Computer Won’t Connect To Internet But Others Will [Our Tested Fixes]

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Arsalan Shakil

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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The answer to “Why my computer won’t connect to the internet, but others will” is simple: your computer might be misconfigured, or there are problems with the internet, like weak signals. Varying error messages indicate a failure to connect to the internet, such as “Can’t connect to this network,” “There is no internet connection,” or “No internet, secured.”

Method Difficulty Rating

Restore Advanced Internet Settings

This set of internet settings lets you control HTTP configurations, multimedia interactions, and security features, for example, verifying server certifications and signatures. Consequently, it maintains the computer’s security and notifies users about important alerts.

When nothing else was working, restoring advanced internet settings was a technique that got me out of this mess. Doing so restored the settings to default and undid any faulty changes that disrupted the computer’s connection.

1. Search Internet Options: Type Internet Options in the Windows Search Bar > Click on the result.
2. Restore Settings: Select the Advanced tab > Press Restore Advanced Settings > Apply > OK.

   

Re-Add Your Network

The network connection can often become corrupt, or you might incorrectly configure them, creating connectivity problems. Re-adding the network can eliminate conflicting data and IP addresses to troubleshoot network errors.

Therefore, ensure this is not the case by forgetting the connected WiFi network and manually re-adding it to your computer. This simple fix is also upvoted as helpful by more than 100 users on Tom’s Guide forum, plus my testing provided similar results as well.

1. Go To WiFi Settings: Launch Windows Settings > Network And Internet > Highlight WiFi on the left pane > Click on Manage Known Networks.

   

2. Forget Network: Expand your WiFi network > Forget > Restart the computer.

   

3. Add New Network: Use the same steps to access the WiFi settings section > Manage Known Networks > Add A New Network.

   

4. Enter Details: Type your network details, such as Name and Network Security Type. Mark the boxes beside Connect Automatically and Connect Even If This Network Is Not Broadcasting > Save.

   

Reset Internet Settings

Correct internet settings are essential for proper connectivity between the device and the network. Some third-party apps and programs can mess up your internet settings, leading to troubles such as slower browsing performance and difficulty connecting to the internet.

To counter this, Microsoft Support suggested resetting network settings to clear out old or malicious cache. Hence, I performed a network reset to check its validity, and once done, the computer connected to the internet without prior errors. I also noticed slightly faster internet performance and reduced loading times when accessing websites.

1. Open Advanced Menu: Access Windows Settings > Network And Internet > Click Advanced Network Settings.
2. Reset Network: Go to Network Reset > Reset Now > Yes > Restart the PC.

   

Restart Network Setup Service

The Network Setup service is critical to the network performance of your PC. It functions in the background and scans for available networks before letting a computer confirm the connection. Whenever you link to a network, this service saves the profile and configurations to automatically connect the next time this network is in range.

However, the data this service operates on can sometimes become outdated or corrupt, especially if you have changed the network’s configurations or password.

To rule out this cause, restart the Network Setup service to eliminate temporary clashes or bugs within the service that may impact its operation. Additionally, set the Startup Type as Automatic so it can start working as soon as the computer boots up. 

1. Search Services: Type Services in the Search Bar > Open the relevant result.

   

2. Select Network Setup: Find Network Setup Service and double-click on it.
3. Set Automatic Startup: In the General tab, select Automatic in the Startup Type dropdown.
4. Start Service: Press Start > Apply > OK.

   

5. Change Service Configuration: Next, go to Recovery > Choose Restart The Service in the First Failure dropdown > Apply > OK.

Last Words

When researching, it was evident that I wasn’t alone in facing this problem, but users across this Reddit thread were stuck in a similar situation. 

Computer won’t connect to the internet, but my phone is working fine.
byu/t-lymphocyte in24hoursupport

Microsoft has recommended no verified fix for this issue, and no acknowledgement has been seen either.

Consequently, people, including me, resorted to workarounds like the ones discussed above to restore internet connection on Windows PC. One last tip I want to add is to confirm that you are entering the right password, as users often overlook this little aspect.

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Arsalan Shakil

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com