DeviceHowTo
Windows 11⏱ 8 min

How to Fix Wi-Fi Connected but No Internet on Windows 11

Diagnose and fix the connected-but-no-internet state on any device.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

The "connected but no internet" state on Windows typically means the device has a valid local network connection but cannot reach external servers, which points to a DNS failure, a routing problem, or an ISP outage rather than a device Wi-Fi issue. Windows runs a background connectivity test against Microsoft's servers and displays the "No internet access" flag in the taskbar Wi-Fi icon whenever this test fails — the first step is confirming whether other devices on the same network have the same problem. The three-command sequence (ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew, ipconfig /flushdns) in an elevated Command Prompt resolves the majority of lease and DNS cache issues that cause this state.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Restart your router. Unplug from power for 30 seconds, reconnect, and wait 2 minutes.
  2. 2Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these three commands in order: ipconfig /release — ipconfig /renew — ipconfig /flushdns.
  3. 3Change your DNS to Google Public DNS: set Primary DNS to 8.8.8.8 and Secondary to 8.8.4.4 in network settings.

Still Not Working?

Try these if the steps above didn't help.

Verify the Fix

Confirm everything is fully working before closing this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Windows 11 say connected but no internet?
This means your device successfully connected to the router (local network is fine) but the router cannot reach the internet. The most common causes are: the ISP is down, the router needs a restart, or a DNS misconfiguration. Restart the router first — this resolves the issue in the majority of cases.
How do I fix the 'no internet, secured' message on Windows 11?
This Windows-specific message means the router is reachable but internet isn't. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these in order: ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew, ipconfig /flushdns. Then restart your browser.
Will changing DNS fix 'connected but no internet' on Windows 11?
Sometimes. If the problem is specifically DNS resolution (websites don't load but IP-based connections work), switching to Google DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) will fix it. If the issue is at the router or ISP level, DNS changes won't help — restart the router first.
Why does this only happen on my Windows 11 and not other devices?
If other devices on the same network have internet but yours doesn't, the problem is device-specific: a corrupt IP lease, DNS cache issue, or VPN conflict. Running ipconfig /flushdns and renewing the IP address (or simply forgetting and rejoining the network) almost always resolves this.

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