Fix “Connected, No Internet”
Your Wi-Fi icon says you're connected, but nothing loads. Work through these fixes in order, from quickest to most thorough. Most people are back online within the first three.
Is it just this computer?
Check whether your phone or another device on the same Wi-Fi can load a website. Turn off the phone's mobile data first so it really uses Wi-Fi.
- Nothing works on any device: the problem is your router or internet provider. Start at step 1.
- Only this computer is stuck: the problem is on the computer. Skip to step 3.
FIXTry these in order
Open a step, try it, then tell us if it worked.
This fixes the problem more often than anything else, because routers get stuck after running for weeks.
- Unplug the power from your modem and router. If you have a single combined box, unplug that.
- Wait a full 30 seconds.
- Plug the modem in first and wait until its lights settle, usually 1–2 minutes.
- Plug the router back in, wait another minute, then try a website.
- At home: check your internet provider's app or status page, or Downdetector on your phone's mobile data. If there's an outage, all you can do is wait.
- Hotel, café, school or airport Wi-Fi: these often need you to accept terms on a sign-in page first. Open neverssl.com to make the sign-in page appear.
Click the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar, turn on Airplane mode, wait 10 seconds, then turn it off.
Still stuck? Forget the network and join it again: Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi › Manage known networks, select your network, choose Forget, then reconnect with your Wi-Fi password.
Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar, turn Wi-Fi off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
Still stuck? Forget the network and join it again: System Settings › Wi-Fi, click the ··· button next to your network, choose Forget This Network, then reconnect with your password.
Use Start › Power › Restart, not Shut down. On Windows, “Shut down” keeps some things in memory to start faster, while Restart fully resets the network software.
Choose Apple menu › Restart. When asked, untick “Reopen windows when logging back in” for the cleanest start.
Your computer may be holding onto an old address or outdated website lookups. This gives it fresh ones.
Search for Command Prompt in the Start menu, open it, and run these one at a time:
ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns
You'll lose connection for a moment after the first command. That's expected.
Go to System Settings › Wi-Fi › Details (next to your network) › TCP/IP and click Renew DHCP Lease.
Then clear the DNS cache: open Terminal (search for it with ⌘ Space), paste this, press Return and enter your Mac password:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Nothing appears when you type the password. That's normal.
A VPN, ad blocker or security app that routes your traffic can block everything if it's broken. Quit or disconnect it, then try again.
Also check Settings › Network & internet › Proxy and make sure Use a proxy server is off, unless your workplace set it up.
Also check System Settings › Wi-Fi › Details › Proxies and make sure every proxy is off, unless your workplace set it up.
DNS turns website names into addresses. If your provider's DNS is failing, you'll be “connected” but no site will load. Cloudflare's free DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) is a reliable replacement.
- Go to Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi › Hardware properties.
- Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit and choose Manual.
- Turn on IPv4, enter
1.1.1.1as Preferred DNS and1.0.0.1as Alternate DNS, then Save.
- Go to System Settings › Wi-Fi › Details › DNS.
- Click + under DNS Servers and add
1.1.1.1, then1.0.0.1. - Click OK.
To undo it later, set DNS back to Automatic.
Go to Settings › Network & internet › Advanced network settings › Network reset and click Reset now. Your PC restarts afterward.
If it still fails, update the Wi-Fi driver: search Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and choose Update driver.
Install any pending update in System Settings › General › Software Update, since macOS updates often fix Wi-Fi bugs.
Then run Apple's built-in checker: hold Option, click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar, and choose Open Wireless Diagnostics. Follow its prompts and suggestions.
- If every device is offline, call your internet provider. Tell them you've already restarted the modem and router; it saves time.
- If only this computer is offline, try a wired Ethernet cable. If that works, the computer's Wi-Fi hardware or driver is the likely culprit, and a repair shop or the manufacturer's support can help.
FAQCommon questions
What does “No internet, secured” mean?
Your computer is connected to the router, but the router isn't reaching the internet, or your computer couldn't get a working address from it. The “secured” part just means the Wi-Fi has a password.
Why does my phone work but my laptop doesn't?
Then your router and internet are fine, and the problem is on the laptop. Start at step 3. Steps 5 and 7 fix most of these cases.
Will resetting network settings delete my files?
No. It only forgets saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, and removes network software like VPNs. Your documents, photos and apps aren't touched.
Should I press the reset button on my router?
Usually not. A reset wipes the router back to factory settings, including your Wi-Fi name and password, and sometimes the settings your provider needs. Unplugging and replugging (step 1) is the safe version.
Is changing DNS safe?
Yes. Public DNS services from Cloudflare and Google are widely used and free, and you can switch back to Automatic at any time.
Why does my internet keep dropping every few minutes?
Common causes are being far from the router, interference from walls or other networks, an old router, or power-saving settings on the Wi-Fi adapter. Try moving closer to the router to test, and check for router firmware and computer updates.