My computer's Wi-Fi is connected, but there's no internet: How to fix it in 10 minutes

Are you seeing that your computer is successfully connected to a Wi-Fi network, but browser pages won't open, and a yellow triangle with an exclamation point appears next to the connection icon? This problem is familiar to many users. Windows 10 And Windows 11, and its causes can lie in both the operating system settings and the router or ISP settings. Most often, the problem can be resolved without calling a technician—it's enough to check a few key points in sequence.

In this article we will look at 7 main reasons, why Wi-Fi on a computer works without Internet access, and we will offer step-by-step instructions for each of them. You will learn how to diagnose the problem using built-in tools. WindowsWhat router settings can block access, and what to do if the ISP is to blame. We'll pay special attention to cases where the internet works on other devices (phone, tablet), but not on the PC—this narrows down the range of possible issues.

Before attempting any troubleshooting, make sure the issue isn't temporary: reboot your computer and router (unplug them for 30 seconds). If that doesn't help, read on.

1. Checking basic network settings in Windows

Start by diagnosing the connection using the system's built-in tools. Often automatic troubleshooting Finds and corrects errors without your intervention.

Open Settings → Network & Internet → Status and press Network troubleshootingWait for the process to complete. If the system prompts you to apply fixes, accept them. If the diagnostics fail, proceed to manual settings:

• 🔍 Check if it's enabled Airplane mode — it disables all wireless connections. The icon is located in the notification bar or in Settings → Network & Internet.
• 📡 Make sure your Wi-Fi adapter not disabled in the Device Manager. Click Win + X → Device Manager → Network Adapters and check if there is a down arrow (disconnect sign) next to your adapter.
• 🔄 Switch to another one DNS server (more on this in the next section).

If the internet still doesn't work after these steps, proceed to the next step. Please note: if in Device Manager If there's an exclamation mark next to your network adapter, the problem may be with your drivers—we'll discuss this in Section 4.

2. Resetting DNS and setting up alternative servers

Incorrect settings DNS — one of the most common reasons why Wi-Fi is connected but pages won't open. DNS servers resolve domain names (for example, google.com) into IP addresses, and if they are unstable, Internet access is lost.

At first flush your DNS cache via command line:

1. Click Win + R, enter cmd and run as administrator.
2. Enter the commands one by one:

   ipconfig /flushdns
   netsh int ip reset
   netsh winsock reset

3. Restart your computer.

If resetting doesn't help, try manually enter DNS from Google or Cloudflare:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Configure adapter settings.
2. Right-click on your Wi-Fi connection → Properties → Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
3. Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:
   • 🔹 For Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 And 8.8.4.4
   • 🔹 For Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 And 1.0.0.1

3. Diagnosing problems on the router side

If there is no internet on all devicesconnected to a router, the problem lies in the router settings or the ISP. Here's what to check:

• 🔌 Make sure the cable is from your provider tightly connected to the port WAN (usually it is highlighted in color).
• 🔄 Reboot the router: unplug the power for 30-60 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait until it fully boots up (the indicators should be steady).
• 📡 Check if it is enabled on your router AP Isolation mode — it blocks internet access for new devices. It can be disabled in the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
• 🔒 Make sure that the router is not set MAC address restriction (sometimes called MAC Filter). If enabled, add your PC's MAC address to the allowed list.

If the internet works after rebooting the router, but then disappears again after a while, there are two possible reasons:

1. Router overheating — Check if it's too hot. Solution: Provide ventilation or move it to a cooler location.
2. Unstable connection to the provider - Contact technical support to check the line.

How to find out the MAC address of a computer?

Open Command Prompt (Win + R → cmd) and enter ipconfig /all. The MAC address is specified in the line Physical address next to your Wi-Fi adapter.

4. Update or reinstall Wi-Fi adapter drivers

Outdated, damaged or incompatible network adapter drivers may cause connection issues. Symptoms: Wi-Fi connects, but internet connection drops intermittently, speed is extremely low, or the adapter isn't visible in the system at all.

First, check your current driver version:

1. Open device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
2. Expand the section Network adapters, find your Wi-Fi module (for example, Intel Wi-Fi 6 or Qualcomm Atheros).
3. Right click → Properties → Driver. Look at the date and version.

If your driver is older than 2022, update it:

• 🔄 Through Windows Update: Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
• 💻 Manually from the manufacturer's website:
  • For laptops: download the driver from the website HP, Lenovo, ASUS etc., specifying the device model.
  • For PC: Download the driver from the Wi-Fi module manufacturer's website (Intel, Realtek, Broadcom).

Critical error: If after updating the driver the Wi-Fi adapter disappeared from the device manager or stopped turning on, roll back the driver via Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver or use a system restore point.

5. Check your firewall and antivirus settings

Sometimes Windows Firewall or a third-party antivirus (for example, Kaspersky, Avast, ESET NOD32) blocks the network connection, mistaking it for a threat. This can happen after updating the program or changing its settings.

How to check:

1. Temporarily disable the firewall:
   • Open Control Panel → Windows Firewall → Turn firewall on or off.
   • Mark Disable the firewall for private and public network.

Turn it off antivirus:

• Right-click on the antivirus icon in the tray and select Suspend protection or Disable.
• For Kaspersky: Settings → Protection → File Antivirus → Disable.
• Check if the internet is back online. If so, there's a security issue.

To fix the situation without completely disabling protection:

• 🛡️ Add your connection to firewall exceptions.
• 🔧 Check the section in your antivirus Network attacks or Network monitoring — perhaps the IP address or port is blocked there.
• 🔄 Update your antivirus to the latest version—new versions often fix traffic filtering issues.

6. Reset Windows network settings

If the previous methods did not help, try complete reset of network settingsThis will reset all settings (including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and VPN) to factory defaults. Attention: After the reset, you will have to re-enter passwords for Wi-Fi networks!

How to reset settings:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Status.
2. Scroll down and click Network reset.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the computer to restart.

After reset:

• 🔄 Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.
• 📥 Check if your IP address needs to be renewed: in the command line, enter ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew.
• 🔧 If you are using a static IP (not DHCP), re-register it in the adapter settings.

What should I do if the Wi-Fi adapter doesn't turn on after resetting the network?

1. Check if the adapter is disabled in the BIOS (on some laptops, Wi-Fi can be disabled using the keys Fn + F2 or Fn + F12).

2. Uninstall the adapter in Device Manager and restart your PC – Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

3. If this does not help, install the driver manually (see section 4).

7. Problems on the provider's side: what to do

If the Internet doesn't work on any device, including phones and tablets, the problem is most likely with your internet service provider. Here's how to check and what to do:

Symptom	Possible cause	Solution
Indicator WAN The router light is off or flashing red	There is no connection to the provider	Check the cable, reboot the router, contact support
The Internet works, but it's very slow (speed below 1 Mbps)	ISP network congestion or speed limitation	Call support or check your personal account for messages about restrictions.
Only some sites are available (eg. vk.com opens, and google.com - No)	Problems with the provider's DNS or traffic blocking	Change DNS to 8.8.8.8 (see section 2) or use a VPN
The router shows an internet connection, but devices don't access the network.	DHCP server failure on the router	Reboot your router or assign a static IP manually

To check the connection status:

1. Call your provider's support team (the number is usually listed on your contract or on the router box).
2. Check your personal account on the provider's website—there may be notifications about maintenance or blocking for non-payment.
3. Connect the cable directly to your computer (bypassing the router). If the internet works, the problem is with the router.

⚠️ Note: If your provider blocks access for non-payment, usually topping up your account and rebooting your router is sufficient. In some cases, re-authorization (entering your username/password in the router settings) may be required.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the problem

Why is there internet on my phone but not on my computer?

This means the problem is localized to your PC. The most likely causes are:

• Incorrect settings IP or DNS (see section 2).
• Outdated or damaged Wi-Fi adapter drivers (section 4).
• Blocking firewall or antivirus (section 5).

Start by checking these points.

The Wi-Fi connects, but after 5 minutes the internet connection drops. What's wrong?

This problem is often associated with:

• Adapter energy saving: open Device Manager → Network Adapters → Properties of your adapter → Power Management and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
• Router overheating - check his temperature.
• Time limit in the router settings (section Parental Control or Access Control).

My Wi-Fi stopped working after a Windows update. How do I fix it?

Updates sometimes reset drivers or network settings. Try:

1. Roll back the adapter driver (see section 4).
2. Perform a network reset (section 6).
3. Install the latest driver from the laptop/adapter manufacturer's website.

If it doesn't help, check if Wi-Fi is disabled in Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi (Sometimes updates reset this setting).

My router is broadcasting Wi-Fi, but it says "No internet access." What should I do?

This means the router is connected to the ISP but cannot access the internet. Reasons:

• Problems on the provider's side (call support).
• Incorrect settings PPPoE or VLAN in the router (check the login/password for connection).
• Router firmware failure - try updating it via the web interface.

Could a virus be the reason for the lack of internet?

Yes, some viruses change network settings (for example, by specifying their own DNS servers) or block access to certain websites. What to do:

1. Check your computer with an antivirus (for example, Dr.Web CureIt! or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool).
2. Check if any suspicious programs have appeared in Autoload (Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Startup).
3. Reset network settings (section 6).