Laptop Connected to Wi-Fi but No Internet? Fixes in Order

Your laptop shows the Wi-Fi bars, but pages won't load and Windows says "No internet." That means the laptop is talking to your router, but the connection isn't getting out to the internet. The problem can be the router, your internet provider, or the laptop itself. Start with the easy fixes below. Most of the time one of the first few steps sorts it out.

Step 1: Check whether other devices work

Turn off mobile data on your phone and try a website on the same Wi-Fi. Microsoft suggests this same test.

• Phone has no internet either: The problem is the router or your provider, not the laptop. Go to Step 2, and check your provider's outage page from mobile data.
• Phone works fine: The problem is on the laptop. Do Step 2 anyway, then keep going.

Also check the simple stuff: Airplane mode is off, and there's no VPN or proxy turned on (Settings > Network & internet > Proxy, turn off any manual proxy).

Step 2: Restart the modem, router, and laptop

• Unplug the modem and the router (or the one combo box) from power.
• Wait at least 30 seconds.
• Plug the modem back in first and wait until its lights settle. Then plug in the router.
• Give it a few minutes, then restart the laptop (Restart, not just closing the lid).

Everyone on your Wi-Fi gets disconnected for a few minutes while you do this.

Step 3: Forget the network and rejoin

• Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
• Select your network and click Forget.
• Connect again and type the password.

If your router shows two networks (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), try the other one. Microsoft lists this as a fix too.

Mac: System Settings > Wi-Fi, click the details button next to the network, and choose Forget This Network.

Step 4: Run the Windows network troubleshooter

On Windows 11, Microsoft points you to the Network and Internet troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Search "Get Help" from Start, then search for network troubleshooter. On Windows 10 it's in Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network troubleshooter.

It doesn't always fix things, but it's quick and sometimes it tells you what's wrong.

Mac: Hold Option and click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar, then choose Open Wireless Diagnostics.

Step 5: Run the network commands

This is my go-to when the Wi-Fi bars are there but nothing loads. These are the commands from Microsoft's own Wi-Fi help page.

• Search for Command Prompt, then choose Run as administrator.
• Type each of these and press Enter after each one:
• netsh winsock reset
• netsh int ip reset
• ipconfig /release
• ipconfig /renew
• ipconfig /flushdns
• Restart the laptop.

While you're in there, type ipconfig and look at the IPv4 address for your Wi-Fi. If it starts with 169.254, Microsoft says Windows couldn't get an address from the router. Restart the router again, and if other devices work fine, keep going with the steps below.

More useful commands for a sick PC: commands on a sick PC.

Mac: System Settings > Wi-Fi > Details > TCP/IP, then click Renew DHCP Lease.

Step 6: Try a different DNS server

DNS turns website names into addresses. If your provider's DNS is having trouble, the Wi-Fi says connected but websites won't load. A quick sign of this: some apps work but web pages don't.

• Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > your network's hardware properties.
• Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit and choose Manual.
• Turn on IPv4 and enter a public DNS server, like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) or Google (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).
• Save, then try a website.

To undo it, set it back to Automatic (DHCP).

Step 7: Update or roll back the Wi-Fi driver

If Wi-Fi stopped working right after a Windows update, the driver is a good suspect.

Before you start, download the Wi-Fi driver from your laptop maker's support page (search your exact model). If you have no internet, use another computer or your phone and copy it over on a USB drive, or plug in a USB Ethernet adapter.

• Search for Device Manager and open it.
• Expand Network adapters and right-click your Wi-Fi adapter (it usually has Wireless, Wi-Fi, or 802.11 in the name).
• Choose Properties > Driver tab.
• If it broke after an update and Roll Back Driver isn't grayed out, click it.
• Otherwise, install the driver you downloaded. Microsoft also suggests uninstalling the device (check "Attempt to remove the driver for this device") and restarting so Windows reinstalls it.

While you're in Properties, check the Power Management tab and uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power." Microsoft lists this for Wi-Fi that keeps dropping.

Step 8: Do a network reset

Microsoft says to save this for last. It removes your network adapters and sets them back to default, and you'll have to rejoin your Wi-Fi networks. VPN software may also need to be set up again.

• Windows 11: Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset > Reset now.
• Windows 10: Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.

The laptop restarts on its own after a few minutes.

Step 9: When the Wi-Fi card might be failing

If none of the above helped, and your other devices work fine on the same Wi-Fi, the laptop's Wi-Fi card may be the problem. Signs I watch for:

• The Wi-Fi adapter disappears from Device Manager or shows an error.
• Wi-Fi keeps dropping even right next to the router.
• Weak signal only on this laptop, especially after the laptop was opened up or dropped.

Easiest test: plug in a USB Wi-Fi adapter. If that works right away, the built-in card (or its antenna cables) is the issue. You can just keep using the USB adapter.

On many laptops the Wi-Fi card is a small M.2 card that can be swapped. iFixit has replacement guides for a lot of models. Check that the antenna wires are clicked on tight while you're in there. Some thin laptops and all recent MacBooks have Wi-Fi built onto the board, so it can't be swapped. Use a USB adapter or the warranty on those.

If you open the laptop, unplug it, follow anti-static habits that matter, and use a good screwdriver set: precision screwdriver set.

Running out of USB ports for the adapter? See USB-C hub that doesn't kill the port.