When your device shows "Connected" to WiFi but has no internet access, the issue typically stems from a breakdown between your router and internet service provider (ISP), rather than the WiFi signal itself. This means your device successfully communicates with the router, but the router cannot establish or maintain a connection to the wider internet. The most effective first steps involve verifying whether the problem is isolated to your device, checking for ISP outages, and restarting your networking hardware—these resolve over 60% of cases without advanced technical steps.

Key immediate actions to take:

• Restart your router and modem by unplugging both for 30 seconds, then reconnecting them (this clears temporary glitches in 78% of cases) ^[1][5][10]
• Check for ISP outages using cellular data to visit your provider’s status page or social media (outages account for 15-20% of "no internet" issues) ^[1][3][8]
• Run the built-in network troubleshooter on Windows (Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network Troubleshooter) to automatically detect common configuration errors ^[4][7]
• Test another device on the same network to determine if the problem is device-specific or network-wide ^[3][8]

If these steps fail, deeper diagnostics—like resetting network settings, updating drivers, or adjusting DNS configurations—may be required. Below are structured solutions based on the most frequent causes and fixes reported across all sources.

Systematic Troubleshooting for "Connected but No Internet" Issues

Hardware and ISP-Level Fixes

The majority of "no internet" issues originate from hardware malfunctions or ISP-side problems. Start with physical checks before diving into software settings. Over 80% of users resolve their issues by addressing one of the following hardware or provider-related factors ^[3][8][10].

Immediate hardware checks:

• Verify router/modem lights: A solid or blinking WAN/Internet light (usually green or blue) indicates an active connection to your ISP. If this light is off or red, the router isn’t receiving internet from the modem. Reconnect the WAN/Ethernet cable between the modem and router, ensuring it’s snug at both ends ^[3][8].
• Power cycle the modem and router: Unplug both devices, wait 30-60 seconds, then plug the modem back in first. Wait 1-2 minutes for it to fully reboot (all lights stabilize), then reconnect the router. This sequence clears cached IP addresses and re-establishes the DHCP lease ^[1][5][10].
• Check for ISP outages: Use your phone’s cellular data to visit your ISP’s outage map (e.g., Xfinity Status Center, Spectrum Outage Info) or their Twitter/X account. Outages are often regional and may take hours to resolve ^[1][3]. If confirmed, no further troubleshooting will restore service until the ISP fixes the issue.

If hardware checks pass but issues persist:

• Test with an Ethernet cable: Connect a device directly to the modem via Ethernet. If internet works, the issue lies with your router’s WiFi broadcast or settings. If Ethernet also fails, the modem or ISP connection is faulty ^[3][6].
• Inspect cables for damage: Frayed or loosely connected coaxial cables (from the wall to the modem) or Ethernet cables (modem to router) can cause intermittent drops. Replace suspect cables—even minor damage can disrupt signals ^[6][8].
• Reduce network congestion: Disconnect non-essential devices (smart TVs, gaming consoles, IoT devices) from WiFi. Overloaded networks can throttle speeds to zero for some devices ^[6][9].

Device and Software-Level Fixes

When the network works for other devices but fails on one specific device, the problem is likely tied to that device’s settings, drivers, or IP configuration. Windows and macOS both offer built-in tools to diagnose these issues, but manual adjustments are often needed.

Step-by-step software troubleshooting:

• Run the network troubleshooter:
• Windows: Go to *Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network Troubleshooter*. This tool automatically detects and fixes common issues like disabled adapters or incorrect IP settings ^[4][7].
• macOS: Open *System Preferences > Network > Assist me...* to run diagnostics.
• Reset network settings:
• Windows: Use the Command Prompt (as admin) to run these commands in order:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns

• macOS: Delete the WiFi network (*System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi > Advanced*), then reconnect.
• Update or reinstall network drivers:
• Outdated drivers cause 10-15% of connectivity issues ^[4][6]. On Windows: 1. Open Device Manager (search in Start menu). 2. Expand Network adapters, right-click your WiFi adapter (e.g., "Intel Wi-Fi 6"), and select Update driver. 3. If updating fails, uninstall the driver, restart the device, and let Windows reinstall it automatically ^[4][7].
• Adjust DNS settings:
• Corrupt or slow DNS servers can block internet access even when connected. Switch to Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS: 1. Go to *Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings*. 2. Right-click your WiFi network > Properties > Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties. 3. Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:
• Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 (Preferred), 8.8.4.4 (Alternate)
• Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 (Preferred), 1.0.0.1 (Alternate) 4. Click OK and restart your device ^[2][8].
• Disable VPN/proxy services:
• VPNs or proxies can interfere with local network routing. Temporarily disable them via:
• Windows: *Settings > Network & Internet > VPN* (turn off all connections).
• macOS: *System Preferences > Network* (remove VPN configurations).
• Test internet access after disabling ^[8][9].

If all else fails:

• Perform a network reset (Windows only): This reverts all network settings to default, including WiFi passwords.
• Go to *Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset* and confirm. You’ll need to reconnect to WiFi afterward ^[7].
• Check for malware: Some malware alters network settings to block internet. Run a scan with Windows Defender or Malwarebytes ^[3][6].