If Windows says “No internet, secured”, your PC is connected to the Wi-Fi network but Windows has not detected internet access. The message does not identify the cause. Check whether other devices can get online, then work through the steps below to isolate whether the issue is with the PC, router, modem, or internet service.
What “No internet, secured” means
“Secured” indicates that the Wi-Fi connection is protected; it does not mean the internet is working. Windows can show this status when the PC is associated with the local network but cannot reach the internet. The indicator is based on a connectivity check, not a diagnosis of one specific fault. Your PC may still communicate with devices on the same local network even while browsing, email, and streaming fail. Microsoft’s Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide covers Windows 10 and Windows 11; Settings labels can vary slightly between versions.
Start with the checks that isolate the problem
1. Confirm the basic connection
- Make sure Wi-Fi is on and Airplane mode is off.
- Confirm that the PC is connected to the intended Wi-Fi network.
2. Check another device on the same Wi-Fi
Connect a phone or another computer to the same network. If that device gets online, the issue is more likely limited to the affected PC. If no devices can access the internet, investigate the router, modem, shared network settings, or internet service; check with your ISP for an outage if needed.
3. Try the other Wi-Fi band
If your router offers separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, connect to the other band and test again. This is only an option when the router exposes both bands as selectable networks; names and availability vary.
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Reconnect to Wi-Fi and restart the network equipment
Forget and reconnect to the network
- Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
- Select the affected network and choose Forget.
- Reconnect to the network and enter its password.
Restart the modem and router
- Unplug the modem and router from power. Wait about 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the modem and wait for its lights to settle.
- Reconnect the router and wait for it to finish starting, then test the connection.
This temporarily disconnects everyone using the Wi-Fi. If your modem and router are a single combined device, restart that device once.
Check the PC’s IP address and renew its network settings
An address beginning with 169.254, such as 169.254.x.x, is a clue that Windows did not obtain an IP address from the router. If your network does not intentionally use static IP addresses, check whether DHCP is enabled on the router.
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To renew the PC’s network configuration and clear its DNS cache, open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands in order:
netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip resetipconfig /releaseipconfig /renewipconfig /flushdns
After the commands finish, check whether the PC can get online.
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Check proxy and DNS settings
Review the proxy setting
Open Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. Turn off manual proxy settings only if they are not intended for your network or workplace. If you use a work or school proxy, check with its administrator before changing it.
Test DNS when the PC has a valid IP address
If the PC has a valid address but cannot reach websites, check whether a DNS server is listed and whether it can be reached. Microsoft recommends testing the listed DNS server; if it cannot be reached, try another DNS server and test again. Changing DNS is a troubleshooting step, not a guaranteed fix.
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Use a gateway ping to test the local Wi-Fi connection
- Open Command Prompt and run
ipconfig. - Under the Wi-Fi adapter, find the Default gateway address.
- Run
pingfollowed by that address, for exampleping 192.168.1.1. Use the address shown on your PC, not the example.
If the gateway replies, the PC can reach the Wi-Fi router; the modem or ISP may be the next place to check. If the gateway does not reply, investigate the PC’s Wi-Fi connection and router. If your PC and modem have compatible Ethernet ports, connect them directly with an Ethernet cable and test internet access. If the direct connection works, the Wi-Fi router is implicated in that setup; consult its documentation for appropriate next steps, such as checking firmware. A cable test is optional and does not diagnose every possible cause.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Consider the Wi-Fi driver if the problem began after an update
If the connection failed after a driver or Windows update, the network adapter driver may be involved. Before uninstalling the Wi-Fi adapter driver, download a suitable driver from your PC manufacturer and keep it available—particularly if this PC has no other way to connect to the internet. Microsoft says Windows will look for and install a driver after restart, but a manufacturer driver provides a fallback if that does not happen.
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Use Network reset only as a last resort
Microsoft says, “Using network reset should be the last step you try.” Network reset removes installed network adapters and their settings, then reinstalls the adapters with default settings after restart. VPN clients or Hyper-V virtual switches may need to be reinstalled or configured again.
In Windows, open Settings > Network & internet and locate Network reset. The exact location can differ between Windows versions. Use the reset only after the earlier checks, and be prepared to restore any network-related configurations you rely on.
When to contact your ISP or get deeper diagnostics
If multiple devices fail on the same Wi-Fi and restarting the modem and router does not restore access, check your ISP’s outage information or contact its support. If only one PC fails after the basic and network checks, the issue may require examining its IP address, route, DNS, proxy, or firewall configuration. Microsoft’s advanced TCP/IP troubleshooting guide describes collecting network evidence for deeper diagnosis.
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