Start with the simplest checks first

Before you assume something is broken, check whether your internet is actually down. Look at your modem — the box that connects to your wall outlet and your router. If the lights on the front are off or red, your modem has lost power or lost connection to your internet service provider. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait two minutes for it to fully restart. If the lights come back on and turn green or blue, your modem is working again.

Next, check your router — the device that broadcasts your Wi-Fi signal. Make sure it is powered on and the lights are lit. If you are using Wi-Fi, move closer to the router. Thick walls, microwaves, and cordless phones can block the signal. If you can connect on another device — a phone or tablet — then your internet is working and the problem is with your PC.

If nothing else in your house can connect either, call your internet service provider's support line. They can tell you whether there is an outage in your area. Do not spend an hour troubleshooting your PC if the problem is on their end.

Key Takeaways

  • Restart your modem by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then wait two minutes after plugging it back in for the lights to stabilize.
  • Test whether other devices can connect to your Wi-Fi or wired network to determine if the problem is your PC or your internet service.
  • Check your network settings in Windows to see whether your PC recognizes the network and whether it is set to connect automatically.
  • Update or reinstall your network driver if your PC sees the network but cannot connect, or if it worked before and suddenly stopped.
  • If your PC has a physical network switch or airplane mode turned on, it will block all connections even if the hardware is working.

Check your PC's network settings and connections

Open your network settings by right-clicking the Wi-Fi or network icon in the bottom right corner of your screen, next to the clock. If you see a red X or a warning symbol, Windows knows something is wrong. Click "Open Network & Internet settings" and look at the status. It should say "Connected" next to your network name.

If it says "Not connected" or "No internet", click on your network name in the list and select "Connect". Windows will ask for your Wi-Fi password if you are connecting to Wi-Fi. Type it carefully — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters matter. If you do not know the password, check the sticker on the back of your router or ask whoever set up your network.

If your network does not appear in the list at all, your PC's network hardware may be turned off. Look for a physical switch or button on the side of your laptop, or check whether airplane mode is on. Airplane mode disables all wireless connections. Press the Windows key and type "airplane mode" to open the setting and turn it off.

Restart your PC and your network hardware

A restart often fixes connection problems because it clears out temporary files and resets connections. Shut down your PC completely — do not just put it to sleep. Wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. While your PC is restarting, unplug your router and modem at the same time. Wait 30 seconds, then plug in the modem first and wait for its lights to stabilize. Then plug in the router and wait another two minutes.

This sequence matters because the modem needs to connect to your internet service provider before the router can distribute that connection to your devices. If you plug the router in first, it may not find the internet signal.

Once everything is back on, try connecting again. Many connection problems resolve after a full restart of both your PC and your network hardware.

Update or reinstall your network driver

Your network driver is the software that lets Windows talk to your network hardware. If it is outdated or corrupted, your PC will not connect even if the hardware is fine. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager". Look for "Network adapters" and click the arrow next to it to expand the list.

You should see at least one network adapter — usually something like "Ethernet" or "Wi-Fi" or a brand name like "Intel Wireless". Right-click it and select "Update driver". Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software". Windows will check for a newer version online. If it finds one, it will install it and ask you to restart.

If updating does not work, try uninstalling the driver instead. Right-click the network adapter and select "Uninstall device". Restart your PC. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it starts up. This clears out any corrupted files and gives you a fresh copy.

Check for hardware problems and physical damage

If you are using a wired connection, inspect the Ethernet cable. It should be plugged firmly into the port on the back of your PC and into your router or modem. The connector should click into place. If the cable is loose, push it in until you hear or feel a click. If the cable is visibly damaged — crushed, bent sharply, or with exposed wires — it needs to be replaced.

For Wi-Fi connections, check whether your PC's Wi-Fi antenna is working. Some laptops have a small light next to the Wi-Fi symbol that turns on when the antenna is active. If that light is off, your Wi-Fi hardware may be disabled. Look for a physical switch on the side of your laptop or check your keyboard for a Wi-Fi symbol key — usually Fn plus a key with an antenna icon. Press that combination to turn Wi-Fi back on.

If your PC worked fine before and suddenly will not connect, and you have not installed new software or updated Windows recently, the network hardware itself may have failed. This is rare, but if you have tried everything above and nothing works, your network card may need to be replaced. This is a job for a repair technician.

Run the Windows network troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that can diagnose and sometimes fix connection problems automatically. Right-click the network icon in the bottom right corner and select "Troubleshoot problems". Windows will run through a series of checks and report what it finds. If it identifies a problem, it will offer to fix it automatically.

The troubleshooter is not perfect — it catches common issues but misses others — but it is worth running because it takes only a minute and sometimes solves the problem without any work from you.

When to call your internet service provider or a technician

If you have restarted everything, updated your drivers, and checked your settings, but your PC still will not connect while other devices can, the problem is likely with your PC's network hardware. At that point, contact a repair technician. They can run diagnostic software to confirm whether the network card is working and replace it if it has failed.

If no devices can connect to your internet, or if your modem lights stay red or off after restarting, the problem is with your internet service or your modem. Call your internet service provider's support number. Have your account number ready and be prepared to describe what the modem lights are doing. They may be able to restart your connection remotely, or they may need to send a technician to your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

My PC connects to Wi-Fi but the internet is very slow. Is that the same problem?

Not quite. A slow connection usually means your PC is connected but your internet speed is poor. Move closer to the router, restart your modem, or contact your internet service provider to check whether you are getting the speed you are paying for. If only your PC is slow while other devices are fast, update your network driver or move your PC closer to the router.

I see my network in the list but it says "Can't connect to this network". What does that mean?

Your PC sees the network but cannot authenticate — usually because the password is wrong. Click the network name and select "Forget". Then click it again and reconnect, typing the password very carefully. If you still cannot connect, restart your router. If other devices can connect with the same password, your PC's network hardware may be failing.

My PC worked yesterday but will not connect today. What changed?

Check whether Windows installed updates overnight — updates sometimes reset network settings. Restart your PC and your modem. If that does not work, check Device Manager to see whether your network driver shows a warning symbol. If it does, update or reinstall the driver. If there is no warning and everything looks normal, your network hardware may have failed.

Can a virus stop my internet from working?

Rarely. A virus can slow your connection or block specific websites, but it usually cannot prevent your PC from connecting entirely. If your PC will not connect at all and you suspect a virus, restart in Safe Mode with Networking — press F8 during startup — and see whether you can connect then. If you can, malware may be the problem and you should run a full antivirus scan.

What if I have an Ethernet cable plugged in but my PC still will not connect?

Check that the cable is pushed in firmly on both ends. Look in Device Manager to see whether your Ethernet adapter shows a warning symbol. If it does, update the driver. If the cable and driver are both fine, restart your modem and PC. If nothing works, the Ethernet port on your PC or the cable itself may be damaged.