Last Updated: 16 October, 2026
If Wi-Fi is connected but there is no internet, connect another device to the same network first. If every device is offline, investigate your router, modem, cables, and ISP. If only one device is affected, check its saved Wi-Fi profile and network settings. Troubleshoot DNS only when the symptoms suggest a name-resolution problem.
Your phone or laptop shows that it is connected to Wi-Fi, but websites will not load, apps keep buffering, and messages refuse to send. The wireless signal looks normal, yet you cannot access the internet.
This problem usually means your device has established a connection to the router, but something is preventing internet access. The cause could be your router, modem, internet service provider (ISP), device settings, or DNS configuration.
Fortunately, you do not need to change every network setting or reset your router immediately. Follow these seven fixes in order to identify the problem and restore your connection without making unnecessary changes.
Why Is Wi-Fi Connected but There Is No Internet?
A Wi-Fi connection and an internet connection are not the same thing. Wi-Fi allows your phone, laptop, or tablet to communicate wirelessly with your router. Internet access depends on the router having a working connection to your service provider and correctly forwarding traffic.
For example, your laptop may connect successfully to your router even when the broadband line is down. Similarly, a phone may have an internet connection problem caused by its own settings while other devices continue browsing normally.
Before changing anything, check whether the problem affects one device or your entire network.
- Only one device is affected: The problem may involve saved Wi-Fi settings, a VPN, an IP address, or DNS configuration.
- Several devices cannot access the internet: Investigate the router, modem, broadband connection, or ISP.
- Some websites work while others fail: DNS problems, browser settings, or website-specific outages may be responsible.
This simple check helps you focus on the most likely cause instead of trying random fixes.
How To Fix It
Fix 1: Restart Your Router and Modem
Restarting your network equipment is one of the simplest ways to resolve temporary connection problems. A router or modem may occasionally become unresponsive, fail to renew a network address, or experience a temporary software issue.
How to restart your network equipment correctly
- Save any work that depends on your internet connection.
- Turn off your router and modem if they are separate devices.
- Unplug their power cables, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Wait approximately 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the modem or fibre ONT first, if applicable.
- Allow it to finish starting up and establish a connection with your provider.
- Turn on the router and wait for its Wi-Fi network and internet connection to become available.
- Reconnect your phone or laptop and test a website.
Startup times vary by equipment, so allow several minutes if necessary. Some fibre devices combine modem and router functions into one unit; in that case, follow the manufacturer’s restart instructions.
Did restarting fix the problem?
Open a familiar website and try another app that requires internet access. If both work, the issue may have been temporary.
Remember that restarting is different from performing a factory reset. Do not press and hold the router’s reset button unless you intend to restore its settings to factory defaults. A factory reset can erase your Wi-Fi name, password, and other configuration details.
If the connection still fails, move to the next check.
Fix 2: Check for an Internet Outage or Router Connection Problem
When multiple devices show Wi-Fi connected but no internet, the issue may be outside your phone or computer. Your ISP could be experiencing an outage, or the router may have lost its connection to the broadband line.
Check your router’s status lights
Look at the indicators labelled Internet, WAN, Broadband, DSL, PON, or LOS, depending on your equipment.
The meaning of each light varies by manufacturer and model. A red LOS indicator on many fibre ONTs, for example, can indicate a loss of optical signal. A blinking light is not automatically a fault; some devices blink normally during activity or startup.
Check the router’s manual to understand what the indicators mean for your specific model.
Inspect the cables
Make sure the power cable, Ethernet connections, and broadband cable are firmly connected. If you use a separate modem or fibre ONT, inspect the cable running from that device to the router’s WAN or Internet port.
Avoid bending or disconnecting fibre-optic cables unnecessarily. Damaged fibre connections may require help from your service provider.
For more detailed guidance, see our related guide on router green lights but no internet.
Check your ISP’s service status
Use your provider’s official app, website, or support channel to check for a reported outage. If mobile data is available, you can use it to access the provider’s service page.
When the broadband service is down, changing your computer’s DNS settings is unlikely to solve the underlying problem. Contact your ISP if there is no reported outage but your connection remains unavailable.
Fix 3: Forget the Wi-Fi Network and Reconnect
A saved Wi-Fi profile can sometimes contain outdated connection information or fail to reconnect properly. Forgetting the network and joining it again forces your device to establish a fresh connection.
Before proceeding, make sure you know the correct Wi-Fi password. If the router was recently reset, its default network name and password may differ from your previous credentials.
On an iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings and select Wi-Fi.
- Tap the information icon beside your connected network.
- Choose Forget This Network, if available.
- Return to the Wi-Fi list and select the network again.
- Enter the password and reconnect.
On an Android phone
- Open Settings and find the Wi-Fi or Internet section.
- Select the network you are trying to use.
- Open its network details.
- Tap Forget or the equivalent option.
- Select the network again and enter the correct password.
Menu names differ between Android manufacturers and software versions.
On a Windows 11 laptop
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & internet, then Wi-Fi.
- Open Manage known networks.
- Select your network and choose Forget.
- Return to the available Wi-Fi networks and reconnect using the password.
Once connected, open a website to test internet access. If the problem persists, the cause may not be the saved network profile.
You can also read our guide on fixing a Wi-Fi password that stops working after a router reset.
Fix 4: Check VPN, Proxy, Airplane Mode, and Device Settings
A VPN, proxy server, or incorrect network setting can interfere with internet access even when your device connects successfully to Wi-Fi. This is particularly worth checking if the problem started after installing an app, changing settings, or connecting to a work or school network.
Temporarily disconnect your VPN
If you use a VPN, disconnect it briefly and test a website. Some VPN services experience server outages, connection failures, or configuration problems that prevent traffic from reaching the internet.
If browsing works after disconnecting, check the VPN application’s status and settings before reconnecting. Avoid leaving a VPN disabled if you require it for your organisation’s security or privacy policies.
Check Airplane Mode
Make sure Airplane Mode is disabled. If the setting was recently enabled, turning it off may help restore your device’s normal network connections.
You can also disconnect and reconnect to Wi-Fi once the setting has been checked.
Review proxy settings
On Windows, open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Check whether a manual proxy is configured unexpectedly.
Do not remove a proxy that your employer, school, or network administrator requires. If you are unsure whether a setting is necessary, ask the administrator before changing it.
Restart and update the affected device
Restart your phone or computer if the connection remains unavailable. Check for pending operating system or network-driver updates when appropriate, especially if the problem began after a system change.
Microsoft provides additional guidance in its official Windows Wi-Fi connection troubleshooting guide.
Fix 5: Check Your IP Address and DNS Settings
Your device needs valid network information to communicate with the router and reach internet services. If it cannot obtain an appropriate IP address, the Wi-Fi connection may appear active while internet access remains unavailable.
DNS performs a different job: it helps translate domain names, such as example.com, into IP addresses that computers use to communicate.
Understanding the difference matters because an IP address problem and a DNS problem do not necessarily require the same fix.
Check your network details on Windows
- Press Windows + R.
- Type
cmdand press Enter. - In Command Prompt, enter:
ipconfig - Find the wireless network adapter currently in use.
- Review its IPv4 Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway.
A normal local IPv4 address often begins with 192.168, 10, or a private address range beginning with 172.16 through 172.31, although other valid configurations exist.
If the IPv4 address begins with 169.254, Windows may have assigned itself an automatic private address because it did not receive a usable IPv4 address through DHCP. This is a clue to investigate local network addressing; it does not prove that DNS is the problem.
A missing or unexpected Default Gateway can also indicate that the device has not obtained the network configuration it needs.
When should you flush the DNS cache?
If you can reach some network services but websites fail to resolve by name, DNS may be involved. Windows includes a command that clears its local DNS resolver cache.
Open Command Prompt and enter:
ipconfig /flushdns
Press Enter and look for the confirmation message. Then try loading the affected website again.
This command clears cached DNS records; it does not repair a broken broadband connection or automatically change the DNS server your device uses.
Consider a different DNS provider
If you have evidence of a DNS-related problem, you can investigate using a reputable alternative DNS service. Google provides setup instructions for Google Public DNS, while Cloudflare explains how to configure 1.1.1.1 on a router.
Change DNS settings only when there is a reason to suspect DNS. If several devices are offline because the ISP connection has failed, changing DNS is unlikely to restore service.
Fix 6: Renew Your IP Address or Reset Network Settings
If Windows has not obtained the correct network configuration, renewing its IP address may help. This is most useful when the device has a local addressing problem and the router is otherwise working.
Renew your IP address on Windows
- Open Command Prompt.
- Enter the following command:
ipconfig /release - Press Enter.
- Next, enter:
ipconfig /renew - Press Enter and wait for Windows to request network configuration again.
- Test your connection after the command completes.
The release command temporarily relinquishes the adapter’s DHCP-assigned IPv4 configuration, while renew requests a new configuration. You may briefly lose network connectivity while these commands run.
If the commands return an error, or the device still cannot obtain a usable address, investigate the router’s DHCP settings or seek further support.
Use network reset only as a last resort
Windows includes a Network reset option that removes and reinstalls network adapters and returns certain network settings to their defaults. It can help when other troubleshooting steps have failed, but it may also require you to reconnect to Wi-Fi or reconfigure VPN software.
Before using it:
- Make sure you know your Wi-Fi password.
- Save any work and close applications that depend on the network.
- Check whether you have custom network, VPN, or adapter settings that will need to be restored.
On Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. Review the warning and follow the on-screen instructions.
Avoid resetting network settings simply because a website will not load. First establish whether the problem affects one device, several devices, or the whole internet connection.
Fix 7: Contact Your Internet Service Provider
If none of the previous steps restores internet access, your ISP may need to investigate the line, service account, modem, or fibre connection.
Contact support if multiple devices remain offline, the router cannot establish a broadband connection, or the service continues failing after a proper restart.
Before contacting the provider, gather a few useful details:
- Whether one device or all connected devices are affected.
- When the problem started and whether it occurs repeatedly.
- The status of the router’s Internet, WAN, Broadband, PON, or LOS indicators.
- Any error messages shown on your device.
- The troubleshooting steps you have already tried.
If possible, test another device on the same Wi-Fi network. You can also test the affected device on a different trusted network, such as a mobile hotspot, to help determine whether the issue follows the device or stays with the home network.
Do not share your Wi-Fi password publicly or provide account credentials to an unverified support contact. Your provider can advise whether a line test, equipment replacement, or technician visit is necessary.
Quick Guide: Which Fix Should You Try First?
| What you notice | Best next step |
|---|---|
| One phone or laptop cannot browse | Forget and reconnect to Wi-Fi; check VPN and device settings |
| All devices show connected but no internet | Restart the network equipment and check the ISP |
| Router’s broadband or Internet indicator shows a fault | Check cables and the provider’s service status |
Windows displays a 169.254 IPv4 address |
Investigate DHCP and local network configuration |
| Websites fail by name but other connectivity tests work | Investigate DNS settings |
| The connection keeps dropping after other fixes | Check router stability and contact the ISP |
These are diagnostic clues rather than absolute rules. For example, a router light can behave differently across models, and a single failed website does not necessarily indicate a network-wide DNS problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my phone say Wi-Fi connected but no internet?
Your phone may be connected to the router even though the router cannot reach the internet. A service outage, router problem, incorrect network settings, or DNS issue could be responsible. Check whether other devices on the same network can browse.
Why is my Wi-Fi working on one device but not another?
When other devices browse normally, the broadband connection is probably available. Investigate the affected device’s saved Wi-Fi profile, VPN, proxy, IP configuration, or software before changing the router.
Will restarting my router delete my Wi-Fi password?
A normal restart does not usually erase the router’s saved configuration. A factory reset is different and can restore the original network name, password, and other settings.
Should I change my DNS when Wi-Fi has no internet?
Not immediately. DNS changes may help when name resolution is failing, but they will not fix a disconnected broadband line or every IP addressing problem. Check the router and ISP connection first when multiple devices are offline.
Why does Windows show connected but no internet?
Windows may have a Wi-Fi link without successful access to the internet. The router may be offline, the computer may lack a valid IP configuration, or a VPN, proxy, or DNS problem may be interfering. Start by checking whether other devices can access the internet.
Final Thoughts
When Wi-Fi is connected but there is no internet, the most effective solution is to identify where the connection is failing. Start with a router restart and an ISP outage check, then investigate the affected device’s saved network profile and settings.
If the problem appears to involve IP addressing or DNS, use the relevant diagnostic steps rather than changing settings at random. Reserve a full network reset for situations where simpler fixes have failed.
By testing one likely cause at a time, you can narrow down the issue, avoid unnecessary changes, and determine when the problem requires help from your internet provider.
