Fixes / Windows · Checked September 30, 2026

Windows "The default gateway is not available": how to fix it

Short answer

"The default gateway is not available" means your PC cannot reach your router, the device that connects your network to the internet. Usually the router has frozen or the network adapter has dropped its connection. Unplug the modem and router, wait 30 seconds, plug the modem in first and then the router. Then restart the PC. If it comes back, reset TCP/IP and turn off adapter power saving.

What this message means

The default gateway is the address your PC sends all internet traffic through. On a home network that is your router (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1). The message comes from Windows Network Diagnostics, the troubleshooter that runs when you click "Troubleshoot problems" or when the network icon shows no internet. It means Windows tried to contact that address and got no answer. The problem can be on the router side (frozen, rebooting, or handing out bad settings) or on the PC side (the adapter was powered down to save battery, the driver is broken, or the network stack is corrupted). If it happens over and over, especially after sleep, the PC side is the likelier cause.

Common causes

Cause	How to tell
The router or modem is frozen or restarting	Other phones and computers on the same Wi-Fi also have no internet, or the router's internet/WAN light is off, orange or blinking in an unusual way.
Windows is turning the network adapter off to save power	The error shows up after the PC wakes from sleep, or after it has sat idle for a while, often on a laptop running on battery. Turning Wi-Fi off and on fixes it for a while.
The IP settings are corrupted or the PC never got an address from the router	Run ipconfig in Command Prompt. The "Default Gateway" line under your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter is blank, or the IPv4 address starts with 169.254 (Windows gave itself an address because the router never answered).
An outdated, buggy or recently updated network adapter driver	The problem started right after a Windows or driver update, only this PC is affected, or Device Manager shows a yellow warning icon on the adapter under Network adapters.
A static IP address or gateway was entered by hand and is wrong	In the network's properties, IP assignment says "Manual" rather than "Automatic (DHCP)". This is common after moving a laptop from an office network to a home one.
Security software or a VPN filtering the connection	The error started after installing or updating antivirus, a third-party firewall or VPN software (McAfee is the one users report most often). It goes away when that software is disconnected or uninstalled.

How to fix it

1. Restart the modem, router and PC

Unplug the power cable from the router, then from the modem (if they are separate boxes).
Wait at least 30 seconds.
Plug the modem back in and wait until its lights stop blinking.
Plug the router back in and wait a few minutes for it to fully start.
Restart the PC: Start > Power > Restart. Then check whether the internet works.

2. Reset TCP/IP and renew the IP address

Select Start, type cmd, then right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter.
Type ipconfig /release and press Enter, then ipconfig /renew and press Enter.
Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
Restart the PC. Run ipconfig again and confirm the Default Gateway line now shows an address such as 192.168.1.1.

3. Stop Windows from powering down the network adapter

Select Search on the taskbar, type device manager and open Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and select Properties.
Open the Power Management tab and clear "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". Select OK.
For Wi-Fi, also open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
Expand Wireless Adapter Settings > Power Saving Mode and set both On battery and Plugged in to Maximum Performance. Select OK.

4. Make sure the IP address and gateway are set automatically

Menu paths differ slightly between Windows 11 and Windows 10

Windows 11: go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > [your network] properties (or Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet for a cable).
Windows 10: go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi, select your network (or Ethernet), and scroll to IP settings.
Next to IP assignment, select Edit.
If it is set to Manual, change it to Automatic (DHCP) and select Save.
Do the same for DNS server assignment if it lists addresses you do not recognise, then reconnect.

5. Update, roll back or reinstall the network adapter driver

Open Device Manager and expand Network adapters.
If the problem started after an update, right-click the adapter > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver (only available if an older driver is stored).
Otherwise, download the latest driver for your exact adapter from your PC or adapter maker's support site (use another device or a cable if needed) and install it.
If that fails, right-click the adapter, select Uninstall device, check "Attempt to remove the driver", then select Uninstall.
Restart the PC (Start > Power > Restart). Windows reinstalls the adapter automatically.

6. Rule out security software, then run Network reset

Network reset path: Windows 11 under Advanced network settings, Windows 10 under Status

Disconnect any VPN and temporarily turn off third-party antivirus or firewall software. If the connection now works, update or uninstall that software (use the vendor's removal tool for McAfee or Norton).
If nothing changes, open Network reset. Windows 11: Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. Windows 10: Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.
Select Reset now, then Yes. The PC restarts.
Reconnect to Wi-Fi and enter the password again. Network reset removes all adapters and saved settings, so you will also need to reinstall any VPN or virtual switch software.

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Still not fixed?

Plug the PC straight into the router with an Ethernet cable. If a cable works but Wi-Fi does not, the Wi-Fi adapter or its driver is at fault, so contact the PC maker's support or try a USB Wi-Fi adapter. If no device in the house can get online, the router or the internet line is the problem. Contact your internet provider, or factory-reset the router (hold the reset button for about 10 seconds), noting that this erases your Wi-Fi name and password. On a work or school PC, contact IT, because group policy, a VPN or 802.1X authentication may control the network settings.

Questions people ask

Why does the default gateway keep becoming unavailable on my laptop?

If it keeps coming back, especially after sleep, Windows is usually powering down the Wi-Fi adapter to save battery. Clear "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" in Device Manager and set Wireless Adapter Settings to Maximum Performance in Power Options.

How do I find my default gateway address?

Open Command Prompt, type ipconfig and press Enter. The Default Gateway line under your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter shows it, usually something like 192.168.1.1. If the line is blank, your PC has no working route to the router.

Is this a problem with my router or my computer?

Check another device on the same network. If it is also offline, the router or internet line is at fault. If only this PC is affected, the cause is its adapter, driver or settings.

Will Network reset delete my files?

No. It only removes network adapters and their settings, including saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN or virtual switch configurations. Your files and apps stay as they are.

Can antivirus cause "The default gateway is not available"?

Yes. Third-party antivirus, firewalls and VPN clients filter network traffic, and users most often report McAfee. Temporarily disable or uninstall the software to test, then reinstall the latest version if it was the cause.

Sources

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