Laptop not connecting to the internet usually stems from Wi-Fi toggles, router or ISP faults, bad IP/DNS, driver bugs, or a blocked network profile.
You searched “Why has my laptop stopped connecting to the internet?” because you want one page that finds the cause fast and gets you back online. This guide walks you through clear checks in the right order. Start at the top and move down until the web works again.
Why Has My Laptop Stopped Connecting To The Internet: Quick Checks
Run these first. Each one takes a minute or less.
- Toggle Wi-Fi off, wait five seconds, then back on. Check Airplane mode is off.
- Restart the laptop. Then restart the router and modem: power off for 20–30 seconds, then power back on.
- Try another device on the same network. If everything is down, it points to the router or the ISP.
- Test a different network or your phone’s hotspot. If that works, the issue sits with the original network.
- Plug in Ethernet. If wired works, the wireless side needs attention.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Try This |
|---|---|---|
| “No internet” with full bars | Bad IP/DNS or captive portal | Renew IP, flush DNS, open a plain http site |
| Wi-Fi switch missing | Driver or adapter off | Enable adapter, update or reinstall driver |
| Only your laptop fails | Profile corruption | Forget the network and join again |
| Drops when you move rooms | Range or channel crowding | Use 2.4 GHz for reach; pick a cleaner channel |
| Works on guest Wi-Fi only | MAC filter or blocked device | Remove block in router or change MAC |
| Works on hotspot, not at home | Router or ISP fault | Reboot router; check outage; reset if needed |
| “Connected, no internet” after updates | Buggy driver or OS patch | Roll back driver; install latest updates |
| Login page never shows | Custom DNS stops redirect | Set DNS to automatic; visit http://neverssl.com |
| Ethernet dead | Bad cable or port | Swap cable; try another port on router |
| Only some sites fail | DNS cache or DoH quirk | Flush DNS; switch to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 |
Confirm The Problem Scope
First, decide whether the outage is local to the laptop or network-wide. Check another device on the same Wi-Fi. Visit a simple site. If nothing loads anywhere, the issue is upstream. If other devices work, the laptop is the target. This split saves time. Note whether the failure is only Wi-Fi or both Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Fix Wi-Fi And Airplane Mode
Use the taskbar Wi-Fi panel to toggle the radio and to verify the correct SSID. Some laptops have a physical wireless switch or a function key. Turn Airplane mode off, then pick the network again and enter the passphrase with care. A single wrong character can bind a profile that never authenticates. Try a fresh scan.
Power Cycle Modem And Router
Routers jam. Modems lose sync. A full restart clears stale sessions and DHCP hiccups. Unplug both. Wait at least twenty seconds. Plug the modem in first and wait for stable lights. Then power the router. Test again on Wi-Fi and Ethernet. If the pattern repeats often, plan a firmware update or a replacement.
Check ISP Or Captive Portal
On home broadband, look for outage alerts from your provider. On hotel, campus, or café Wi-Fi, the network may hold traffic until you accept terms. Open a non-encrypted page to trigger the sign-in.
Refresh IP And DNS Settings
Broken leases and stale name data block traffic. Release and renew the address, then clear the DNS cache. Open Command Prompt as admin and run these in order:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdnsIf name lookups still fail, try public resolvers such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8. Set them on the adapter IPv4 settings, then test again. If captive Wi-Fi needs its own DNS to show a login page, switch back to automatic for that network.
Repair The Network Profile
A corrupt or stale profile can block joins. In Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi, choose Manage known networks. Pick the SSID, hit Forget, and re-join fresh. If you changed the router password or security mode, a clean profile avoids silent mismatch.
Driver, Adapter, And OS Health
Weak drivers trigger lost radios, random drops, or missing bands. In Device Manager, uninstall the Wi-Fi adapter and tick the box to delete the driver. Reboot and install the vendor’s current package. If a recent update broke the link, roll back. Keep the OS current once the link returns. For deeper steps, see Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows. For Ethernet, repeat the same care for the NIC driver.
Firewalls, VPNs, And Security Suites
Over-strict rules or a stuck VPN tunnel can choke traffic. Pause the VPN and test. If pages load, redo the VPN client or split tunneling. Check any third-party firewall. A clean boot trims add-ons that hook the stack.
Band, Channel, And Range Issues
Range, interference, and band choice shape Wi-Fi stability. The 2.4 GHz band reaches farther through walls but has fewer clean channels. 5 GHz and 6 GHz offer more room and speed, but range is shorter. Place the router in the open, away from dense wiring or metal. If neighbors crowd your channel, pick another channel in the router. Try a different band when your laptop sits far from the access point.
Ethernet Troubles: Cables And Ports
Test with a known-good cable. Check the link lights on both ends. Move the plug to a different switch or router port. USB-to-Ethernet adapters fail too; try a different adapter or a direct port if the laptop has one. If the NIC shows down in Device Manager, reinstall its driver and restart.
Security Mode And Compatibility
Older laptops may not join a network using the newest security mode. Most home routers ship with WPA2-Personal. Newer gear adds WPA3. Mixed mode helps old clients join, but the safest plan is to enable modern security and keep clients updated. See the Wi-Fi Alliance page on WPA3 security for a quick brief. If an old card cannot handle WPA2 or WPA3, a small USB Wi-Fi 5 or 6 adapter is a cheap fix.
Advanced Checks And When To Get Help
If the link still fails, work through stronger resets and tests. A full network reset rebuilds adapters and clears policies. You can also reset the TCP/IP stack and Winsock. Then test reachability to your router and the wider web. Run them from an elevated Command Prompt, then reboot. Retest.
| Command | What It Does | When To Use |
|---|---|---|
| ipconfig /all | Shows IPs, gateways, DNS | Confirm lease and DNS |
| ipconfig /flushdns | Clears name cache | Only some sites fail |
| ipconfig /release | Drops current lease | Bad or expired DHCP |
| ipconfig /renew | Grabs a fresh lease | No IP or 169.254.* |
| netsh winsock reset | Rebuilds sockets | Apps can’t reach web |
| netsh int ip reset | Resets TCP/IP | Stack feels broken |
| ping 192.168.1.1 | Tests router path | Wi-Fi up but no web |
| tracert 8.8.8.8 | Maps route to net | Where traffic stops |
| nslookup site.com | Tests name service | DNS doubts remain |
Router Resets, Placement, And Firmware
As a last step on home gear, back up the router config, then factory reset and set it up clean. Use a fresh SSID and a strong passphrase. Pick WPA2 or WPA3. Place the unit high and central. Update firmware from the vendor app or web UI. If drops still return, the router is likely at fault.
Safe Order Of Operations
Step-By-Step Plan
- Toggle Wi-Fi and Airplane mode. Reboot the laptop.
- Power cycle modem and router. Test another device on the same line.
- Try a phone hotspot or another network to isolate the scope.
- Forget and re-join the SSID. Re-enter the passphrase with care.
- Renew IP and flush DNS. Test with public DNS, then switch back if captive Wi-Fi needs it.
- Update or roll back the adapter driver. Check OS updates once stable.
- Pause VPN and third-party firewalls. Use a clean boot if needed.
- Test different bands and channels; move closer to the router.
- Run the command list above. If nothing helps, do a full network reset.
- Reset or replace the router if all clients suffer random drops.
When It’s Not The Network
A few apps can look offline while the link is fine. Browser add-ons, time drift, and proxy settings can block traffic. Turn off odd proxies in Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy. Check the system clock. Test another browser. Try a different user profile. These quick pivots rule out app-level quirks.
What To Tell A Technician
If you reach out for help, share the pattern and the steps you ran. Note the error text, the adapter model, OS build, and the tests that passed. Say whether Ethernet works. Include results from ping and ipconfig. Clear facts shave minutes off the fix.
Bottom Line: Fix The “No Internet” Laptop
Your laptop stopped connecting to the internet for one of a small set of reasons: Wi-Fi radio off, router or ISP issues, broken IP/DNS, profile or driver trouble, or security tools that grabbed the wheel. Work the list here in order. In most cases, you’ll be back online inside a few steps.