Your Chromebook won't connect to Wi-Fi, or it says it's connected while websites refuse to load. Start with the connection controls, then use a few quick comparisons to separate a Chromebook problem from a network problem. The steps below cover saved passwords, public Wi-Fi sign-ins, and persistent failures that need a reset or repair.
Get Wi-Fi turned on and reconnect
This restores Wi-Fi when it is switched off and starts a fresh connection attempt. Select the time, then open Not Connected and turn on Wi-Fi. Select your network, enter its password, and select Connect.
If Wi-Fi was already enabled, open the time menu. Select the Wi-Fi icon to turn wireless off, then select the Wi-Fi icon again to turn it on. Open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > your network, then select Connect. If the connection still fails, restart the Chromebook through the time menu > Power > Restart.
Find out whether the Chromebook or router is at fault
These comparisons narrow down which side of the connection needs attention.
- 1.Try the same Wi-Fi network on another device. If that device also fails, investigate the router or internet service.
- 2.Test your Chromebook on another network or a phone hotspot. A successful connection points toward the original network.
- 3.Move within 10 to 15 feet of the router, avoiding thick walls, appliances, and other electronics between the devices. If connectivity improves, adjust the router's placement.
- 4.For a home network with a separate modem and router, turn both off and wait 30 seconds. Follow the equipment's instructions if they differ.
- 5.Turn on the modem and wait for its lights to stabilize, then turn on the router.
- 6.Retest the connection. If other devices still lack internet access, contact your internet provider about the upstream connection.
Replace the saved network connection
Open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Known networks, then select More beside the affected network. Choose Forget. You will need the network's current password to reconnect.
Select the network again from the Wi-Fi screen, enter the current password, and select Connect. To restore automatic reconnection, open the connected network under Settings > Network > Wi-Fi. Turn on Automatically connect to this network.
If several networks are available, turn on Prefer this network for the reliable connection you want to use. For a deliberately hidden network, open Settings > Network > Add connection > Add Wi-Fi. Enter the hidden network's information, then select Connect. Confirm the current password with the network owner before forgetting a connection you cannot set up again yourself.
Handle Wi-Fi that connects but won't load websites
On hotel, school, or public Wi-Fi, open an address beginning with http:// to trigger the network's sign-in page. Complete its sign-in or agreement. If the page stays closed, try an Incognito window with Ctrl + Shift + n; if that is restricted, ask the network owner for help.
If you remain offline after signing in, disconnect from the network and reconnect. If that fails, ask the network owner whether internet access is available. When only one website fails, check its URL and test the same page on another computer using the same network.
For a DNS error while connected, select the time > your Wi-Fi network > your wireless network > Network > Name servers > Google name servers. This addresses name-resolution failures; it cannot fix an undetected Wi-Fi adapter.
For ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED, open the time menu > Settings > Network > your active network > the network name again > Proxy. Correct the configuration using the network owner's settings.
Let Diagnostics narrow down the failure
Open Settings > About ChromeOS > Diagnostics, available on ChromeOS version 90 and later. When the app opens, it automatically runs the tests for your default connection method.
Inspect Connectivity for the results, then expand IP Configuration for more connection information. Select Save test details to keep the results for support.
Connect to a working network or Ethernet to download ChromeOS updates. Use a compatible USB Ethernet adapter if your Chromebook needs one. Open Settings > About ChromeOS > Check for updates.
After the download finishes, select Restart in the Update device notification. If the connection still fails after updating, test Guest browsing and extensions next, then try Safety reset.
Check your profile and extensions
Sign out of your Chromebook. Select Browse as Guest and test the connection. A successful Guest test points toward a profile-related cause without identifying it; if Guest browsing is disabled, continue with the extension check.
Sign back into your account. Open Chrome > More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Turn extensions off individually, testing the connection after each change, especially when a public Wi-Fi sign-in page refuses to appear.
For persistent settings trouble, open the time menu > Settings > System preferences > Reset > Safety reset. Review the confirmation before selecting Done. If that control is missing, continue to the hardware reset below.
Safety reset keeps local files and apps while resetting network, input, and Chrome settings. It also disables extensions and removes cookies and temporary site data. Deleting cookies carries a risk of signing you out of websites.
Try a hardware reset after the simpler fixes
Back up important files in Downloads. A hardware reset carries a risk of losing some files in that folder.
Shut down the Chromebook. On most Chromebook laptops, hold Refresh while tapping Power. Release Refresh when startup begins.
For a Chromebook tablet, hold Volume Up + Power instead for at least 10 seconds. Release both buttons, then test Wi-Fi again after startup. Follow your manufacturer's model-specific hardware reset instructions when they give a different procedure.
Reserve Powerwash for persistent software trouble
Powerwash addresses persistent software trouble with a factory reset that erases local user data. Back up your local files before continuing. For a work or school Chromebook, contact IT to handle the reset.
On a personal Chromebook, sign out. Hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + r. Select Restart, then choose Powerwash and select Continue. Complete the setup prompts, then test Wi-Fi before restoring additional software.
Contact support when the failure persists
If Wi-Fi fails across multiple known-working networks after troubleshooting, contact the Chromebook manufacturer. Share the results saved from Diagnostics and ask for a hardware assessment. A software reset cannot repair a failed wireless component.
For a work or school Chromebook, contact IT when network settings are locked or connections are restricted. Your administrator handles corrections to managed credentials, certificates, DNS, proxy settings, and network restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Chromebook connect to a hotspot but not my home Wi-Fi?
That result points toward the home network. If router access filtering is enabled, allow the Chromebook's actual MAC address in the router's management interface. Find it by selecting the time > your Wi-Fi network > Information; the MAC address is labeled Wi-Fi. For a 5-GHz-only network that fails, try enabling 2.4 GHz, especially with older Chromebook hardware. Router labels vary by model.
Can a VPN block internet access even when Wi-Fi is connected?
Yes. On supported Chromebooks, an Android VPN's blocking settings prevent direct access when the VPN fails. Open Settings > Apps > Manage Google Play preferences > Android Settings > Network & internet > VPN > the VPN app's Settings. Inspect Always-on VPN and Block connections without VPN. Restore the VPN connection, or turn off the relevant setting when direct access is intended.
Where do I check Secure DNS if website lookups fail?
Open Chrome > More > Settings > Privacy and security > Security > Advanced > Manage secure DNS in ChromeOS settings. Temporarily turn off Use secure connections to look up sites. Retest the website. This control is unavailable under some management or parental-control conditions.
How do I restore access if Google Home has paused my Chromebook?
An authorized household member can open Google Home > Home > Wifi > Family Wi-Fi > the affected group > Unpause. To end an active scheduled pause, open Family Wi-Fi > the schedule's More > End schedule. This restores router-controlled internet access.