What's Actually Going On?

  • Symptom: Connected to WiFi but websites will not load.
  • Cause: DNS issues, router problems, or ISP outage.
  • Risk level: Low - mostly configuration related.

Step 1 - First Things First

If possible, check if internet is working on cable or another device. This helps determine if it's a PC issue or a network issue. If it works on cable:
  • Focus on WiFi adapter and drivers.
  • Check for driver updates in Device Manager.

Check drivers in Device Manager

  • Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
  • Expand Network adapters.
  • Right-click on your WiFi adapter and select Update driver.
  • Choose Search automatically for drivers.
Or better yet, go to the manufacturer's website and download the latest driver for your specific model.

Step 2 - Restart Everything

  • Restart PC
  • Restart router

Step 2 - Reset Network Stack


ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh int ip reset
Reboot after running these.

Step 3 - Test DNS

Try switching to Cloudflare DNS:
  • 1.1.1.1
  • 1.0.0.1

Steps to switch DNS on Windows 11

  1. Press Win + X
  2. Open Network Connections
  3. Click on the connected WiFi network
  4. Go to DNS server assignment and click on Edit
  5. Select "Manual" and turn on IPv4
  6. Enter 1.1.1.1 for the preferred DNS server and 1.0.0.1 for the alternate DNS server
  7. Click "Save" to save changes

What You Should Not Do

  • Factory reset router immediately - often unnecessary
  • Install random "network fix" software - usually junkware

Final Thoughts

Most "no internet" cases are DNS or router related - not Windows itself. More often than not, the ISP is using their own DNS servers which can be unreliable. Switching to a public DNS like Cloudflare or Google can often resolve the issue. If the problem persists after trying these steps, it may be worth contacting your ISP to check for outages or further assistance.