WiFi Connected But No Internet Access — 20 Steps to Fix the Error

Nothing is as frustrating as WiFi without Internet. Oh yes, how many times have I seen topics on forums starting with WiFi connected but no Internet access! Please, help me solve the problem!

So many various phones, PCs, routers involved, so many possible reasons of the same problem and so many solutions that can help in one case but don’t work in another.

In this guide we collected all possible solutions that should help you fix the problem and get rid of Connected, no Internet, No internet access, Internet may not be available and similar errors on Windows PC, Android or Apple devices.

We must admit that there is no nuclear solution to fix the problem in one click. That is why you have to try all methods listed below. Hopefully, one of them will work in your case.

Do not skip steps and you will hopefully find out why you have WiFi connected but no Internet.

Jump Directly to Solutions:

  1. Investigate the Issue
  2. Check if the Internet cable is properly connected
  3. Reboot All Your Devices
  4. Check Time & Date
  5. Turn Off the Antivirus
  6. Switch to a More Reliable DNS Provider
  7. Flush DNS Cache
  8. Are You Using MAC Address Filtering?
  9. Change the Wireless Channel
  10. Change the Region for Wi-Fi on Your Router
  11. Switch Your WiFi Router to 802.11b\g\n Mixed Mode
  12. Make Sure That You Have Proxy Disabled
  13. Repair Your Network Adapter to Fix “No Internet Access” on Windows 10
  14. Reset WiFi Settings
  15. Update Drivers for WiFi Adapter on Windows PC
  16. Remove Malware
  17. Update the Router Firmware
  18. Factory Reset Your Router
  19. Factory Reset Your iPhone, Android Device or Windows 10 PC
  20. Contact Your ISP Support

Different Names for the Same Error

Usually the issue looks like the following: you select your WiFi network, the authentication passes normally and then you see familiar Connected near you WiFi network name (SSID).

But the problem is that in a few seconds the notification No internet appears next to it. In such cases you can see:

  • Connected (No internet, secured) near WiFi network name or WiFi has no Internet access. Tap for options in the notification panel on Android devices.
  • Internet may not be available. Connect to another network on Samsung Galaxy devices;
  • Connected but unable to access the Internet on Meizu phones;
  • a yellow triangle with the exclamation mark on the network icon on Windows machines and again this error “No Internet”.

WiFi Connected, No Internet – What Does It Mean and How Does It Look?

Wi-Fi Connected, No Internet Android
WiFi Connected, no Internet on stock Android 10

Basically “No Internet” WiFi error means that your client device (such as an iPhone, Android phone or a computer running Windows) has successfully connected to your WiFi router, obtained a local IP address (for example, 192.168.0.101) but there is something that prevents it from connecting to Internet over WiFi (to WAN over the LAN in other words).

In most cases you can even gain access to other machines and devices on the local network, such as laptop, TV, NAS, watch films, view photos and listen to music from shared folders but you can’t open neither a website in a browser nor use apps like YouTube or Skype that require a permanent Internet link.

No Internet Connection on iPhone ios 13
No Internet Connection on iPhone

Not Always Easy to Fix…

Many of you may say “haha! the gateway address is missing or incorrect! That’s why you have WiFi connected but no Internet access!”.

But the things are not that easy. In a few minutes after you begin troubleshooting you will convince yourself that your phone, Windows PC, router and even the Ethernet cables can be the culprit.

This doesn’t mean you should surrender and call the tech guy from your ISP to fix your trouble with Internet access.

We advise that you first read this article and try our tips before you call them. Maybe you will be able to restore your connection with the global web over WiFi by yourself.

Internet may not be available error Samsung Galaxy S9
“Internet may not be available” on Samsung Galaxy Phone

Remember: “WiFi” is not “Internet”. Thus, if you successfully connected to a WiFi hotspot, it does NOT automatically mean that you have Internet connectivity. And there are many reasons for this.

20 Steps to Fix WiFi Connected But No Internet Access

We arranged our tips in a convenient order – from more frequent and easy to apply to more complicated and less frequently happening.

This should make all steps logical and help us first eliminate minor issues and then proceed to troubleshooting of more serious problems with the network access and Internet connection.

1. Investigate the Issue

You should start troubleshooting with the investigating the problem. It is crucial to guess whether it is your router or your client device which is causing the error.

a) Try Connecting to Another WiFi Network

First things first, it is very important to understand whether you encounter the “No Internet” error when you connect to a specific network or any network. It will help in troubleshooting greatly.

Thus, if you have the error on connecting to any hotspot, this means that you are likely to have an issue in your client device (a phone, tablet, laptop or PC). And vice versa: if you face the problem with a specific WiFi network, you may pay more attention to your router settings.

b) Connect from Another Device

Connect to the same network from another device and investigate whether or not you have the same problem. If you have the same error on two different devices, the router or its configuration may be the reason why your WiFi has no Internet access.

In such a way you can gather common information and consequently get an idea why you are actually suffering the lack of Internet connectivity over your WiFi. Well, let’s proceed to the next step.

c) Are You Using a Range Extender?

WiFi Repeaters (range extenders) are no the best option when it comes to Wi-Fi stability. If you are currently using one, you should try temporarily excluding it. Turn off your repeater and test the wireless network with your router only.

If the problem persists, it means that it has nothing to do with the range extender.

If your client device work fine when operating directly with your wireless router, you’d better implement a mesh architecture instead.

2. Check if the Internet Cable

Check whether or not the Internet cable is properly connected to WAN port of your router:

router dlink wan port

If the cable is not connected to Internet (WAN) port you will have working WiFi but no Internet access. Ensure your Ethernet cable is well-attached and the connector is not broken. Replace the patch cord is it is damaged.

By the way, the same issue emerges if you start the hotspot on your Android phone but forget to turn on mobile data:

mobile hotspot on mobile data off android

As a result your laptop or PC connects to a WiFi hotspot but there is no Internet.

Also check: have you paid for your Internet? Log in to your client area at your ISP’s website and ensure you have enough money on your account. Contact ISP support if necessary.

3. Reboot All Your Devices

This applies not only to devices without the Internet, but to your router as well.

a) Restart the Router

Log in to the router’s web interface and reboot it to fix the accidental glitch.

router reboot

 Besides that, you can power cycle the router by its “Power” button or by simply disconnecting its power supply from the outlet. A simple reboot is often a good fix to many WiFi problems and weird glitches.

Read this guide if you cannot access your wireless router settings page. You will find a lot of tips how to find out the router IP and finally do it.

b) Reboot Your Computer, Phone or Tablet Where You Faced WiFi Connected, No Internet

Reboot the client device where you have WiFi connected but no Internet, no matter whether it is a Windows PC, Android device, iPhone or iPad. This often helps to fix the Internet connection over WiFi.

4. Check Time & Date

This is yet another ridiculous but very common reason for the problem we’re discussing on this page. I have encountered it mostly on old Android devices but you should check it no matter on what device you faced the WiFi Connected, No Internet issue.

In most cases the “Use Network-Provided Time” option will be the best solution. If this doesn’t solve the problem and you see that the date and time are not correct, disable the “automatic” option and set the correct date and time manually.

Android 10 Auto Date and time Settings
Use automatic date & time to fix WiFi without Internet

On your Android go to Settings > System > Date & Time and enable the Use network-provided time:

If you have a Galaxy device, go to Settings > General Management > Date and time and enable Automatic date and time.

On iPhone / iPad go to Settings > General > Date & Time and enable the Set Automatically option:

set Date & Time automatically on iPhone

5. Turn Off the Antivirus

From time to time antivirus programs turn out to be the reason of the notification Secured, No internet on Windows. Try to temporary disable protection and check if you have the Internet access. If the Internet works when you unload your Antivirus try the following solutions:

  • disable its Firewall (or Network Shield) component.
  • Go to Network settings > change adapter options > right click WiFi > uncheck the driver of your antivirus.

Disabling your antivirus is not a fix itself. But if the Internet connected after you turned your antivirus program you can now think how to cope with problem. For example, disable the firewall component.

We have never met such situations on Android, but you can also try to uninstall the anti-virus app on your mobile device to ensure it is not the culprit.

6. Switch to a More Reliable DNS Provider

A corrupted DNS can be causing various errors related to Internet including “No Internet” under your  WiFi hotspot name. That’s why we strongly recommend using Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS servers instead of such provided by your ISP. In most cases this will speed up your Internet.

We highly recommend you to try this solution especially if you encounter a problem when some of websites do not load and your browser returns an error like ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED, or a part of websites load much slower that others.

Note, that if you are using a Wi-Fi router, you’d better log into its configuration page and change DNS servers in the WAN settings.

Change DNS on a Wi-Fi Router

7. Flush DNS Cache on a Windows PC

If you encounter the “No Internet” error on your Windows PC or laptop you should try flushing the DNS cache. And this is a necessary step if you have just switched to different DNS servers in the previous step.

Perform the following steps:

  • press Win+R
  • type cmd
  • hit Enter
  • type ipconfig/flushdns
  • hit Enter
ipconfig flushdns Windows 10 2004

This will flush the DNS cache on your Windows PC and often helps to fix the Internet connection and from now on the websites should load properly.

8. Are You Using MAC Address Filtering?

If you are using the MAC address filtering on your router, you might not be able to connect to the Internet unless the MAC address of your device is allowed to obtain an IP address. So, make sure that:

9. Change the Wireless Channel

If you have your WiFi connected but not working well, the wireless interference can be the culprit. Neighbor networks working on the same channel may prevent your WiFi hotspot from functioning and here’s what to do.

change wireless channel on router

Log in to your router’s web interface, find the advanced wireless settings and change the wireless channel. Use the Android app called WiFi Analyzer to find the best channel to fix the problem with your WiFi hotspot: 

10. Change the Region for Wi-Fi on Your Router

Sometimes incorrect region settings can cause issues with wireless network. In some cases you will have WiFi connected but no Internet connectivity. In other cases you can have unstable Internet connection with interruptions. Websites man not load and your browser may show “404”.

Ensure you have selected your country or region:

select country on router

11. Switch Your WiFi Router to 802.11b\g\n Mixed Mode

Take into account that if you select 802.11 n only mode on your router old client devices (like old laptops, smartphones and tablets which don’t support N standard) will discover but won’t connect to your WiFi hotspot.

In most cases it will be optimal to select 802.11 b/g/n mode (often it is called 11 bgn mixed):

wifi no internet change country channel width

The same applies to the 5 gigahertz range. Select a/n/ac/ax mixed mode and reconnect your client device.

Don’t forget to save settings!

12. Make Sure That You Have Proxy Disabled

The proxy is rarely used nowadays. In most cases you don’t need to specify proxy to gain access to the Internet. Very often malware sets up proxy to trick users into visiting fraudulent websites.

In this case you may experience the following problems with your Internet connection:

  • websites load extremely slow;
  • there are a lot of ads on all websites (ads are injected into normal websites, you are redirected to unwanted websites, third-party intrusive ads pop-up in new tabs and new browser windows as you click on any link);
  • you can connect to WiFi but there is no internet.

Turn off proxy server in Windows:

proxy disabled windows 10

Disable proxy on your mobile:

proxy disabled android proxy none

13. Repair Your Network Adapter to Fix “No Internet Access” on Windows 10

14. Reset WiFi Settings on iPhone, Android or Windows

Resetting the network settings can help in fixing common issues and glitches related to networking. That’s why you should try this as well no matter on what kind of device you get the ‘Connected but No Internet’ error.

a) Android

To reset network settings:

  • head to Settings > System > Reset Options > Reset WiFi, mobile & BluetoothReset Wi-Fi, mobile and Bluetooth Android 8.1
  • and finally tap RESET SETTINGSReset network settings Android 8.1
  • After that you will be asked to provide your security pattern to confirm the reset: confirm pattern Android

These steps can often fix the network glitch on your Android device causing the frustrating situation when your phone is connected to WiFi but can’t reach the web.

b) Reset Network on iPhone / iPad

Go to Settings > General > Reset and select Reset Network Settings

Reset Network Settings iPhone iOS 14

Confirm and wait for a couple of minutes. Than, connect to your WiFi network from a scratch and check if the No Internet error persists.

c) Reset Network Settings on Windows 10

Reset Network Settings Windows 10

On your Windows 10 PC or tablet go to Settings > Network and Internet > Status > Network Reset and click / tap Reset now: 

15. Update Drivers for WiFi Adapter on Windows PC

You should try to update your WiFi Adapter driver software. It is a high probability that it will fix problems with your wireless networking and you will hopefully make your PC connected to Internet over WiFi.

wifi no internet: update driver

a) First of all, we advise to search for new driver on Microsoft Update servers:

wifi no internet update driver automatically

Downloading a new driver for 802.11 WiFi adapter:

wifi no internet new driver installation

Finally you will see the message about the successful driver installation:

wifi no internet driver update 4

b) If this did not solve your problem with Internet connection, try to install a different driver compatible with your Wireless Network Adapter.

Click Browse my computer for driver software:

wifi no internet driver update 5

Click Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer and click Next:

wifi no internet driver update 6

Make sure that you set the checkbox Show compatible hardware
Select the driver that you want to try.
Click Next to install the driver:

wifi no internet driver update 7

16. Remove Malware

You may not believe me but a lot of network-related problems can emerge due to malware activity. Actually, malware is often the culprit of various unexplained problems that can manifest themselves in different ways.

All system settings can be totally okay, but your Windows PC will keep telling you Connected, No internet under your Wi-Fi network name.

Don’t skip this step even if you are 100% confident that your PC or phone is not infected. Malware can be the cause of the network problem that you still can’t fix. Use the best utilities to check your device for viruses, malware and adware and remove them.

wifi no internet - remove malware
remove malware on Android

If you have “No Internet” WiFi-related error on your mobile device you should also check your phone for malware using Malwarebytes Security app:

17. Update the Router Firmware

Visit the official site of your wireless router’s vendor, select the exact model and download the latest firmware if any available.

Then, log into your router settings, find the “Update Firmware” option and select the file you’ve previously downloaded.

Wait for the router to reboot and check whether or not the WiFi Connected, No Internet problem has been fixed.

18. Reset Your Router

Despite all WiFi settings are fine there can be a glitch on your router that prevents the wireless module from working properly. That’s why we recommend you to try a factory reset.

Hold down the Reset button until your router turns all its indicators on and off. Then, configure it from a scratch.

19. Factory Reset Your iPhone, Android Device or Windows 10 PC

Perhaps, this option is the last resort to fix problems related to WiFi and “Connected, No Internet access” error in particular.

So, if you tried all of the above but there is still no Internet access you can resetting settings on your Android device or Windows PC to finally get rid of the issue.

For that purpose on Android you should go to Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase all data (factory reset) and tap on RESET PHONE:

reset Android phone
Fix WiFi problem by factory resetting your phone or tablet

On your iPhone go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings:

iphone factory reset
erase iPhone

Than you need to tap Erase:

and confirm the operation by typing your passcode.

On Windows 10 you should launch the Settings app, then select Update & Security > Recovery and click on Get started in the Reset this PC area:

Windows 10 Reset This PC
Refresh Windows 10 to fix “Connected, No Internet” problem

20. Contact the Support of Your ISP

If nothing of the above helped you solve WiFi Connected, No Internet on your Android, iPhone or Windows, you have no more options except contacts the support of your ISP and ask for assistance.

What Else? Third-Party Programs as the Cause of WiFi without Internet

You may be surprised but the problem of “no Internet access” can appear due to third-party programs installed on your PC, antiviruses in particular. 

More than once we heard people complain Avast Antivirus has been seen in causing similar problems with wireless networking. Therefore, if you are currently using Avast or any other third-party antivirus or firewall program, try to:

  • temporarily stopping the protection to see whether or not it affects Internet connectivity over WiFi;
  • restoring its settings to defaults;
  • uninstalling and rebooting. Yes, some complicated programs designed for complex proactive protection install various virtual network filters, adapters, etc, that can mess up Windows networking and break Internet connectivity especially if users modify their settings manually.

Disable / Remove Your VPN App to Fix the Internet Connectivity

VPN is a serious complication of your Internet connectivity map when you have literally a tunnel inside another tunnel. And, as you understand, the more complicated the network scheme is, the more probability that something may got broken and wreck your Internet access.

First try to disable your VPN app and look what’s going on. It may happen that your VPN data may simply run out and you may have your VPN connected but blocked.

Quite a lot of users report that removing the Turbo VPN and other VPN apps along with their TAP adapters helps to resolve ‘Connected, No Internet’ error and various similar Wi-Fi-related issues.

Summary

If your device is connected to Wi-Fi but you’re not able to access the internet, there are several steps you can take to try to fix the issue. Here are some things to try:

  1. Restart your device: Sometimes simply restarting your device can resolve connectivity issues. Try turning off your device, waiting a few seconds, and then turning it back on.
  2. Check your Wi-Fi signal strength: Make sure that you have a strong Wi-Fi signal by checking the signal strength indicator on your device. If the signal strength is weak, try moving closer to your router.
  3. Reset your router: Try resetting your router by unplugging it, waiting 10-20 seconds, and then plugging it back in. Wait for your router to restart and try to connect to Wi-Fi again.
  4. Check your Wi-Fi network settings: Make sure that your device is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network and that the network password is correct. You may also want to check that your device is not in airplane mode or has Wi-Fi turned off.
  5. Forget and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network: Sometimes forgetting and then reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network can resolve connectivity issues. Go to your device’s Wi-Fi settings, find the Wi-Fi network you’re having issues with, and choose “Forget.” Then, try to connect to the network again and enter the network password if prompted.
  6. Clear your device’s DNS cache: Clearing your device’s DNS cache can sometimes resolve connectivity issues. To do this, go to your device’s network settings and find the option to clear the DNS cache.
  7. Contact your internet service provider: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you may need to contact your internet service provider for further assistance.

Wrapping Up

In the conclusion, we’d like to say the following. Unfortunately we can’t test out the troubleshooting guide on every phone or laptop model that ever existed. That’s why it is very important that you share your experience in the comments.

Please, tell us which solutions worked for you and fixed the problem with Internet access over WiFi connection on your particular device or wireless module. Maybe the method you describe will help somebody with the same piece of hardware. Thank you and good luck!

The article was first published in September 2016 but is constantly updated.

27 thoughts on “WiFi Connected But No Internet Access — 20 Steps to Fix the Error”

    • In many cases it is possible to use a wired connection – connect your laptop to a router using a patch cord.

      Reply
  1. I tried every ways and I even reset my phone but I still cannot connect to Internet , what can I do ??

    Reply
  2. I’m very surprised, guys. Resetting network settings seems to have fixed my problem on Android! Respect!

    Reply
  3. I managed to fix “Internet may not be available, Connect to another network” on my Galaxy S8! Thank you!

    Reply
  4. This problem is recurrent in my BLU mobile. I will discard it and start using my old Samsung again.

    Reply
  5. I tried all the options even did the factory data reset, still no luck. What are the other ways to solve this issue

    Reply
  6. Very impressed with the way you give instruction!! Thank you for the directions, screen shots and overall layout, making a frustrating situation less aggervating!

    Reply
  7. The 6th work for me. Not when I change the mode, because my router was on that mode, but when I change the channel. Mine was on auto then I changed it to 9 channels.

    Reply
  8. WiFi showed connected, but nothing could reach a server! Disabled the proxies and all is well!! THANK YOU for putting this helpful info out there!!

    Reply
  9. You are right , this problem do not have one single solution . But Your article was really helpful, I was confused for days when my LGR 41 notebook says “ connected to WIFI but no internet “ I tried all the possible solution from you-tubers , I troubleshoot to find out the problem . It says “WIFI doesn’t have a valid IP configuration “ I’ve tried to figure out and tried every possible solution. but it was not working until I found out your article , this problem happens when a router security mode is set to “WEP” .
    My router sent this message “WPS cannot be used if Security mode is set to WEP.
    If Security mode is set to WEP, a wireless network adapter working only in 802.11n mode may not be able to access the device.”

    Older pc that are upgraded from win 7 to 10 will face this problem . Older pc do not support 802.11n mode.

    Change the WIFI mode to = 802.11bgn mixed . Save and restart then connect.

    Before you do the above things take your Laptop or desktop or cellphone try to connect another WIFI network.
    Surly, it will work then you will know the problem is from the router side.

    Reply
  10. I forgot that I was using MAC address filtering on my router. Oops. When I added my new device’s MAC address to the filter list, my new device could get to the internet just fine.

    Reply
  11. For me it is a problem for the whole house and I have tried all of the router options does any one know what else I could try.

    Reply
  12. I have this problem with a Xiaomi Redmi phone running Android 9 & 10 with the Xiaomi MIUI 10, 11, & 12 UI when using public WiFi, specifically free NHS WiFi (supplied by Sky) in the UK, possibly also other public WiFi which I don’t normally use. None of the above suggestions work (most don’t apply). While in hospital for some days I always got “connected no Internet” after logging into NHS WiFi. I was always able to get round it by repeated fiddling, which required logging in, then “forgetting” the WiFi server, rebooting, then repeating the cycle; twice was usually enough. After 2 repetitions I usually got in; it took 30 to 60 minutes (being in hospital I had little else to do). The connection lasted for 24 hours (NHS WiFi always needs reconnecting daily). I saw a recommendation to clear data from the “HTML Viewer” system app, which I could do with Titanium Backup on my rooted phone. After doing this I still had to fiddle, but I think less than before, maybe 15 minutes, on now rare visits. I think the problem persists (I don’t spend much time in NHS WiFi locations now, fortunately) though I install weekly updates of the xiaomi.eu ROM on my Xiaomi Redmi Note 7.

    Reply
  13. This is an old known bug, just restart your phone or router. Android is the worst mobile OS ever made.

    Reply
  14. I restarted the phone but still cant connect . I tried the no. 4 date and time and it works.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  15. thank u very much sir for the article, mine had no internet access, when i went thru ur article step by step, i found out we werent using the network provided time…its all working now… thanks alot

    Reply
  16. Wifi network in my parents’ house randomly disconnected devices or let them connect only to get “connected, no internet” while others worked fine. After hours of resetting, reconnecting and tweaking i finally got here and after reading a bit, i changed the DNS setting in router to the Google one. Everything works now and even faster than before. Thank you for help!

    Reply

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