The WiFi is connected but No Internet access problem can be encountered on any Windows computer after setting up your computer to access the wireless network. The “Limited Access” error message indicates that you are connected to the network but without an Internet connection.
“Limited Access – No Internet access” problem may occur on WiFi or LAN connection for several reasons, so follow the steps below to fix the issue.
This tutorial contains detailed instructions for solving the following problems when trying to connect to the Internet using the Wireless or LAN Adapter on Windows 10, 8 / 8.1, or 7 OS:
WiFi is connected but no internet access: start with the router
To identify router problems, connect other devices such as your mobile phone to the WiFi network and see if it works. If the Internet works well on different devices, the problem is with your device and its WiFi adapter. On the other hand, if the Internet does not work on other devices as well, the problem is likely with the router or internet connection itself.
One right way to fix the router is to restart it. Although it might seem silly, restarting clears the cache and fixes many network problems and associated software.
- If the router and modem are separate, restart them.
- Stop both
- Wait 30 seconds
- Turn on the modem and, after a one-minute turn on the router.
- Wait a few minutes and check.
This simple solution fixes several minor problems with the router.
Internet connection problem
Sometimes, the WiFi is connected but no Internet access or connection and not with any device. This could be due to cable failure, service interruption, or anything else that is not under your control.
However, it is important to know if the problem is with your internet provider you will know by checking if the “Internet” light on the modem is switched on or not. Ideally, the power lights and DSL should be turned on. Also, make sure that there is nothing unusual, such as the continuous flashing of lights.
If the lights are not lit or if you see flashing lights, contact your internet service provider immediately.
Problem with your device
When other devices are able to access the Internet through WiFi, the problem is with your device and its WiFi adapter.
As a first step, restart your device and check if this will solve the problem. As with the router, network and software problems are often fixed automatically with a simple restart.
If that doesn’t solve your problem, here’s what you can do.
- Right-click on the grid icon in your taskbar in the lower right corner. Click “Troubleshoot”
- Windows will try to diagnose the problem automatically and will try to fix it for you.
- If Windows is unable to fix your problem, in some cases, it will tell you what the problem is.
- You can search for a solution to this problem online or ask experts.
DNS cache conflict
DNS Buffer stores all recent visits to websites so that it can load webpages quickly.
Usually, when you enter a URL in your browser, the operating system intercepts this URL and searches the DNS cache. If your request matches the pages cached, the operating system takes these pages from the cache instead of downloading it from the Internet.
Sometimes, the DNS cache is corrupted due to technical faults or when unauthorized domain names are included by external software such as viruses. Ads and banners on some sites also send malicious code to destroy the DNS cache.
A corrupted DNS cache prevents the Internet connection because of an IP address mismatch. To fix the problem, you have to clear the cache of DNS. To do that,
- Press Windows + R and type ‘cmd’. This will open a command prompt.
- Type the following command and press Enter: Ipconfig / floods
This will clear the DNS cache. Restart your PC again and see if you can connect to the Internet.
Old Wireless Modes
The wireless mode and standard that the router uses affect internet speeds and coverage. In general, you can see rules like 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11b, and 802.11ac. These standards are defined by an organization called IEEE, and this is done to ensure uniformity across all router models.
Of these, 802.11b is the oldest and slowest, while 802.11ac is the newest and fastest. So, now suppose you have an older device that can only connect to 802.11b or 802.11g while your router relies on the latest 802.11ac. This creates a conflict where the device cannot communicate with the new standard.
The first step to fix this issue is to specify your router details. Open a command prompt and type “ipconfig”. This is the information you should see.
Run the Windows Troubleshooter
When it comes to fixing common problems on your computer, it’s always best to use the Windows Troubleshooter and its built-in fixer. This also works with WiFi connection but no internet problem, and you can access it by right-clicking on the WiFi icon in the taskbar and selecting the “Troubleshoot” option. Although it usually doesn’t solve the problem on its own, it still helps us determine the actual problem.