
   • Make sure they are running and the startup type is set to Automatically.

If the problem appeared after major update (for example, from Windows 10 to Windows 11), you may need clean installation of OSBefore doing this, save important data and check if there are drivers for your network card for the new version of Windows.

6. Viruses and malware

Some viruses and adware (adware) can block internet access, change network settings, or redirect traffic through a proxy. Signs of infection:

• 🛡️ The antivirus issues warnings about network attacks.
• 🔄 The browser opens websites other than those you enter.
• 📥 My internet speed dropped sharply for no reason.
• 🔧 In the proxy settings (Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy) there are unknown addresses.

How to check and clean the system:

1. Antivirus scanning:
   • Use Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool or Dr.Web CureIt! (they do not require installation).
   • Run a full system scan.
2. Proxy check:
   • Open Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy.
   • Make sure the switch is on Use a proxy server disabled.
3. Reset hosts:
   • Open the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts V Notepad (as administrator).
   • Delete all lines except 127.0.0.1 localhost.

ipconfig /flushdns

If your router settings are correct, but your computer still doesn't have internet access, contact your internet provider. Your plan may have restrictions (for example, MAC address binding or limit of connected devices).

⚠️ Attention: If the router is provided by the provider (for example, Rostelecom, Beeline, MTS), its settings may be blocked. In this case, call support and ask them to check the devices linked to your account.

8. Extreme measures: network reset, reinstall Windows, and hardware replacement

If none of the above helps, there are radical methods left:

• 🔄 Complete reset of Windows network settings:
  • Open Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Network reset.
  • Click Reset now and confirm.
  • After rebooting, all network adapters will return to factory settings.
• 💿 Reinstalling Windows:
  • If the problem appeared after an update or program installation, a clean installation of the OS may help.
  • Before doing this, save your data and check if there are drivers for your network card for the version of Windows you will be installing.
• 🔧 Replacing the network card or adapter:
  • If the network card burns out (for example, after a power surge), it needs to be replaced.
  • For Wi-Fi, you can buy an external USB adapter (for example, TP-Link TL-WN725N).
• 📡 Router replacement:
  • If the router is old (more than 5 years old), it may not be able to handle modern loads.
  • For home use, we recommend routers with support Wi-Fi 6 (For example, ASUS RT-AX55 or TP-Link Archer AX20).

Before replacing your equipment, try connecting your computer to a different router (for example, a mobile hotspot from your phone). If the internet works, the problem is definitely with your router or its settings.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions