Can't load a website.

Monty Roark 0 Reputation points
2026-10-10T23:45:17.27+00:00

My surface Pro 8 says I'm connected to the internet. However, I cannot load a website? How do I fix this?

Surface | Surface Pro | Network
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  1. S.Sengupta 32,751 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-10-11T00:29:56.96+00:00

    Try a different website and a different browser (Edge and Chrome). If only one browser fails, clear its cache or disable extensions.

    Check whether other devices on the same Wi-Fi can load sites. If they can’t either, the problem is your router or ISP. Restart the router (unplug for 30 seconds) and check with your provider.

    Toggle Airplane mode on and off, then restart the Surface.


    Right-click Start → Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin), then run these one at a time:

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

    Device Manager → Network adapters → Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC (or similar) → right-click → Update driver.

    Also run Windows Update, since Surface firmware and driver updates come through there.

    If that doesn’t help, right-click the adapter → Uninstall device, then restart so Windows reinstalls it.


    Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → your network → Hardware properties → DNS server assignment → Edit → Manual → turn on IPv4

    Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8, Alternate: 8.8.4.4 (Google), or 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare)


    Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset. This removes saved Wi-Fi networks, so you’ll need to re-enter passwords.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-10T23:45:55.48+00:00

    First test another website and another browser; if both fail, run Windows 11’s Network and Internet troubleshooter before resetting the connection or Wi‑Fi adapter.

    1. Identify the scope

    1. Open two unrelated websites in your current browser.
    2. Try the same sites in another installed browser.
    3. Connect a phone or another device to the same Wi‑Fi and open a website.

    A Connected Wi‑Fi indicator does not rule out a browser, firewall, or website-specific issue. If only one site or browser fails, the network itself may still be working.^1^

    • Only one website fails: the website may be unavailable or blocked. Try it later.
    • Only one browser fails: disable that browser’s extensions temporarily and clear its cache.
    • Every device fails: restart the modem/router. This temporarily disconnects everyone.
    • Only the Surface fails: continue below.

    2. Run the Windows troubleshooter

    On the Surface Pro 8:

    1. Select Start, search for Get Help, and open it.
    2. Search for network troubleshooter.
    3. Run the Network and Internet troubleshooter and apply any proposed repair.

    Microsoft recommends this as the first Windows 11 diagnostic. The Surface-specific path is also available under Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Network Adapter > Run.^1^ ^2^

    3. Recreate the Wi‑Fi connection

    If the troubleshooter does not fix it:

    1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks.
    2. Select your Wi‑Fi network, then select Forget.
    3. Select the network icon on the taskbar.
    4. Reconnect to the Wi‑Fi network and enter its password.

    You can also open Settings > Network & internet, turn Airplane mode on, wait briefly, and turn it off again.^1^

    4. Reset Windows networking and DNS

    If all browsers still fail, open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands in order:

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

    Restart the Surface afterward and test again. These commands reset Winsock and TCP/IP, obtain a new IP address, and clear the DNS resolver cache.^1^

    5. Apply the Surface-specific fallbacks

    If connectivity remains unavailable:

    1. Force-restart the Surface: shut it down, then hold the power button for a full 20 seconds, continuing to hold it if the logo appears early.
    2. Open Device Manager > Network adapters.
    3. Double-click the Intel Wi‑Fi adapter, select Driver > Disable Device, confirm, and then select Enable Device.
    4. Restart the Surface.

    Surface Pro 8 uses an Intel Wi‑Fi adapter covered by Microsoft’s Surface troubleshooting procedure.^2^

    If that fails, download the appropriate Surface driver package on another computer and copy it by USB before uninstalling the adapter driver. Then, in Device Manager > Network adapters, uninstall the Wi‑Fi adapter and restart Windows; Windows should reinstall it. Keeping the downloaded driver available prevents being left without a usable network driver.^1^


    References

    1. Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows | Microsoft Support
    2. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/surface/wifi-cellular/troubleshooting-wi-fi-connection-on-your-surface#before-you-start)
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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