If your computer is not connecting to the internet, there are a few potential causes and some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the problem. Before starting, it is important to make sure the modem and/or router (wired or wireless) that your computer is using to connect to the internet is functioning correctly. To do this, check for power and network connections and restart the device if necessary. Additionally, another useful step for beginning to troubleshoot is to try and connect a different device (such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone) to the same network to see if the internet connection is actually working.
Assuming that the internet connection is working but your computer is still unable to access the internet, there are several other possible troubleshooting steps you can take. First, try resetting your internet connection. On Windows computers, this can be done by going to the Control Panel and then selecting “Network and Internet” > “Network and Sharing Center” > “Change adapter settings” > right-clicking on your internet connection > “Disable” > “Enable”. For Macs, the process is similar — go to “System Preferences” > “Network” > select your internet connection > “Advanced” > “Renew DHCP lease”.
If resetting your internet connection does not resolve the issue, an alternate way to restore your computer’s internet connection is to reset the Winsock Catalog. This system file can become corrupted, which can cause problems with connecting to the internet. To reset the Winsock Catalog on Windows machines, you must open the Command Prompt window (Windows + X > type “Command Prompt” > right-click the icon and select “Run as administrator”). Once the window is open, type the following command: netsh winsock reset. After executing this command, restart your computer and try connecting to the internet again.
Another potential issue you may encounter when attempting to connect to the internet is a misconfigured firewall or antivirus/malware protection software. Firewalls or security software can sometimes block incoming and/or outgoing network connections, so it is important to make sure these programs are allowing the connection. Depending on your security software, you may need to go into the settings and configure which applications or websites are allowed to access the internet. Additionally, you should consider disabling them temporarily and then testing the connection to see if there is any improvement.
In addition to the above troubleshooting steps, there are other possible problems that may be causing your computer to fail to connect to the internet. These range from a misconfigured IP address to outdated drivers and more. If the above steps have not resolved the issue, then your best course of action would be to contact your internet service provider or a computer expert to help diagnose the issue and determine potential solutions.
Overall, if your computer is not connecting to the internet, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to try and restore the connection. Begin by verifying that the modem and/or router is functioning properly and check to see if any other devices can connect to the same network. If those tests pass, then resetting your internet connection and resetting the Winsock Catalog may help. Additionally, making sure your firewall and any security software are allowing the connection is important as well. If none of these steps resolves the issue, then it may be necessary to contact your internet service provider or a computer expert.