Wi-Fi Is Connected but There’s No Internet

Your Wi-Fi status says “Connected.”
The signal looks strong. Everything appears normal.

But web pages keep loading endlessly, and apps display
“No internet connection.”

At this point, most people react the same way:

“I should restart the router.”

Sometimes that helps.
But in reality, many ‘connected but no internet’ issues can be fixed long before a reboot is necessary—if you check the right things in the right order.

This guide walks you through nine practical checks, written for everyday users but explained clearly enough to understand what’s actually happening.

1. Verify whether other devices have internet access

Before changing any settings, confirm this first: Is the issue isolated to one device, or affecting the entire network?

How to verify

  • Does your smartphone connect to the internet on the same Wi-Fi?

  • Do other laptops or tablets work normally?

How to interpret the result

  • ❌ All devices fail → Router, modem, or ISP issue

  • ⭕ Only one device fails → Device-specific configuration problem

👉 This single step effectively narrows down the root cause by about 50%.

2. If you’re on public Wi-Fi, check for a captive portal (login page)

On hotel, café, airport, or office Wi-Fi, this is the most common cause of “Connected, No Internet.”

The network requires a login page—but it never appears.

What to do

Open a browser and visit:

http://neverssl.com

Why this works:

  • Many login pages fail to appear on HTTPS websites

  • A non-secure page forces the captive portal to show up

👉 If a login or agreement page appears, complete it and try again.

3. Check your system date and time (a surprisingly common hidden cause)

This step is often overlooked.

If your PC’s date or time is incorrect, secure websites may fail due to SSL certificate validation errors.

When this happens

  • CMOS battery issues

  • System clock resets

  • Manual time changes

Quick fix

  • Enable automatic date & time synchronization

  • Restart the browser and test again

4. Check for active VPNs or proxy settings (very common culprit)

VPNs and proxy services are one of the leading causes of “Wi-Fi connected but no internet.”

Even VPN software you no longer use may still intercept traffic.

Check this if:

  • Internet works in other locations but not at home

  • Wi-Fi connects, but browsers show “This site can’t be reached”

What to verify

  • Is a VPN client running?

  • Is a proxy enabled in network settings?

  • Did security software update recently?

👉 Disabling a VPN often restores internet access immediately.

⚠️ Security note:
Only disable VPNs or security software while testing on a trusted private network, and re-enable them afterward.

5. It’s often a DNS resolution error, not a complete loss of connectivity

If Wi-Fi connects but:

  • Some websites fail

  • Apps work while browsers don’t

This usually indicates a DNS resolution issue.

DNS is essentially:

“The service that translates website names into server addresses.”

When DNS breaks, the internet appears offline—even when it’s not.

Action ①: Switch to a public DNS

Google DNS
8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4

Cloudflare DNS
1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1

Action ②: Quick Windows path

  • Network settings → Change adapter options

  • Right-click Wi-Fi → Properties

  • IPv4 → Enter DNS manually

👉 DNS changes alone often restore connectivity instantly.

6. Refresh your IP address and clear the DNS cache

Sometimes your device connects to Wi-Fi but never receives a valid IP address.

First, check your IP

  • Open Command Prompt

  • Type:

ipconfig

  • Look for the IPv4 Address line

⚠️ If it starts with 169.xxx.xxx.xxx, your device failed to obtain a usable address from the router.

Fix (safe and effective)

Run the following commands in order:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

What this does:

  • Releases the old IP

  • Requests a new one

  • Clears corrupted DNS cache entries

👉 This three-command sequence is one of the most reliable fixes.

7. Test with a mobile hotspot to isolate the issue

This is the fastest way to rule out hardware failure.

How to test

  • Connect your PC to your smartphone’s hotspot

Result interpretation

  • ⭕ Hotspot works → Wi-Fi hardware is fine

  • ❌ Hotspot fails → Possible Wi-Fi adapter issue

👉 If hotspot works but your router doesn’t, the issue is router configuration, not your device.

8. Router overload (resource exhaustion) is more common than actual failure

Modern routers handle:

  • Phones

  • Laptops

  • TVs

  • IoT devices

They rarely “break”—they become overloaded or congested.

The proper power cycle for a router

  1. Power OFF

  2. Wait at least 10 seconds (important)

  3. Power ON

👉 This allows internal buffers and memory to reset fully.

9. Router placement & dual-band optimization matter more than signal bars

Even with full signal strength, performance can be poor.

Things that degrade Wi-Fi quality

  • Routers placed on the floor

  • Walls or furniture blocking signal

  • Nearby electronics

Dual-band optimization tip

  • 5GHz → Faster, weaker through walls

  • 2.4GHz → Slower, better range

👉 If you’re connected but speeds are unstable, switching bands can help significantly.

Final Thoughts

When Wi-Fi connects but the internet doesn’t work, rebooting the router may mask the symptom—but it rarely explains the cause.

By following these nine steps in order, most issues can be solved faster than expected.

Key things to remember

  • Verify with other devices

  • Check VPNs and DNS resolution

  • Watch for IP assignment failures

📌 Final action
If all nine steps fail, the issue is likely with your ISP or physical line.
At that point, contacting your provider is the fastest solution.

Network issues often lead to browser slowdowns as well.
You may also find this helpful:
👉 Chrome Suddenly Feels Slow? 5 Things to Check Before Clearing Cache

A Korean version of this guide is also available for readers who prefer Korean.
👉 [와이파이는 연결돼 있는데 인터넷이 안 될 때 – 9단계 점검 가이드]