Have you ever seen the Wi-Fi icon showing full signal, but web pages won’t load? You’re not alone. This common problem can be frustrating—especially when everything “looks connected,” but the internet just doesn’t work.
In this article, we’ll walk you through simple steps to identify the cause, along with easy solutions and helpful tips (including some “hidden tricks”) that anyone can try—even if you’re not tech-savvy.
Common Causes of the “Wi-Fi But No Internet” Problem
- Your computer didn’t get a proper IP address: If your device ends up with a strange address starting with “169,” it usually means it couldn’t connect properly to the Wi-Fi router.
- DNS server issues: DNS is like the address book of the internet. If it stops working, your browser can’t find websites—even though the connection exists.
- Public Wi-Fi login page didn’t appear: Places like airports or cafés often need you to accept terms before using the internet. If that screen doesn’t load, you won’t get access.
- The router is online, but the internet isn’t: Your device may talk to the Wi-Fi router just fine—but if the router itself lost internet connection, nothing will work.
Try These Basic Fixes First
- Turn Wi-Fi off and back on: This helps your device request a fresh connection from the router.
- Restart your computer: Simple, but effective. It clears temporary glitches.
- Test another device: If your phone also can’t connect, the problem is probably with the router or the internet provider.
- Restart your Wi-Fi router: Unplug it, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. This fixes many common problems.
Hidden Trick 1: Change Your DNS Server
DNS servers help your computer translate website names into the numbers used by the internet. If the DNS server is down or slow, your connection may appear broken—even if it’s not.
Try switching to a more reliable public DNS server like Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).
How to Change DNS on Windows:
- Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Change Adapter Options
- Right-click your Wi-Fi → Select Properties
- Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
- Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter:
Preferred: 8.8.8.8
Alternate: 1.1.1.1 - Click OK and reconnect
Hidden Trick 2: Force Public Wi-Fi Login Page
If the login screen doesn’t show automatically, open your browser and type:
http://1.1.1.1 or http://neverssl.com
These addresses often force the login screen to appear. Make sure you’re using http://, not https://.
💡 Hidden Trick 3: Renew Your IP Address
Use this if your device has trouble getting a valid IP address:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Type the following and press Enter after each line:
ipconfig /releaseipconfig /renew
Hidden Trick 4: Reset Your Network Adapter
Over time, your network settings might become corrupted or confused. Resetting the adapter erases these errors and returns things to default.
How to do it: Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Network Reset, then restart your PC.
Hidden Trick 5: Winsock Reset (Advanced)
This is like giving your internet settings a fresh start. If you’ve tried everything else, give it a shot:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Type:
netsh winsock reset
and press Enter - Restart your PC
Optional Tip: Try Disabling IPv6
IPv6 is a newer internet address system, but some networks and routers still struggle with it.
If you’re having trouble, turning off IPv6 (temporarily) might improve the connection.
Go to Network Adapter Properties and uncheck “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)”
Before You Panic: Stay Calm and Check Step by Step
It’s easy to get worried when the internet stops working—but in most cases, it’s not a broken PC or router. It’s just a small setting or glitch that needs fixing.
Start with the basics: Restart, reconnect, check other devices. If that doesn’t work, try the DNS fix, renew IP, or reset the adapter. These steps solve the majority of problems.
Bonus Tip:
Remember: the Wi-Fi icon means you’re connected to the router—but not necessarily to the internet. Just like a phone with no dial tone, the device looks ready but can’t reach the outside world.
