If your Windows PC can’t or won’t connect to the Internet but other devices can, then this post may be able to help you. It will also help you if you receive No Internet connection or access after upgrading to Windows 11/10 message or maybe even after a Windows Update? There have been cases where users upgraded to Windows 11/10, and then they got no option to connect to the Internet. The connectivity issues are reported mostly on wireless connections. Read this post if you face Internet connectivity or access problems on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
PC won’t connect to internet but other devices will
Microsoft attributes the problem to VPN connections present on the computer that was upgraded to Windows 10. In other words, if the computer had an active VPN software during the upgrade, the computer may fail to find Wi-Fi, as the VPN software might cause problems. But that is not the only case. Certain hardware is not compatible with Windows 11/10, and it might be the cause of the problem where you cannot connect to the Internet after upgrading to Windows 11/10. The post talks about possible solutions to the problem of No Internet connectivity.
First, make sure Wi-Fi is set to On. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi and move the slider to the On position. Also, make sure that the physical Wi-Fi button on your laptop is turned on.
Also, do the following. Right-click on the Start button to open the WinX Menu. Select Device Manager. Click on the Action tab and select Scan for hardware changes.
This will refresh the list.
TIP: This post will show you how to reset Internet Options to default in Windows 11.
Wi-Fi is not visible in list of networks after upgrading to Windows 11/10
Were you using VPN software while upgrading to Windows 10? If no, the problem could be with the router. Check to see if the router is broadcasting the SSID. To know this:
- Type 192.168.1.1 in the browser address bar; the address is to connect to your router
- Under the Wireless section of the configuration settings, see if there is an SSID and if the box against “Broadcast SSID” is checked; the wordings “broadcast SSID” may be different on the different routers so check for alternative labels if you can’t find “broadcast SSID” in Wireless section of the router configuration page
You may also change the SSID to something else and click on Save to make sure the SSID is visible in the list of networks being displayed when you click the network icon in the Windows System Tray
If you were indeed using a VPN software while upgrading to Windows 10, you would have to remove the VPN virtual card using Windows Registry Editor.
Here is how to remove it using Windows Command Prompt:
Press Windows Key + R to bring up the Run dialog
Type CMD in the Run dialog and press Enter
In the command prompt window, type or copy-paste the following command and press Enter:
reg delete HKCR\CLSID\{988248f3-a1ad-49bf-9170-676cbbc36ba3} /va /f
Again type or copy-paste the following and press Enter:
netcfg -v -u dni_dne
Reboot the computer and see if the WiFi is listed in the list of networks that appear when you click on the Network Icon in Windows System Tray.
Read: No WiFi after upgrading to Windows 11/10.
Power Cycle the Router
Sometimes, a simple power cycle can fix the issue. Remove the power plug from the router after turning it off. Leave it for a few seconds, plug in the power cord, and turn it on. Check to see if the WiFi is now visible in the list of networks.
Read: Ethernet connection not working in Windows.
Internet connection Password Not accepted
Sometimes you find the WiFi but are not able to connect because Windows 10 will not accept the password you enter. To make sure you are entering the correct password, follow these steps:
- Right-click on WiFi or network icon
- Select Open Network and Sharing Center
- Click on Change on Adapter Settings
- In the Network Properties window that appears, right-click on the WiFi connection and click on Status
- In the dialog box, that appears, click on Wireless Properties
- Click on Security Tab in the Wireless Properties window
- Just below the Wireless Security Key label, you will find “Show characters” checkbox; click on it to see the wireless password
- Note down the password and use it to connect to the WiFi
If it still creates a problem, it is better to change the password in the Router Configuration Page.
- Type 192.168.1.1 in the browser’s address bar
- Under the Wireless option, locate the SSID option;
- There would be an option saying password or passphrase or something similar; change the password
- Click on Save
- Close the browser
Reboot and see if you can connect to the WiFi Internet connection.
Read: Site is not loading and you receive a This site can’t be reached error.
Use Windows Network Troubleshooter
You can also use the built-in Windows Network Troubleshooter to see what is causing the problem and to fix it automatically. To start Windows Network Troubleshooter, type Network Troubleshooter in the search box next to Start Button. Click on Identify and Repair Network Connections from the list that appears. That will start Windows Network Troubleshooter. The wizard will lead you through steps to troubleshoot the connection problem.
Read:
- Can’t connect to this network WiFi error in Windows 11/10
- WiFi connected, but no internet access.
The above explains fix when you cannot connect to the Internet after upgrading to Windows 10 in brief. You might also want to see if the router is supported by connecting using an Ethernet cable. If not, contact your router manufacturer.
Additional related posts:
Shit, Windows 10’s entire networking subsystem is hosed. While my initial upgrade from Win7 Ultimate to Win10 Pro went well, after 2 hours it could no longer access the Internet. Running the troubleshooter ended up with it telling me there was a problem with my broadband modem which is quite surprising since all other devices on my network still had Internet access. In the end, I had to revert to Win7. It is a good thing I didn’t run into trouble with that one.
Wifi has Limited Connectivity Issue, checked your Blog, found your page
on this Issue, did exactly what you said, it didn’t work, finally, one
of your blog Commenter Chris solution worked by right clicking network
adapter on device manager, then, changing 802.11n bandwidth to 20/40
auto & aggressive roaming to highest 5, it worked, got my Internet
Connection back
hi Bruce, I too had the same problem – back in August, being one of the 1st upgraders. I upgraded from Win 8.1 to Win 10 & everything else was fine, except internet was hosed. But the surprising thing was, even though the Network Icon (and Network Settings) showed the red X and claimed no internet, I could access internet using the Win 10 help. :strange:
Then I finally located the problem. The drivers (not only for LAN but couple of others too) were not uptodate. The bleeding Win10 does not like old drivers, unlike Win 7, 8, or 8.1. The effing Win 10 does NOT allow us to install drivers too.
I reverted back to 8.1, updated all the drivers using Driver Booster (I think), then once again upgraded and is working find since then.
BTW I noticed that that internet access strange behaviour 10 days back, when NVIDIA update failed on my PC. Everything went back to 800 x 600 and once again the Network Icon said no internet. But I booted into ‘safe mode with networking’ and viola, net was accessible (and I installed the NVIDIA 855.82 in safe mode), rebooted and everything is fine.
Win 8.1 with classic shell beats Win 10 hands down for user friendliness.
I could understand it as a simple driver issue if the problem existed from the initial upgrade, but that isn’t the case. It was working perfectly for about two hours before it decided everything outside of my network didn’t exist. I could still access all other computers on my network from the upgraded one. I just couldn’t get the damn thing to talk to anything beyond the router.
None of it makes any real sense since all of the network settings were correct and it was communicating with other machines on the LAN. The network icon in the system tray did not indicate any errors either. According to that, I still had Internet access.
I initially thought it was a problem with DHCP and it was getting one of the Microsoft reserved addresses, but that was not the case. It was still using the exact same settings the machine had before the upgrade which makes sense since the DHCP server has reserved that address for this machine.
I figure that once Threshold 2 is out, I may give it another shot to see if the situation has improved.
My test machine where I am still running the Insider builds has not experienced a single networking issue in the 10 months or so it has been running the various iterations of Win10.
‘ network icon in the system tray did not indicate any errors either. According to that, I still had Internet access’ –> our situation seems to be reverse of each other.
Is it true Threshold 2 has been pushed back to November?
Would be good if you find the solution and post it here. Gud Luck.
There is a Ubuntu mole deeply embedded at Microsoft. It’s the only possible explanation for their aggressive promotion of an upgrade with a flaw this serious.
My internet wont connect, I’m trying to follow the instruction but nothing is showing up on my computer I’m really not impressed at the moment. I can fiddle around and fix stuff on my computer…but unfortunately I’m not that tech savy…VERY FRUSTRATING,
I wish I knew you could explain this a little further. I’m going through the exact same bullcrap and it seems you’ve found the answer but I can’t understand how to accomplish what you’ve said. I see no place to change the bandwidth or anything. Can you go into more detail please? I’d really appreciate it
Microsoft should fig out a solution to this issue. I had to revert to windows 8.1 and download google’s chrome, then upgrade to Windows 10 again. My computer can connect to internet now with chrome. Just forget about Internet Edge now until Microsoft comes up with a solution.
I messed around with the settings that you were talking about and I finally fixed my wife’s computer. You fucking rule. Thanks.
Hi,
I may be able to help here, to explain what Vince Thor did. Right click the Start button. Choose Device Manager. Then click Network adapters. Right click the Wireless (mine is Intel (R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160) and click Properties. Look for the Advanced tab. Then follow his method above.
So I just got a new laptop that had Windows 10 already installed. I’m having similar wifi connectivity issues as those who simply upgraded. Will the FixWin Windows 10 program work for me? I just want to be sure before moving forward. I’m fairly frustrated that this brand new laptop came to me like this.
Use the built-in Windows Network Troubleshooter first. I dnt remember if FixWin has that fix. If it does, go ahead an try it.
I cannot even get a browser bar or wifi. All I get is the window asking for my password and it does not accept my password. I get no other options at all. My computer is just useless. ?? can I do?
I upgraded my new laptop from 8.1 to 10 without even checking out 8 and regretted my decision wifi worked fine for a day or so next day the problem started what piece of shit has microsoft built man. ridiculous tried 1 of the suggestions below of changing bandwidth of device managerand wifi started working fine for 15-20 mins now the same problem again. cant believe any ofthe reviews i read of win 10 did not mention this problem. win 7 was the best may have revert back to it
so I finally put together my gaming PC and when I try to connect wirelessy to the internet my home internet connection that I use on my other systems doesn’t appear where. Putting this together has been pretty frustrating and this is the last part and I seroiusly need some help.
My wife’s laptop suddenly stopped working on WiFi. I tried everything mentioned here and nothing worked so in desparation I went to device manager and deleted the wireless adaptor. Then searched for new hardware and VIOLA – internet back on. Bill Gates – you suck.
Wait, I can’t find the SSID thing. Help. I scanned for hardware changes & everything.
I tried everything to get my son’s laptop to connect, and your solution was the one that finally worked. Thanks a million!
Win 7 To Win 10 with no internet service after upgrade:
Go to Settings…Network & Internet…Proxy. Make sure that ONLY Automatic Proxy Setup is enabled.
I tried everything i read on the internet, and even rolled it back to windows 7, then re-installed Win 10.
NOTHING worked. I happened to be looking thru Settings just now, and under Proxy, I noticed that BOTH Automatic Proxy Settings AND Manual Proxy Settings were enabled.
I thought, what the hell, I’ll disable Manual Proxy Setup and see what happens. THAT WAS IT! At least it worked for me, and I hope it might help someone else.
After a month searching for a solution to the no internet connection after upgrading Windows 10. I can overcome it by using DNS Jumper v2.0. (Free download – just 779 kb)
Simply launch, choose Network Adater (based on our computers), click Fastest DNS, and DNS Server Apply. And the internet can be connected again. Its work for me. Maybe you could try it.
I had the same issue after an automatic update of existing windows 10 yesterday. The only thing that worked was restoring to previous build then hey presto I could connect to wi fi connection again. REALLY annoying when updates screw things up and all the hours I spent surfing online forums and microsoft help pages didn’t help. Nothing to do with diagnostics or the driver worked hence I did the restore to previous build as a last resort.
I have a 2 similar peculiar wi-fi problems with Windows 10:
1 – Can’t access 192.168.1.1 with any browser IE, FFox, Edge. I receive the ‘The connection has timed out
The server at 192.168.1.1 is taking too long to respond.’ error page. My (now dead) Windows 7 machine worked fine only, could access everything, no wi-fi issues.
2- Wi-Fi will only connect to my guest network, it sees my main network but won’t let me connect.
I’m not an IT pro and are wary of making changes to Windows 10.
(Not a wi-fi problem but Windows 10 Ethernet connection not working, so if I lose wi-fi I’m dead in the water.)
I am stuck on the Welcome to Windows 10 page basically!
The next page for setup is “connect to the internet to continue setup”
It will never connect to the two wi-fi connections I have available.
This is a desktop that is using wi-fi since I have no connection upstairs where the PC is.
I cannot finish setting up Win 10. Any ideas??
Upgraded to Windows 10 from 7 online, upgrade ok but no wireless internet, device manager shows adapter ok and I get a list of available networks, when I click on connect for my network and then enter the security key it says cannot connect to this network, I know the key is good so what is the problem? I’ve tried all the suggestions here. Bill Gates you knob head fancy releasing this when there are known issues.
none of the above apply to 3 ethernet based pcs NICS n/w after win10 upgrade in the last cpl of weeks
Have you tried resetting the individual IP addresses? I had this problem after creating an ad hoc network but then after resetting the IP address, I was able to connect ?
Okay, I heard how bad is Windows 10 and that upgrade notification somehow forced me to upgrade to windows 10 yesterday… First try was so s*cks, since it only gives 1024×768 or 800×600 for the display option. For the 2nd day, the wifi hotspot was unable to connect to the internet while my other device using the same hotspot is able to access the internet.
Tried turning off the firewall and reboot everything and nothing works.
One thing that works is opening the DEVICE MANAGER and open your NETWORK ADAPTERS and go to the POWER MANAGEMENT and untick the option that ALLOW THE COMP TO TURN IT OFF TO SAVE POWER.
This worked to get me back online. Thank you. Sadly has not yet fixed the home network issues. Windows recognizes the other machines on the network in some instances but will not allow normal use access. I will keep trying
My computer also can’t connect to Internet after Windows 10 update. A friend told me that, the network card driver may not work. I can used a program named Driver Talent for Network Card. It can install drivers without network.
Champion, that worked for me!
That worked for me thanks for your help!
i uninstalled my wireless adapter and re started my computer. after the re start my computer re installed my wireless adapter and all is working fine.
I got the thing where my Surface running W10 connected wirelessly but had no internet. I uninstalled the wifi network adapter, restarted and everything was fine again.
I went do service manager to check and it was my chip having an error error so I rollback the chip to an earlier update and fixed that issue
Remove all Network Adapter’s from Device Manager and scan for changes