internet issues

Question

I can't connect to the internet and I have tried everything. Can you please assist with this issue? Thanks very much

Answer 1

Dear janice marut, 

I understand how disruptive it can be when a PC won’t get online. At this point, I recommend that you review and try the steps provided in both the AI generated answer and the Independent Advisor’s answer on your thread. Those replies typically include the most relevant checks for this scenario. 

To narrow things down, could you please share a bit more detail: 

• Could you share the exact device brand and model? 
• Are you connecting via Wi‑Fi or Ethernet? What exactly does the network icon say (for example: “No Internet”, “No Internet, secured”, or “Unidentified network”)? 
• Do other devices on the same network have Internet access? 
• Did this start after any recent changes (Windows update, new VPN/proxy, security software, router changes, moving to a new location, etc.)? 
• Is any VPN or Proxy currently enabled? 
• Are you on a home/office network or a public Wi‑Fi that might require a web sign‑in? 

In the meantime, please try the steps below on the affected Windows PC. These are designed to isolate where the connection is failing and restore connectivity: 

1. Isolate the network and the PC 

• If possible, try connecting the PC to a different network, such as a mobile hotspot from your phone. 

2. Quick checks on the PC 

• Airplane mode: Make sure it’s Off. 
• Wi‑Fi vs. Ethernet: 
  • For Wi‑Fi: Ensure Wi‑Fi is On and you are selecting the intended SSID. 
  • For Ethernet: Confirm the link lights are active on the PC’s port and the router/switch port; if available, try a different cable or port. 
• VPN/Proxy/Security: 
  • Turn off VPN (Settings > Network & Internet > VPN) and ensure Proxy is Off (Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy) unless required by your organization. 
  • If you use third‑party security software, temporarily pause network filtering to test, then re‑enable it. 

3. Reset DNS and the network stack 

• Open Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) and run the following in order: ipconfig /flushdns then netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset   
• Then restart the PC and test again. 

4. Power and radio settings on the adapter 

• Open Device Manager > Network adapters > (your Wi‑Fi/Ethernet). 
  • Power Management tab: uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” 
  • Advanced tab: For Ethernet, disable Energy Efficient Ethernet if present. For Wi‑Fi, set Power Saving Mode to a balanced or performance‑oriented option (if available). 
• For Wi‑Fi networks that offer both bands, try connecting to 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz to compare results. 

While my initial response may not fully resolve the issue, I truly appreciate your cooperation as we work together toward identifying the most effective solution. Thank you so much for your understanding. 

I hope the guidance above helps re‑establish your Wi‑Fi/Ethernet connection so you can continue your tasks without hassle. 

---

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

Hi! Let me help you.

How are you connected to the internet?

Make sure your time and date settings are correct.

If they are, try a hard reset.

Turn off the laptop.

Unplug the charger.

Press and hold the Power button for 20–30 seconds.

Plug the charger back in.

Turn the laptop back on.

If the hard reset didn't work, follow the steps below.

Please hover your mouse over the Network or Wireless icon at the lower right-hand corner, then right-click it and click Troubleshoot Network. Let the troubleshooter finish its task, then this should either resolve the problem or display an error message.

If that doesn't work, we need to remove the WIFI driver from the Device Manager and restart the pc to reinstall it.

Here are the steps to completely remove a Device from your computer.

Step 1. Use shortcut keys Windows key+ + X

Step 2. Select Device Manager.

Step 3. Expand the entry for Network Adapters, Right-click the problematic device, which is either an Intel Wireless or Realtek WIFI adapter, and select Uninstall device.

Step 4. You need to check the option Delete the driver software for this device and then click the Uninstall button.

Step 5. Reboot the computer.

After the reboot, please see if the problem is fixed.

If that still does not work, please visit the support website of your laptop or desktop and then download and install the latest Wireless driver, and then restart the PC.

Answer 3

Try these steps in order on the Windows 11 PC:

1. Run the built-in Network troubleshooter

• Open Start and type Get Help.
• Open the Get Help app and run the Network & Internet troubleshooter.
• Let it complete and apply any fixes it suggests.

2. Turn Wi‑Fi off and on, then reconnect

• Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi‑Fi.
• Turn Wi‑Fi off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
• Select your Wi‑Fi network and reconnect with the password.

3. Forget and re-add the Wi‑Fi network

• Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks.
• Select your Wi‑Fi network and choose Forget.
• Click the Wi‑Fi icon on the taskbar, select your network again, and enter the password.

4. Restart modem and router This will disconnect everyone on your network temporarily.

• Unplug the power cable from the router.
• Unplug the power cable from the modem (and remove its battery if the lights stay on).
• Wait at least 30 seconds.
• Reinsert the modem battery (if removed) and plug the modem back in; wait until its lights stop blinking.
• Plug the router back in and wait a few minutes until both devices are fully on.
• On the PC, try connecting again.

5. Renew IP address

• Right-click Start and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
• Run:
  • ipconfig /release (press Enter)
  • ipconfig /renew (press Enter)
• Test the connection again.

6. Flush DNS cache

• In the same elevated Command Prompt, run:
  • ipconfig /flushdns
• Try browsing again.

7. Check proxy settings

• Go to Settings > Network & internet > Proxy.
• Under Manual proxy setup, turn Use a proxy server Off (unless required by your organization).

8. Check IP address

• Find your IP using the steps in Essential network settings and tasks in Windows.
• If it looks like 169.254.x.x, Windows is not getting an address from the router. In that case, ensure DHCP is enabled on the router (see the router’s documentation) and then repeat steps 4 and 5.

9. As a last resort: Network reset This will remove and reinstall all network adapters and reset their settings.

• Go to Settings > Network & internet.
• Select Advanced network settings > Network reset.
• Click Reset now and confirm.
• After the restart, reconnect to Wi‑Fi and re-enter the password. VPN clients or virtual switches may need to be reinstalled.

If none of these steps restore connectivity and other devices on the same Wi‑Fi work fine, the issue may be specific to the PC’s network hardware or drivers and may require further hardware/driver diagnostics.

---

References:

• Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows
• Get connected when setting up your Windows device