If your device says Wi-Fi is connected but there is no internet, first find out where the problem is: test a second device on the same Wi-Fi. If nothing works on any device, restart your modem and router (unplug them for 30 seconds) and check for an outage with your internet provider. If only one device is affected, turn Wi-Fi off and on, forget the network and rejoin it, turn off any VPN, and restart the device. On public Wi-Fi in a hotel, airport or cafe, open a browser to load the sign-in page. This guide walks through each fix for Windows, iPhone and Android, based on Microsoft, Apple and Google’s official troubleshooting steps.
What “connected, no internet” actually means
Your device has two connections: one to the router, and the router’s connection to the internet. “Connected” only means the first link works. “No internet” means data is not getting past the router, or your device cannot use what the router sends. The cause is usually one of these:
- The router or modem has lost its link to your provider, or the provider has an outage.
- Your device has a bad IP address or DNS setting after sleeping or switching networks.
- A VPN, proxy or security app is blocking traffic.
- A captive portal on public Wi-Fi is waiting for you to sign in or accept terms.
- The network adapter driver on a laptop is outdated or stuck.
Step 1: Check whether it is one device or all of them
Microsoft recommends connecting a different phone or laptop to the same network. This one test tells you where to look:
| What you see | Where the problem is | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| No device has internet | Router, modem or provider | Steps 2 and 3 |
| Only one device has no internet | That device’s settings | Steps 4 to 8 |
| Internet works, but very slowly | Signal, congestion or plan | Run a speed test |
If the internet works but feels broken, check your real speed with our free internet speed test. Very high ping or jitter can make pages time out even when you are connected.
Step 2: Restart the modem and router the right way
- Unplug the router, then the modem (if they are separate devices).
- Wait at least 30 seconds.
- Plug in the modem first and wait until its lights stop blinking.
- Plug in the router and wait a few minutes for it to fully start.
If you have a single combined box from your provider, just restart that one device. This fixes a large share of “no internet” problems because it forces the router to get a fresh connection from your provider.
Step 3: Check for an outage
If no device works after a restart, the problem may not be in your home. Look for red or blinking warning lights on the modem, check your provider’s app or status page using mobile data, and make sure your bill is paid. Apple’s advice is clear: if devices join the Wi-Fi but still have no internet after troubleshooting, contact your internet provider.
Step 4: Turn Wi-Fi off and on, then forget the network
- Windows 11: go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, select your network, click Forget, then reconnect and enter the password.
- iPhone: go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the info button next to the network, tap Forget This Network, then join it again.
- Android: go to Settings > Network & internet (or Connections on Samsung) > Wi-Fi, tap the network, choose Forget, then reconnect.
Also toggle Airplane mode on for 10 seconds and off again, as Google suggests. It resets all radios at once.
Step 5: Turn off VPNs, proxies and security filters
A VPN that failed to connect can block all traffic while Wi-Fi still shows as connected. Disconnect or pause any VPN app, turn off proxy settings and pause web protection features in antivirus apps, then test again. If the internet comes back, reconnect the VPN or pick a different server. To decide whether you need one at all, read do you need a VPN.
Step 6: Sign in to public Wi-Fi
Hotel, airport, school and cafe networks often show “connected, no internet” until you accept their terms on a sign-in page, called a captive portal. Open your browser and visit any normal website without https, such as example.com. The sign-in page should appear. If it does not, forget the network, rejoin it and try again with your VPN turned off.
Step 7: Reset the network stack on Windows
If only your Windows PC is affected, Microsoft lists these commands. Search for Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, and run them one at a time:
netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip resetipconfig /releaseipconfig /renewipconfig /flushdns
Restart the PC afterwards. If that does not help:
- Run the troubleshooter: open the Get Help app and run the network and internet troubleshooter.
- Try the other band: if your router shows a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz network, connect to the other one.
- Update or reinstall the driver: in Device Manager > Network adapters, uninstall your Wi-Fi adapter and restart; Windows reinstalls it. Download the driver from your PC maker first in case you need it.
- Stop power saving: in the adapter’s Properties > Power Management tab, clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Last resort: Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. You will need to reinstall VPN software afterwards.
Step 8: Reset network settings on iPhone or Android
Use this only after the steps above, because it erases saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords.
- iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Apple notes this also resets cellular, VPN and APN settings.
- Pixel and most Android phones: Settings > System > Reset options, then reset Wi-Fi and network settings.
- Samsung Galaxy: Settings > General management > Reset > Reset network settings.
On iPhone, if the problem is only on your home network, also try turning off Private Wi-Fi Address for that network (tap the info button next to it in Settings > Wi-Fi). Some routers block devices whose address changed.
Advanced fix: change your DNS server
If websites will not load but apps like WhatsApp still work, DNS may be the problem. DNS turns website names into addresses. You can switch to a public DNS service such as Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1). On Windows 11, go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Hardware properties, click Edit next to DNS server assignment, choose Manual and enter the addresses. Write down your old settings first so you can switch back.
If your internet works but pages still load slowly in only one browser, read why Google Chrome is running slow and how to fix it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my phone say connected but no internet?
Usually because the router has lost its connection to your provider, the phone has a stale network setting, or a VPN or public Wi-Fi sign-in page is blocking traffic. Test another device first to find out which.
Why does only my laptop have no internet?
If other devices work, the cause is on the laptop: a stuck IP address, a VPN, a power-saving setting or a driver. Forget the network, run the Windows commands above and update the Wi-Fi driver.
Will resetting network settings delete my data?
No. It only removes saved Wi-Fi networks, passwords, Bluetooth pairings on some phones and VPN settings. Your photos, apps and files stay.
Can a bad router cause no internet?
Yes. An overheating or very old router can drop its connection again and again. If restarts only help for a few hours, ask your provider to check the line or replace the router.
Get back online
Test a second device, restart the modem and router, then forget and rejoin the network with your VPN off. Those steps fix most cases in under five minutes. If one app still fails while the internet works, our guide on ChatGPT not working shows how to troubleshoot browser and app errors.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows
- Apple Support: If you cannot connect to Wi-Fi on your iPhone or iPad
- Android Help: Fix internet connection problems on Android devices
This article is based on the official documentation and reporting listed in the sources above, checked on November 2, 2026. Features and prices change, so confirm details on the official pages before you buy. ShokokoTech does not accept payment for coverage. Read our editorial policy.
