Internet connectivity

Question

Since two builds ago, my computer does not stay connected to the internet even though the connect automatically is set. Sometimes it diswconnectss after a minute or two, sometimes after an hour;however, it disconnects overnight every day. I did try going back to a previous build but it did not resolve the problem staying connected. Has anyone experienced this issue or have any ideas on how to correct it?

Answer 1

While this is not a reported bug in any recent Windows updates on the Microsoft blogs, some people are reporting this problem in Windows 11.

Click your Start Button, type cmd and choose Command Prompt

Run this command and hit Enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

Run this command and hit Enter:

ipconfig /registerdns

Run this command and hit Enter:

netsh winsock reset

Run this command and hit Enter:

netsh int ip reset

Close Command Prompt

Open the Settings App

Go to Network and Internet

Click the Network Reset button

Wait for your PC to automatically restart after 5 minutes, do not manually restart your PC.

Answer 2

Intermittent disconnects and dropping overnight usually indicate a Wi‑Fi/network reliability issue rather than the “connect automatically” setting itself. Use these steps to narrow it down and improve stability:

1. Confirm it is limited connectivity vs. full drop

• When it “disconnects,” check the network icon:
  • If it shows No Internet or Limited while still showing the Wi‑Fi name, follow the limited-connectivity steps below.
  • If it shows no Wi‑Fi network at all, skip to step 3.

2. If Wi‑Fi shows “No Internet” / limited connectivity Follow the limited-connectivity guidance:

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

• Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi.
• Turn Wi‑Fi off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on and reconnect.

2. Renew IP configuration

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• Run:
  • ipconfig /release
  • ipconfig /renew

3. Flush DNS cache

• In the same elevated Command Prompt, run:
  • ipconfig /flushdns

4. Check proxy settings

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy.
• Turn off any manual proxy configuration unless it is required.

5. Check the IP address

• Verify the IP is not in the form 169.254.x.x.
• If it is, the PC is not getting an address from the router; ensure DHCP is enabled on the router and that the router is functioning correctly.

6. Check DNS server

• Ensure a DNS server is configured and can be pinged from Command Prompt.

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

• Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks.
• Select the problematic Wi‑Fi network and choose Forget.
• Reconnect by selecting it again and entering the password, making sure Connect automatically is checked.

4. Power‑cycle modem and router

• Unplug power from the router and modem.
• Wait at least 30 seconds.
• Plug the modem back in, wait for lights to stabilize.
• Plug the router back in, wait a few minutes.
• Reconnect from the PC and monitor whether overnight drops continue.

5. Try the other Wi‑Fi band

• If the router offers both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, connect to the other band and see if stability improves.

If the issue started “two builds ago,” also ensure all pending Windows Updates and any router firmware updates are installed, as connectivity bugs are often fixed in later updates.

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References:

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