You installed the latest Windows 11 update, restarted, and now the connection is gone. Maybe the Wi-Fi icon shows a globe instead of bars, or Ethernet says you are connected but nothing loads. This often happens after a feature or cumulative update changes network components, and you can almost always fix it from the PC itself. Work through the fixes below in order. They start with the safest options and end with the heavier reset, which you should only use last.
Start With Microsoft's Own Network Diagnostics
Start with the built-in troubleshooter because it doesn't change anything destructively. It runs automated diagnostics and tries to fix most problems on its own.
On Windows 11, open the Get Help app and type connect to network and internet in the search bar. Select Run network diagnostics and let it finish.
On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network troubleshooter and follow the prompts. On either version, let the tool apply any fixes it finds before you move on.
Restart Everything and Confirm the Basics
A clean restart after an update often gets the network adapter working again with no other changes, so don't skip this even if it feels too simple. Restart your PC. Then restart your modem and router: power them off, wait a moment, and power them back on.
Next, check the obvious connection settings. For Wi-Fi, make sure Wi-Fi is turned on and Airplane mode is off. On a laptop, also check that the physical Wi-Fi switch (if your model has one) is on.
If you have another device that's online, check the Windows release health page. It lists known issues for your Windows 11 version, and a known networking bug there may come with a workaround or a fix that's coming.
Renew Your IP Address and Clear the DNS Cache
A common problem after an update is "connected but no internet," where the PC connects to the router but can't reach websites. Getting a fresh IP address from your router and clearing old DNS entries often fixes this.
First, open Command Prompt as administrator.
Select Search on the taskbar and type command prompt. To the right of the Command Prompt result, select Run as administrator > Yes.
- 1.Run
ipconfig /releaseand press Enter. - 2.Run
ipconfig /renewand press Enter. - 3.Run
ipconfig /flushdnsand press Enter.
The first two commands give up your current IP address and request a new one from your router. The third clears cached DNS records that may have gone stale during the update. Check your connection again once the last command finishes.
Reset Winsock and the TCP/IP Stack
If the connection still doesn't come back, the next step resets Windows' core networking components. Stay in the same administrator Command Prompt window.
Run netsh winsock reset and press Enter to return the Winsock catalog to a clean state. Then run netsh int ip reset and press Enter. Restart your PC when both are done.
The netsh int ip reset command resets the TCP/IP stack to its default settings, which fixes connection settings an update may have broken. To save a log of the changes, run netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt instead. Don't skip the restart at the end.
Reinstall the Network Adapter Driver
An update can leave your network adapter with a driver that doesn't match. The cleanest fix is to remove the driver and let Windows install a fresh copy when you restart.
Select Search on the taskbar, type device manager, and open Device Manager. Expand Network adapters and find your adapter.
Right-click it (or press and hold) and select Uninstall device. Check Attempt to remove the driver for this device, then confirm the uninstall. Select Start > Power > Restart.
When the PC restarts, Windows reinstalls the driver automatically. If the PC can't connect at all, first use another computer to download the correct driver from your PC or adapter maker and save it to a USB flash drive. You'll need it if the automatic reinstall doesn't give you a working driver.
Switch to a Different DNS Server
If pages load slowly or only some of the time, the problem may be looking up website names (DNS) rather than the connection itself. Try switching the PC to a different DNS server.
- 1.Open Start > Settings > Network & internet. For Wi-Fi, select Wi-Fi > Manage known networks and choose your network. For a wired connection, select Ethernet and choose the connected network.
- 2.Next to IP assignment, select Edit.
- 3.Choose Manual and turn on IPv4.
- 4.Fill in the IP address, Subnet mask and Gateway boxes, then type your DNS addresses in the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS boxes.
- 5.Select Save.
The Manual option needs your full IP details, not just DNS. The Manual option replaces automatic addressing, so enter your full IP details as well as DNS. If you're not sure what they are, leave IP assignment on Automatic (DHCP). On Windows 11, you can also choose a DNS over HTTPS setting on the same screen to encrypt your DNS lookups. This option isn't available on Windows 10. If the new DNS server doesn't help, return to the same screen and set IP assignment back to Automatic (DHCP).
When Nothing Else Works, Use Network Reset
Network reset should be the last thing you try. It removes and reinstalls all your network adapters and returns their settings to the defaults. Use it only after the steps above have failed.
On Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset, then select Reset now > Yes.
On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.
Before you do this, know what it changes. Because it returns every adapter to its defaults, you may need to reinstall other networking software afterward, such as a VPN client or Hyper-V virtual switches. Your saved networks might also be set to a public network profile. Keep the sign-in details and installers for that software handy so you can set those connections up again after the PC restarts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my internet stop working right after a Windows 11 update?
Updates can replace or change networking components and drivers, which sometimes leaves the connection broken or mismatched. The fixes above solve most of these cases without anything destructive. Start with the built-in network diagnostics and a full restart.
Which fix should I try first?
Start with the Network and Internet troubleshooter because it's the safest option. On Windows 11, open the Get Help app, search connect to network and internet, and select Run network diagnostics. On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network troubleshooter.
Is it safe to run the netsh and ipconfig commands?
Yes. Microsoft lists ipconfig /flushdns, ipconfig /renew, netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset as standard fixes for connection problems. Run them in a Command Prompt opened as administrator, and restart the PC after the netsh commands.
Will Network reset delete my files or other settings?
No. Network reset only affects networking. It removes and reinstalls all your network adapters and returns their settings to the defaults. Afterward, you may need to reinstall software such as a VPN client or Hyper-V virtual switches, and your saved networks might be set to a public profile. Use it only after the earlier fixes fail.
Do these steps work on Windows 10 too?
Yes. The commands and most of the paths work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The main differences: the troubleshooter is in the Get Help app on Windows 11 but in Settings on Windows 10, Network reset is in a different place, and DNS over HTTPS is only available on Windows 11.