“Connected, no internet” means your device has a working wireless link to the router, but traffic isn’t getting out to the internet. The fault is in one of four places: the device, the router, the modem, or your provider. The fastest fix is to work out which one by testing in a set order, starting with the cheapest and most reversible steps.
This guide follows Microsoft Support’s Windows 10 and 11 Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide. The command-line steps are Windows-only. The scope tests and the router/modem restart work on any device.
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What the message actually means
Wi-Fi is only the local link between your device and the router. Internet access also depends on the router reaching the modem and the modem reaching your provider’s service. Microsoft describes Windows’ “No Internet” state as the device not having an internet connection, even though it may be joined to a network. A full Wi-Fi indicator therefore doesn’t prove the router is online.
The diagnostic steps below compare four things:
- Scope: one device or every device on the network.
- Local link: whether the affected device can reach the router.
- Upstream link: whether the router can reach the internet when tested by cable.
- Configuration: whether the device has a valid IP address and DNS server, and whether a proxy or VPN is interfering.
Each result tells you what to test next. No single result proves which component has failed.
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Step 1: Check how many devices are affected
Try another phone or laptop on the same Wi-Fi. Microsoft recommends testing the same network from another device to locate the problem.
- Only one device fails: the cause is probably on that device. Look at its saved Wi-Fi profile, network adapter, proxy or VPN settings, IP address and DNS.
- Every device fails: look at the router, the modem or your provider. Skip ahead to the router and modem steps.
If you can, also try the failing device on a different network, such as a phone hotspot or a friend’s Wi-Fi. If it works there, the device is probably fine.
Step 2: Do the quick, reversible fixes
- Confirm Wi-Fi is on and Airplane mode is off.
- Turn Wi-Fi off and on again, then reconnect to your network.
- If it still fails, forget the network and rejoin it. Windows offers this when a saved connection may be stale. Have the Wi-Fi password ready first.
Restart the modem and router
Restarting can force a fresh connection to your provider. Microsoft’s sequence is:
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- Unplug the power from the modem and the router (if they are separate boxes).
- Wait at least about 30 seconds.
- Plug the modem back in and wait for it to finish starting.
- Plug the router back in and let it start.
A combined modem/router unit needs only one restart. Everyone on the network will lose connection briefly while you do this.
Try the other band and move closer
If your router broadcasts separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network names, try the other one. Move closer to the router and test a second device too. If the result changes, the problem is more likely signal or device compatibility than the internet service itself.
Step 3: Reset IP and DNS settings (Windows only)
These commands apply to Windows 10 and 11. Don’t use them on macOS, iPhone or Android, which have different menus.
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Microsoft’s procedure uses an elevated Command Prompt, meaning one opened as administrator. Run these commands in order:
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netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip resetipconfig /releaseipconfig /renewipconfig /flushdns
The first two reset the Winsock and TCP/IP stacks. The next two drop and request a new address from the router. The last clears the DNS resolver cache.
Check what address Windows received
Windows can obtain its IP address and DNS server automatically from the router or access point. This is the DHCP setting, and it’s the normal default. If you see an address starting with 169.254 while using automatic addressing, Windows probably didn’t get an address from the router. That points to a problem between the device and the router rather than the wider internet.
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Step 4: Test whether the router is reachable (Windows)
- Run
ipconfigand note the Default Gateway address. This is the router. - Run
pingfollowed by that address.
Microsoft Support’s guide puts it this way: “If you see results like this and are getting a reply, then you have a connection to your Wi-Fi router, so there might be a problem with your modem or ISP.”
If the gateway replies, your device can reach the router. The fault is then upstream, in the router’s connection, the modem or the provider.
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If there is no reply, connect your PC directly to the modem with an Ethernet cable, if you can. Any cable you already have will do. If the wired connection works, the Wi-Fi router is the likely culprit. Check its firmware and its manufacturer’s documentation.
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Step 5: Know when to escalate
- Several devices are still offline after restarting the equipment: check your provider’s outage information from a working mobile connection, or contact the provider.
- The tests point to the router: check its firmware and compatibility first. Don’t replace it before then.
- The modem or line is implicated: your provider can look for service-side faults and tell you which equipment works with your service.
Don’t buy a new router or modem before these tests. A replacement only makes sense once the evidence points to the hardware, and it should be compatible with your provider and service type.
Network reset is a last resort
On Windows, network reset removes installed network adapters and resets network settings. VPN clients and virtual switches such as Hyper-V may need to be set up again afterward. Use it only after the steps above have failed.
Quick reference: what each result suggests
| What you see | Likely area | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Only one device is offline | That device’s settings | Forget and rejoin the network; on Windows, run the IP/DNS commands |
| All devices are offline | Router, modem or provider | Restart the equipment, then check for an outage |
| Gateway ping replies, no websites load | Modem or provider, upstream of the router | Restart the modem; contact the provider |
| Gateway ping gets no reply | Wi-Fi link or router | Test with Ethernet to the modem; check router firmware |
| Address starts with 169.254 | No address from the router | Release and renew the address; restart the router |
| Works on one band but not the other | Signal or band compatibility | Stay on the working band or move closer |
This article rests on Microsoft’s Windows guidance. It doesn’t cover brand-specific router settings, provider-specific faults, or the menu paths on macOS, iOS and Android.
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