FixWi-Fi and Internet

Wi-Fi connected but no internet: how to fix it

Every device says Wi-Fi is connected yet pages will not open? Restart, then escalate step by step to a full network reset.

  • Updated
  • 10 min
  • Beginner
Applies to
  • Any device

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Web pages and apps will not load on your phone, tablet or computer, even though it says it is joined to Wi-Fi. Find out whether the fault is in your device, your router or your internet service, then fix it step by step.

Before you start

"Connected" only means your device is talking to your router. "No internet" means the router is not passing that traffic on, or your device did not get the settings it needs. Windows may show No Internet under the network name. An iPhone or iPad may show No Internet Connection. An Android phone may show an exclamation mark on the Wi-Fi icon.

Where a no-internet fault can hideA diagram of 5 connected items with 4 one-way links. The full text follows the picture.Where a no-internet fault canhideInternetModemRouterLaptopPhoneCable or fiberEthernet cableWi-FiWi-Fi
Wi-Fi is only the last link. A fault at any earlier link looks the same on your device.
Text version of this diagram
  • Internet connects to Modem (Cable or fiber).
  • Modem connects to Router (Ethernet cable).
  • Router connects to Laptop (Wi-Fi).
  • Router connects to Phone (Wi-Fi).

Set aside about 10 minutes. Keep your Wi-Fi password handy, because some fixes ask you to join the network again. On public Wi-Fi, such as a hotel or airport, open a web browser first. Many public networks show a sign-in page, and the internet stays blocked until you accept the terms or enter a code.

Find the cause first

Open a web page on a second device that uses the same Wi-Fi. If every device fails, the cause is your router, modem or internet service, so go straight to Fix 2. If only one device fails, start at Fix 1 and skip Fix 2.

Fixes to try, in orderA top-to-bottom flow chart with 10 boxes. Work through them in order and stop when the problem is fixed. The full text follows the picture.Fixes to try, in orderNoNoNoNo1Fix 1: Restart the device,then turn Wi-Fi off and on2Does the internet work now?Yes: You are done3Fix 2: Restart the routerand modem4Works now?Yes: You are done5Fix 3: Forget the networkand join again6Works now?Yes: You are done7Fix 4: Renew theconnection settings8Works now?Yes: You are done9Fix 5: Reset networksettings (last resort)Still no luck? Check for anoutage with your provider.
Stop as soon as the internet works.
Text version of this diagram
  1. Step 1: Fix 1: Restart the device, then turn Wi-Fi off and on
  2. Question 2: Does the internet work now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  3. Step 3: Fix 2: Restart the router and modem
  4. Question 4: Works now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  5. Step 5: Fix 3: Forget the network and join again
  6. Question 6: Works now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  7. Step 7: Fix 4: Renew the connection settings
  8. Question 8: Works now? If yes: You are done. If no, go on to the next item.
  9. Step 9: Fix 5: Reset network settings (last resort)
  10. If nothing worked: Still no luck? Check for an outage with your provider.

Try these fixes in order

Fix 1: Restart the device and turn Wi-Fi off and on

This takes about 3 minutes.

  1. If you use a VPN app, switch it off and try a web page. A VPN can stop pages from loading.
  2. Turn Wi-Fi off, count to 10, then turn it on again. Your device should rejoin your network.
  3. Restart the device. On a computer, choose Restart, not Shut down.
  4. Wait a minute for the device to start up and rejoin Wi-Fi, then open a web page.

Fix 2: Restart the router and modem

This takes 5 to 10 minutes. It briefly disconnects everyone in your home, but it does not erase your settings. If your provider gave you one box that does both jobs, restart only that box.

  1. Unplug the power cable from the router, then from the modem.
  2. While both are unplugged, press each network cable firmly into its socket. The cable from the modem goes into the router's Internet (WAN) port.
  3. Wait at least 30 seconds (2 minutes is safer).
  4. Plug the modem back in. Wait until its lights stop blinking.
  5. Plug the router back in. Wait a few minutes until its lights settle. The router's manual explains what each light means.
  6. Open a web page on your device.
Back of a typical routerThe back panel of a typical home router with its antennas above and, along the panel, a power socket, a reset pinhole, a WPS button, a USB port, one Internet (WAN) port and four LAN ports. It has 4 numbered markers, explained in the list under the picture.1234Back of a typical router
  1. Power: unplug here, or at the wall socket
  2. Internet (WAN) port: the cable from your modem goes here
  3. LAN ports: wired devices plug in here
  4. Reset button: leave it alone, it erases your settings
Port names and positions differ between models.
Text version of this diagram

The back panel of a typical home router with its antennas above and, along the panel, a power socket, a reset pinhole, a WPS button, a USB port, one Internet (WAN) port and four LAN ports.

  1. Power: unplug here, or at the wall socket
  2. Internet (WAN) port: the cable from your modem goes here
  3. LAN ports: wired devices plug in here
  4. Reset button: leave it alone, it erases your settings

Do not press Reset

The Reset button erases the router's settings, including the Wi-Fi name and password. A restart only needs the power unplugged.

For more detail, including modems with a backup battery, see how to restart your router and modem the right way.

Fix 3: Forget the network and join again

This takes about 3 minutes and clears a saved connection that may have gone wrong. Have your Wi-Fi password ready.

Where to forget a Wi-Fi network
DeviceWhere to go
Windows 11 and Windows 10Settings then Network & internet then Wi-Fi then Manage known networks. Select your network, then Forget.
MacmacOS Ventura and later: System Settings then Wi-Fi then Advanced (scroll down). Select the More Options button (three dots) beside your network, choose Remove From List, then Forget. Earlier macOS: System Preferences then Network then Wi-Fi then Advanced.
iPhone and iPadSettings then Wi-Fi. Tap the info button beside your network (tap Edit first if you see it), then Forget This Network and Forget.
AndroidMenu names vary by maker. On Google Pixel: Settings then Network & internet then Internet then Saved networks. Tap your network, then Forget. On other phones, search Settings for "Wi-Fi".
  1. Forget your network, using the table.
  2. Open the Wi-Fi list, select your network and enter the password.
  3. Open a web page.

Fix 4: Renew the connection settings

Your router gives each device a temporary address to use on your network. Renewing asks for a fresh one. This takes about 5 minutes. On a phone or tablet, go to Fix 5.

On Windows 11 or Windows 10

  1. Select the search box or search icon on the taskbar, then type Command Prompt.
  2. Right-click Command Prompt, select Run as administrator, then select Yes.
  3. Type this command and press Enter. It gives up your current address. 
    ipconfig /release
  4. Type this command and press Enter. It asks the router for a fresh address. If you see "unable to contact your DHCP server", the router is not answering, so go back to Fix 2. 
    ipconfig /renew
  5. Type this command and press Enter. It clears your saved list of website addresses. You should see "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache." 
    ipconfig /flushdns
  6. Close the window and open a web page.

On a Mac

  1. Open System Settings then Network and select Wi-Fi.
  2. Select Details, then select TCP/IP.
  3. Select Renew DHCP Lease, then open a web page. On earlier macOS, use System Preferences then Network then Wi-Fi then Advanced then TCP/IP.

Fix 5: Reset network settings (last resort)

This changes saved network settings

A network reset sets the device's network settings back to their defaults. You will need to join Wi-Fi again, and VPN apps may need setting up again. Windows removes the network adapters and sets them up again, and it may mark known networks as public, which you can change back afterwards. It does not delete your files or photos. If a school or employer manages the device, ask them first.

  • Windows 11: Settings then Network & internet then Advanced network settings then Network reset. Select Reset now, then Yes. The PC restarts.
  • Windows 10: Settings then Network & Internet then Status then Network reset. Select Reset now, then Yes.
  • iPhone and iPad: Settings then General then Transfer or Reset iPhone then Reset then Reset Network Settings. On an iPad, the menu says iPad.
  • Android: On Google Pixel, Settings then System then Reset options then Reset Bluetooth & Wi-Fi, then Reset settings. On other phones, search Settings for "reset network".
  • Mac: macOS has no single network reset button. Fix 3 and Fix 4 cover the same ground, so repeat them if needed and restart the Mac afterwards.

If it still does not work

  • If you have a network cable, plug your computer straight into the router. If the internet still fails, the fault is in the router, the modem or your internet service.
  • Check for an outage. On your phone's mobile data, open your internet provider's website or app and look for a service status page.
  • If the router's Internet light stays off after Fix 2, or looks different from usual, use the support page on your provider's website.
  • If only one device still fails, check the device maker's support website for your model. Its Wi-Fi hardware or driver may need attention. See also phone won't connect to Wi-Fi and Mac Wi-Fi problems.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to restart my router?

Yes. It briefly disconnects every device in your home, and it keeps your settings. Do not press the Reset button.

Why does only one device say "No Internet"?

Every device uses the same router. If the others work, the cause is on the one that fails: its saved network, its address from the router, a VPN, or its Wi-Fi hardware. Start with Fix 1, Fix 3 and Fix 4.

Could a VPN or security app cause this?

Yes. Apple lists VPN and security software that watches your connection as a possible cause on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Switch the VPN off to test. If that fixes it, check the app's support page.

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