Windows 11 shows Wi-Fi as connected, but websites and apps cannot access the internet. Diagnose the connection, refresh network settings, and verify connectivity.
Check whether the router or Windows is causing the problem. Reconnect to Wi-Fi, renew the IP address, clear the DNS cache, and reset network settings only if necessary.
Connect a phone to the same Wi-Fi network and temporarily disable its mobile data. Open a website to determine whether the connection works independently of your PC. If both devices fail, investigate the router or internet service before changing Windows settings.
Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network troubleshooter. Follow the prompts in Get Help and select the affected connection when asked. Apply any recommended repair and check whether Windows reports that the connection is restored.
Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. Select the affected network and click Forget, then reconnect through the Wi-Fi list. Enter the password again to create a fresh saved connection profile.
Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Hardware properties and inspect the IPv4 address. An address beginning with 169.254 can indicate that Windows failed to obtain an address from DHCP. If that appears, continue with the address renewal step.
Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin). Run the commands below in sequence to release the current IPv4 lease and request a new one. A successful renewal should display an IPv4 address supplied by your network.
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renewOpen Terminal (Admin) and run the command below. Windows should confirm that the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed. This removes cached DNS records that may be preventing domain names from resolving.
ipconfig /flushdnsOpen Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Turn Use a proxy server off if you do not intentionally use a proxy, and inspect Use setup script for unwanted configuration. Leave organization-managed settings unchanged and test the connection again.
Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. Select Reset now only after recording any custom IP, VPN, or adapter settings you need. Windows will remove and reinstall network adapters and restart the PC, so reconnect to Wi-Fi afterward.
Open Terminal and test both an IP address and a domain name. Replies from both suggest that basic connectivity and DNS resolution are working. Also open a website in your browser to confirm that normal internet access has returned.
ping 1.1.1.1
nslookup microsoft.comTest another device on the same network, restart the router if appropriate, and check whether the PC receives a valid DHCP address.
Check the configured DNS servers under Wi-Fi > Hardware properties > DNS server assignment. Restore Automatic (DHCP) if your network normally supplies DNS automatically.
Open Device Manager > Network adapters and check for a disabled adapter or driver error. Install the correct wireless driver from the PC or motherboard manufacturer's support page if necessary.
No. It resets networking components and configuration, not documents or installed personal files.
No. An outage outside your PC must be resolved by the provider or network administrator.
Reconnect to the original Wi-Fi network and restore any previously recorded DNS, proxy, VPN, or static IP settings. A network reset cannot be reversed as a single operation.
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