"No internet" can mean a dozen different things, so the first job is to figure out where the problem lives. If your phone can't get online over the same Wi-Fi either, the router or your internet provider is the issue. If only the PC is offline, the fixes below, in this order, solve most cases.
1. Restart the router and modem
- Unplug the power from both the modem (your provider's box) and the router.
- Wait about 30 seconds. Plug the modem in first, wait for its lights to settle, then plug in the router.
- Give it two or three minutes and try again.
If the lights look different from normal, or no device in the house can get online, check your provider's outage page or call them before changing anything on your PC.
2. Check the Wi-Fi basics
- In Settings > Network & internet, make sure Airplane mode is off.
- Click the network icon on the taskbar and confirm Wi-Fi is on and your network shows Connected.
- Changed your Wi-Fi password recently? Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, select the network, choose Forget, then reconnect.
- Move closer to the router, or try the other band (many routers broadcast separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks).
3. On Ethernet? Check the cable
- Unplug and reseat the cable at both ends, and try a different port on the router.
- If the little light next to the PC's network port stays dark, the cable may be bad. Swap it.
4. Run the network troubleshooter
Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run Network and Internet. On Windows 11 this opens the Get Help app, which runs automated checks and fixes common problems.
5. Reset the network stack with commands
Search for cmd, then choose Run as administrator on Command Prompt. Run these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdnsWhat they do:
netsh winsock resetandnetsh int ip resetrestore the Windows networking components to their defaults.ipconfig /releaseandipconfig /renewdrop your current IP address and request a new one from the router.ipconfig /flushdnsclears the DNS cache, which helps when specific sites won't load.
Restart the PC when you're done.
6. Try a different DNS server
If you're connected but websites won't load, DNS may be the culprit. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi, open your network's properties (or select Ethernet for a wired connection), and choose Edit next to DNS server assignment. Switch to Manual, turn on IPv4 and enter a public DNS server such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8. To undo it later, set it back to Automatic (DHCP).
7. Network reset (last resort)
Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset and select Reset now. Windows removes and reinstalls all network adapters and restarts the PC.
Network reset deletes saved Wi-Fi networks and may require you to reinstall VPN software. Look up your saved Wi-Fi password first so you can reconnect.
On Windows 10 the same option is under Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.
FAQ
It says "Connected, no internet." What does that mean?
Your PC reached the router, but the router can't reach the internet. Restart the modem and router; if other devices are also offline, it's likely a provider outage.
Only one website won't open.
Run ipconfig /flushdns, clear the browser cache, or try another browser. Also check whether the site is down for everyone.
My laptop doesn't show any Wi-Fi networks at all.
Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters and look for a warning icon on the wireless adapter. Installing the Wi-Fi driver from the laptop maker's support page usually fixes it.
Will network reset delete my files?
No. It only affects network settings and adapters, not personal files.