Windows 11 No Internet? Step-by-Step Fixes for Wi-Fi and LAN

Windows 11 no internet problems come in two flavours: the PC cannot connect to the network at all, or it shows a connection but pages will not load. Both are usually fixable in a few minutes. The trick is to work from the simplest and least disruptive checks toward the heavier resets, testing your connection after each step so you know which one fixed it.

These steps apply to Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2 on Home and Pro. They cover Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet.

Step 1: Rule out the router and your provider

Before changing anything on the PC, check whether the problem is the PC or the connection itself.

• Do other devices on the same network have internet? If your phone on Wi-Fi is also offline, the problem is the router or your provider, not Windows.
• Restart the modem and router: unplug them, wait about 30 seconds, plug the modem in first, then the router, and give them a couple of minutes to come back.
• Look at the router’s lights. A red or orange internet light usually means the line itself is down.

If only the Windows PC is affected, carry on.

Step 2: Check Airplane mode, Wi-Fi and the network icon

Open Settings > Network & internet. At the top you will see your connection status.

1. Make sure Airplane mode is off. A stray key press on a laptop function key can turn it on.
2. Make sure Wi-Fi is on, then select Wi-Fi > Show available networks and confirm you are joined to your own network, not a neighbour’s or a guest network.
3. On a laptop, check for a physical wireless switch.
4. For Ethernet, check the cable is clicked in at both ends and try another cable or router port.

The network icon on the taskbar is a quick hint. A globe icon means Windows sees no network at all; a normal icon with a warning usually means it reached the router but not the internet.

Step 3: Run the network troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes an automated network and internet troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Search for Get Help from the taskbar, open it and search for the network troubleshooter, or go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and select Run next to Network and Internet. It checks adapters, IP settings and DNS and applies fixes automatically.

It does not solve everything, but it takes a minute and sometimes names the exact problem.

Step 4: Forget the Wi-Fi network and reconnect

A saved network profile can go stale, especially after a router change or password update.

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi.
2. Select Manage known networks.
3. Select your network and choose Forget.
4. Go back, select your network from the list and enter the password again.

Forgetting a network deletes its saved password, so if you are not sure what it is, find the Wi-Fi password in Windows 11 before you select Forget.

If you have trouble with this one network only, our Wi-Fi settings guide explains the other per-network options, such as metered connection and random hardware addresses.

Step 5: Reset TCP/IP, renew the address and flush DNS

These commands clear out the most common software glitches. Search for Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, and run each line, checking your connection after each:

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

Restart the PC after running the netsh commands. Here is what each one does:

Command	What it fixes
netsh winsock reset	Resets the Windows sockets catalogue used by networking software
netsh int ip reset	Resets TCP/IP settings to defaults
ipconfig /release and /renew	Drops and requests a fresh IP address from the router
ipconfig /flushdns	Clears cached website lookups

Step 6: Check DNS

If you can reach sites by IP address but not by name, or only some sites load, DNS is the likely culprit. Run ipconfig /all and look at the DNS Servers line to see which servers you are using. If they do not respond, you can change DNS in Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) > Hardware properties > DNS server assignment > Edit, switching from Automatic to Manual and entering your preferred servers.

Our DNS not resolving guide covers this in depth. Also check whether a VPN or proxy is active, since both can block traffic when misconfigured.

Step 7: Update or reinstall the network adapter driver

A bad driver often shows up after a Windows update. Before you start, download the latest network driver from your PC maker’s website on another device and copy it to a USB stick, in case Windows cannot find one.

1. Right-click Start and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
4. If that does not help, choose Uninstall device, tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device, select Uninstall, and restart. Windows reinstalls the adapter on startup.

If the problem began right after an update, the adapter’s Properties > Driver tab may also offer Roll Back Driver.

Step 8: Network reset as a last resort

Network reset removes every network adapter and resets networking components to their defaults. It fixes stubborn problems but has side effects, so leave it until last.

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings.
2. Select Network reset.
3. Select Reset now, then Yes. The PC restarts.

Afterwards you will need to rejoin Wi-Fi networks with their passwords, and reinstall or reconfigure VPN clients and virtual switches such as those used by Hyper-V. Known networks may also be set to the Public profile, so switch your home network back to Private if you use file sharing.

Still offline?

If nothing works, test the PC on a different network, such as a phone hotspot. If it works there, the problem is with your router’s settings or your provider. If it fails everywhere, see our guides for Wi-Fi that keeps disconnecting and Ethernet with no internet, or browse the Windows 11 troubleshooting hub.

Before a full network reset, read reset network settings in Windows 11 for what it removes and what to set up again.

To see the address your PC received from the router, or spot a 169.254 address that means no connection to it, see find your IP address in Windows 11.