how to fix "youll need internet for this" error code 0x800704cf

Question

how to fix "youll need internet for this" error code 0x800704cf

Cole Kirchmann 10

Whenever I try to log in to Microsoft on my computer it always gives the error code "you'll need internet for this" however I currently have internet and am connected to wifi. I have tried to change my DNS server and IP and it hasn't worked.

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4 answers

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Answer 1

Damian McCrohan 10

I have a home Windows 11 computer and had the same issue happened suddenly with Office 365 products even though I could browse the web and even Teams worked fine.
I spent hours trying all the suggestions in this post and others and none worked as most assume the internet connection is not working at all.
I use a PIN to log in so at a whim I tried signing out and then signing in saying I forgot my PIN and using my authenticator (but not resetting PIN) and voila, no errors anymore.

I had to use this method for a few days until all 365 products worked fine when I could sign in with a PIN again.

A very frustrating issue that appears to a Microsoft authentication/configuration issue.

As an update discovered my wife's laptop had the same issue, she didn't really understand the error messages so carried on not realising emails were not downloading and files were not being saved to OneDrive.

Roger Bentley 0 Reputation points

2026-03-25T05:50:16.4966667+00:00

As of today, I now have Copilot 365 and now I can't sign on to anything in Microsoft without getting the same dialogue box, that says I need to be connect to the internet. I spent hours with AI working on this but never could get rid of the box. I'm not really sure what you did, but I sure would like to know. This is driving me nuts and now I have paid for the premium subscription and can't use it.
Damian McCrohan 10 Reputation points

2026-03-25T08:04:42.0933333+00:00

Hi Roger
I presume your internet connection is working fine so this Microsoft issue is very frustrating. As I said above I sign into my computer windows account with a PIN and I tried saying I forgot it and then it used my Microsoft authenticator to log in which seems to reset things somehow. It happened again yesterday with OneNote so had to logout and do the No PIN method again.

Reliability is not a word you associate with this.
Roger Bentley 0 Reputation points

2026-03-25T19:20:44.3833333+00:00

Thanks. I worked with AI trying to get this fixed for 4 hrs last night with no luck.

I got ahold of Microsoft today and they said that i was one of the unlucky ones. they said that there is nothing wrong on my and that they are going to push out a fix for this but wanted me to make sure that i have my windows update...updated. The lady go in to my PC over the phone and saw that my update are not up to date.

The problem I have now is when I boot my PC up the dialogue box pops up the 1st thing.
Manuel Garay Velazquez 0 Reputation points

2026-03-28T23:28:07.94+00:00

This one worked for me. Thanks!
Damian McCrohan 10 Reputation points

2026-03-29T07:05:08.19+00:00

Roger, good to hear Microsoft are working on a fix for this issue, it must be frustrating many people. I now basically can't use PIN to logon for our computers otherwise we get this issue. Good it worked for you Manuel

Answer 2

Manoel Barros 21,725 Independent Advisor

Thanks for your feedback.

Your theory makes sense. When a device is removed from Devices, it is automatically blocked. Or, because the hacker altered your account information, Windows may have blocked it on its own.

Go to https://account.microsoft.com/devices > Sign in > See if your computer appears there.

To find your computer's hostname, press Windows + R > type cmd > type the command hostname > press Enter.

If your computer has been removed from Devices, you will need to restore your computer.

Cole Kirchmann 10 Reputation points

2025-11-28T16:49:07.6066667+00:00

It seems that my computer has been removed from devices. Can you please guide me through how to restore my computer? Also what would I lose if I do a restore?
Manoel Barros 21,725 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-11-28T22:54:26.4366667+00:00

To restore your computer, go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC > Choose the option to Keep files and programs.

The restore will reset your computer to factory settings while keeping your files, if you choose the Keep files option.
Ryan 0 Reputation points

2025-11-29T08:38:32.29+00:00

For some reason, I did the restore, and the pop up still shows... is there a way to fix this, or no?

Answer 3

Manoel Barros 21,725 Independent Advisor

Hello!

Is the problem occurring in Windows apps, such as the Microsoft Store, Microsoft 365 (Office), etc.?

Try logging into those apps.
Log in with your account at https://account.microsoft.com/account?lang=en-us to validate that the account is working.

Are you using a work, school, or personal computer? Are you on your home network?

Did you recently purchase this computer?

Try using a different internet connection, such as mobile data or a neighboring network.
If you can enter your email before the error appears, do not log in with your password; use another authentication method, such as an authenticator, email code, or phone number.

Cole Kirchmann 10 Reputation points

2025-11-28T00:17:00.0133333+00:00

The problem does occur in all Windows apps. I am able to log into the account on the web and I am using a personal computer on my home network. I have had this computer for around 3 years. I can't test it on other networks however my phone is able to sign in perfectly fine. I have tried both password, and authenticator. The problem only occurs once I've logged into the account. Also for extra information my original microsoft account was hacked about a year ago and also on my microsoft account profile in the settings app there is a thing telling me to verify my account which doesn't work.

My personal theory is that when my account got hacked the hacker disconnected it from my computer causing microsoft apps to stop working.

Answer 4

To address the "you'll need the internet for this" error with code 0x800704cf when trying to log in to Microsoft, here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow:

Check Network Connectivity: Ensure that your internet connection is stable. You can do this by trying to access other websites or services.
Disable IPv6: Sometimes, disabling IPv6 can resolve connectivity issues. To do this:
- Right-click the network icon in the System Tray.
- Select Open Network & Internet Settings.
- Click on Change adapter options.
- Right-click your network connection and select Properties.
- Uncheck Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).
- Restart your computer and try logging in again.
Reset Network Settings: You can reset your network settings to ensure there are no misconfigurations. Open a Command Prompt as an administrator and run the following commands:
- netsh int ip reset
- netsh winsock reset
- Restart your device.
Check Required Services: Ensure that necessary services are running:
- Open the Services app by typing services.msc in the Start menu.
- Make sure the following services are running:
  - Network Connected Devices Auto-Setup
  - Network List Service
  - Network Location Awareness
  - Windows Event Log
- If any of these services are not running, right-click and select Start.
Firewall and Antivirus: Check if your firewall or antivirus software is blocking access. You may need to configure them to allow connections to Microsoft services.
Update Microsoft 365: Ensure that your Microsoft 365 applications are up to date. Open an Office app, go to File > Account > Update Options, and select Update Now.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider contacting Microsoft support for further assistance.

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