Fixes / Windows · Checked September 30, 2026

Windows "No internet, secured": what it means and how to fix it

Short answer

"No internet, secured" means your PC joined the Wi-Fi network and the password worked, but Windows could not reach Microsoft's test server on the internet. If other devices on the same Wi-Fi are also offline, the problem is the router or your provider. The most likely fix is to unplug the modem and router for 30 seconds, plug them back in, then restart the PC.

What this message means

"Secured" only means the Wi-Fi uses a password (WPA2 or WPA3) and your PC joined it. "No internet" comes from a Windows feature called the Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI). It sends a small web request to www.msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt and expects the reply "Microsoft Connect Test". If that request fails, is blocked or is redirected (for example by a hotel login page, a proxy or a VPN), Windows marks the connection as local only. Usually the internet really is unreachable from this PC. Sometimes, though, websites load fine and only the check is failing. In that case apps that rely on the check, like Microsoft Store or Office, may still behave as if you are offline.

Common causes

Cause	How to tell
The router or internet service is down	Phones and other devices on the same Wi-Fi also cannot load websites, or the router's internet or WAN light is off, red or blinking.
Public Wi-Fi login page (captive portal) not completed	You are on hotel, airport, café or guest Wi-Fi and no sign-in or accept-terms page has appeared in your browser yet.
The router is refusing your PC's hardware (MAC) address or has not given it a working IP address	Only this PC fails while other devices work, and the PC works on a phone hotspot or Ethernet. Running ipconfig in Command Prompt shows an IPv4 address starting with 169.254 or no Default Gateway.
A VPN, proxy or security app is blocking or rerouting Windows' connection check	The message appears when the VPN connects or after installing security software, and it goes away when you disconnect the VPN or pause that software. Websites may still load.
Corrupted network settings, DNS cache or Winsock catalog	The router responds when you ping the Default Gateway, but websites fail to load or show "DNS_PROBE" or "server not found" errors.
Faulty, outdated or power-saving Wi-Fi adapter driver	The problem started after a Windows or driver update, or after waking from sleep. Device Manager may show a yellow warning icon on the adapter under Network adapters.

How to fix it

1. Check whether the internet itself is down, then restart the router

On a phone connected to the same Wi-Fi (with mobile data turned off), try to open a website.
If the phone also fails, unplug the modem and the router (or the combined box) for at least 30 seconds.
Plug the modem back in first and wait until its lights are steady, then plug in the router.
Restart the PC: Start > Power > Restart.
If nothing on the network works after this, contact your internet provider, since the fault is not on your PC.

2. Sign in to the public Wi-Fi login page

Open a web browser on the PC.
Go to http://msftconnecttest.com/redirect (or any plain http:// website). This makes the Wi-Fi's login page appear.
Accept the terms or sign in with the room number, voucher or account you were given.
Wait about 15 seconds. The network icon should update without a restart.

3. Forget the network and reconnect, with random hardware addresses switched

Windows 11: Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi. Windows 10: Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.

Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
Select your network and choose Forget.
Click the network icon on the taskbar, pick the network again and enter the Wi-Fi password.
If it still says No internet, open the network's properties (Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > your network's properties) and change Random hardware addresses to the opposite setting (On if it was Off, Off if it was On).
Disconnect and reconnect to the Wi-Fi. This gives the router a different device address, which gets around MAC filters, parental-control blocks and stuck address leases.
If turning it On fixes the problem, check the router's admin page for a MAC filter or blocked-device list that includes this PC.

4. Reset the TCP/IP stack, Winsock and DNS cache

Select Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
Run these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each: netsh winsock reset, netsh int ip reset, ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew, ipconfig /flushdns
Restart the PC.
To check the connection to the router, run ipconfig, note the Default Gateway address, then run ping followed by that address (for example ping 192.168.1.1). Replies mean the PC reaches the router.

5. Disconnect the VPN and remove proxy settings

Disconnect or quit any VPN app, and check Settings > Network & internet > VPN for active connections.
Open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Under Manual proxy setup, turn off Use a proxy server unless your workplace requires one.
Temporarily pause third-party antivirus or firewall software, then check whether the message clears.
If the message clears, reinstall or update the VPN or security app, or allow www.msftconnecttest.com in it. On a work PC, ask IT to allow NCSI traffic through the proxy or firewall.

6. Reinstall the Wi-Fi driver, then run a network reset

Network reset path: Windows 11 Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. Windows 10 Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.

Right-click Start and select Device Manager, then expand Network adapters.
Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter, select Properties > Power Management and clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Select OK.
If that does not help, right-click the adapter, select Uninstall device, check Attempt to remove the driver for this device, select Uninstall and restart. Windows reinstalls the driver automatically. If it doesn't, install the latest driver from the PC or adapter maker's website.
As a last resort, open Network reset (path above), select Reset now and confirm. The PC restarts, and you will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and reinstall VPN software.

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Still not fixed?

If the PC still says No internet, secured, check whether it works on another network such as a phone hotspot or Ethernet cable. If it works elsewhere, the router is the problem. Log in to its admin page and update its firmware, change the Wi-Fi channel or switch between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, check for device blocks, or contact your internet provider. If the PC fails on every network while other devices work, install pending updates in Settings > Windows Update. Then contact the PC maker's support, since the Wi-Fi adapter may be faulty. On a work or school device, contact your IT department, because a proxy, firewall or VPN policy is the usual cause.

Questions people ask

What does "secured" mean in "No internet, secured"?

It means the Wi-Fi network is protected with a password (WPA2 or WPA3) and your PC joined it successfully. It says nothing about whether the internet works. The "No internet" part is the actual problem.

Why does it say No internet, secured when other devices work fine?

The problem is on your PC or in how the router treats it. Common causes are a MAC address block or stuck address on the router, a VPN or proxy, corrupted network settings, or the Wi-Fi driver. Forgetting the network, switching Random hardware addresses and running the netsh and ipconfig reset commands fix most of these cases.

Websites load but Windows still says No internet. Is that a problem?

Only Windows' connection check is failing, usually because a VPN, proxy or firewall blocks www.msftconnecttest.com. Browsing still works, but apps that trust the check, such as Microsoft Store and Office, may act as if you are offline. Microsoft advises against turning off the check itself, so fix the blocking software or proxy instead.

Does a network reset delete my files?

No. A network reset only removes and reinstalls network adapters and returns network settings to their defaults. You will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and may need to reinstall VPN or virtual switch software.

Should I disable IPv6 to fix it?

Usually not. Windows sends its internet check over IPv4 and IPv6 at the same time and reports internet access if either one succeeds, so disabling IPv6 rarely helps. Try the router restart, reconnect and reset steps first.

Sources

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