Recently, I encountered an issue with my Chromebook where it connected to Wi-Fi without a problem, but I couldn’t access the internet. After about 15-20 minutes of troubleshooting, I finally resolved the issue. If you’re experiencing something similar, here’s a guide to fixing the “Chromebook connected to Wi-Fi but no internet” error.
First, determine whether the problem lies with your Chromebook or your router. Connect another device to the same Wi-Fi network. If other devices also can’t access the internet, the problem is with your router. If other devices work fine, the issue is with your Chromebook. Knowing the source of the problem will make troubleshooting faster and easier.
If the Wi-Fi Issue Is With Your Router
The first thing to try is rebooting your router. Turn it off for thirty seconds, then turn it back on. This often resolves the issue. If the problem persists, try the following steps.
1. Check if Your Router is Connected to the Internet
Often, router problems stem from the router itself not being connected to the internet. Check the WAN light on your router should be blinking, not constantly on or off (some routers use a solid green light to indicate internet access).
If the WAN light isn’t blinking, you might have a loose or damaged broadband cable connection, your ISP might be experiencing an outage, or you may have exceeded your monthly data limit. In any of these cases, your router can’t access the internet. Contact your ISP’s customer support to resolve the issue.
2. Your ISP May Be Experiencing an Outage
The problem might not be your router, but rather an issue with your internet service provider (ISP). Visit a website like Downdetector and search for your ISP to see if others in your area are reporting outages. If there are widespread reports of service disruptions, all you can do is wait for the service to be restored. You can also contact your ISP for more information about the outage. If no one else in your area is reporting problems, the issue is likely on your end.
3. Check for Captive Portals
Some Wi-Fi networks use captive portals, which require an extra sign-in step to access the internet, even after you’ve connected to the Wi-Fi.
Chrome OS usually detects and notifies you about these captive portals when you connect (if one exists). If you don’t receive a notification, try reconnecting to the Wi-Fi, or forgetting the network and then reconnecting.
To forget a network, open Settings > Wi-Fi, select the network, and click Forget.
Then, reconnect to the same Wi-Fi. This should trigger a notification about the captive portal, if the network uses one. You can also use the Chrome Connectivity Diagnostics extension to check if the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to has a captive portal.
4. Update Your Router’s Firmware
Some ISPs don’t regularly update their routers’ firmware. If your router is several years old, its firmware might be outdated, leading to security vulnerabilities and bugs like the one you’re experiencing. Updating to the latest firmware version can fix current issues and prevent future ones.
To update the firmware, you’ll need to access your router’s settings. A quick Google search for “default IP address, username, and password [your ISP name or router model]” should provide the information you need. Enter the IP address into Chrome, which will open your router’s login page. Use the username and password to log in.
Once in the dashboard, look for the firmware update option. You can usually download the latest firmware image from your router manufacturer’s website and then upload it through the router’s interface. Also, it is recommended to update the router firmware every once in a while.
5. Check Your Router’s Security Settings
Outdated or weak security settings can cause connection problems, preventing your Chromebook from accessing the internet even when connected to Wi-Fi. To ensure a stable connection, check and adjust your router’s security settings:
- Log in to your router’s settings (enter your router’s IP address in Chrome and use the admin credentials).
- Navigate to the Wireless Security section (the name may vary depending on your router’s brand).
- Set the Security Mode to WPA2-PSK (AES). Avoid using WPA/WPA2 mixed mode or WPA2-PSK (TKIP), as these can lead to connection instability.
- Save the changes and restart your router.
After updating these settings, reconnect your Chromebook to the Wi-Fi and check if the internet issue is resolved.
6. Enable Both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Networks (If Supported)
Sometimes, Chrome displays a This site can’t be reached page due to slow loading times, even if technically connected. A slow internet connection is often the culprit. However, the network speed can be affected by which frequency band your Chromebook is using.
5GHz connections offer faster speeds but have a shorter range, while 2.4GHz connections are slower but cover a wider area. When you’re far from the router, your device might automatically connect to the 2.4GHz network, which can sometimes be slow.
Enabling both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks allows you to choose the best option. In your router settings, look for the option to assign separate SSID names for 2.4GHz and 5GHz. This will enable both networks. Once enabled, you can choose to connect your Chromebook to the 5GHz network for potentially faster speeds. Keep in mind that not all routers support 5GHz.
If you’re already connected to the 5GHz network, try connecting to the 2.4GHz network as a test to see if the issue resolves. Sometimes interference can affect one band more than the other.
7. Turn Off Wi-Fi Extenders or Repeaters
If you’re using a Wi-Fi extender or repeater, it might be the source of your connectivity problems. These devices can sometimes create separate networks or have difficulty seamlessly handing off connections. Try connecting your Chromebook directly to the main router. If the internet works correctly, the issue likely lies with the extender.
Try restarting the extender and reconnecting your Chromebook to it to see if the problem persists. If your router supports mesh networking, consider upgrading to a mesh Wi-Fi system instead of traditional extenders for a more reliable and seamless connection.
8. Enable Bridge Mode to Avoid Network Conflicts
If you’re using your own router connected to your ISP’s modem/router combo unit, you might encounter Double NAT issues. This occurs when both devices try to manage the network, causing conflicts that can prevent your Chromebook from accessing the internet even when connected to Wi-Fi.
To resolve this, put your ISP’s modem/router combo unit into Bridge Mode, allowing only your personal router to manage the network. First, log in to your ISP’s modem/router settings (check the device label for the login URL or try your router’s IP address in Chrome). Look for the Bridge Mode option, usually found under Advanced Network Settings or WAN Settings. Enable Bridge Mode and restart both the modem/router combo unit and your personal router.
Reconnect your Chromebook and check if the issue is resolved. If your ISP’s device doesn’t offer a Bridge Mode option, you can disable Wi-Fi on the ISP’s modem/router and rely solely on your personal router for connections.
9. Turn Off WMM/QoS for Better Connectivity
Many routers include WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) or QoS (Quality of Service) settings to prioritize certain types of network traffic, such as video streaming or gaming. However, misconfigured WMM/QoS settings can sometimes slow down or completely block internet access for specific devices, including your Chromebook. To disable WMM/QoS:
- Log in to your router’s settings (enter your router’s IP address in Chrome and use your admin credentials).
- Navigate to Wireless Settings or Advanced Network Settings (the location may vary by router model).
- Look for options labeled WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) or QoS (Quality of Service).
- If either is enabled, turn it off and save the changes.
Restart your router and Chromebook, and then check if the issue is resolved. Disabling QoS or WMM usually won’t significantly impact normal browsing, but it can improve connection stability, especially if your Chromebook was being deprioritized by the router’s traffic management system.
10. Reset Router
If none of these solutions are working, then the obvious step is to reset the router. This will change everything to the factory settings forcing all the changes that were made on the router to revert to default. Upon reset, you will need to password protect your router and change settings according to your need again.
You can find the reset option on the maintenance page or advanced options page or you can press the physical reset button located on the back of your router. The reset button on most routers is placed inside a tiny hole. So you need to use a paper clip or sim ejector tool to press and hold the button for 5-10 seconds or until all lights blink and the router restarts.
11. Call ISP
If the problem is software-related, resetting is the one-stop solution to fix it. If Chromebook still can’t access the internet after connecting to the Wi-Fi, call your ISP. There could be a problem with the hardware.
If the Problem Is With Your Chromebook
First, try restarting your Chromebook. Shut it down for thirty seconds, then turn it back on. This often resolves the issue. If the problem persists, try the following steps.
1. Check Multiple Websites
Some websites might be inaccessible on certain Wi-Fi networks. These websites could be blocked by your school/office, your ISP, or even your government. Try accessing several different websites to rule this out. Your Chromebook might actually be connected to the internet without issue. If you can’t access anything, the next step is to check your VPN (if you’re using one).
2. Try Turning Off Your VPN (If Applicable)
The problem could be related to your VPN. While less common, it’s still worth checking. If you’re using a VPN, try disconnecting and reconnecting, or connecting to a different server location. If reconnecting doesn’t help, turn off the VPN entirely and check again. It’s also a good idea to use reputable VPN services, as they tend to be more reliable.
3. Check Whether You Are Blocked on Your Router Network
There’s a chance that someone might have compromised your router’s security and blocked your Chromebook. It’s easy to check the block list in your router’s admin panel.
To access your router’s settings, search online for “[your ISP name or router model] default IP address, username, and password.” Use these details to log in. You should find the block list under Wireless Settings, Network Settings, or Administration Settings (the exact location varies). If no devices are blocked, then this isn’t the issue. If you find blocked devices, check if your Chromebook is among them. You might also find these settings in your ISP’s mobile app (if they provide one).
4. Change DNS Provider
DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet’s phone book. You’re likely using the DNS servers provided by your ISP, which aren’t always the best option. If you’re experiencing persistent Wi-Fi issues on your Chromebook, changing your DNS servers might help.
- Go to Chrome OS settings > Wi-Fi and select the network you want to modify.
- Scroll down and click Network.
- Under Name Servers, you’ll see three options: Automatic name servers, Google name servers, and Custom name servers. Automatic uses the DNS provided by your ISP.
- You can select Google name servers (8.8.4.4 and 8.8.8.8), which are generally faster and more reliable.
- Alternatively, you can choose Custom name servers and enter 1.1.1.1 (for Cloudflare’s free and fast DNS servers).
5. Flush DNS Cache
A DNS cache is a temporary database maintained by a computer’s operating system that stores records of recent visits and attempted visits to websites and other internet domains. To clear the DNS cache on your Chromebook, copy and paste the following URL into your Chrome browser’s address bar, and then press Enter:
chrome://net-internals/#dnsNow you will see a button called Clear host cache to clear DNS cache.s
6. Update Chrome OS
It’s not new for the Chrome OS to receive some buggy updates that later have to be fixed with a patch update. The version that you are using maybe causing Chromebook Wi-Fi but no internet problems. Connect to another Wi-Fi to update ChromeOS to the latest version. If you cannot connect to any Wi-Fi network use USB tethering to update the OS using your mobile data.
7. Do Not Use Hidden SSID Name
Chromebooks have problems with hidden SSID networks. Hidden SSID means your network will not show the name when scanning for the Wi-Fi networks, but the network itself is still on. If enabled, you need to manually enter the SSID name and password to connect to the network. Hidden SSID will not be enabled by default. But if your Wi-Fi network doesn’t show up upon scanning, you may have enabled it on your router settings.
In router settings, you can turn off the Hidden SSID option under the Network page. (This process may be different on your router settings page as each ISP has a different interface).
8. Login With the Main Account
Oftentimes, I face Wi-Fi issues on my Chromebook while using secondary accounts. The Chromebook will not connect or will disconnect repeatedly when the same Wi-Fi network is not connected to the main primary account. So if you are using a secondary account on your Chromebook, make sure that you are connected to the same Wi-Fi from your main account and turn on the toggle beside Allow other users of this device to use this network option.
9. Run Chrome Connectivity Diagnostics
You can also try Chrome connectivity diagnostics Chrome extension to troubleshoot the problem. This will show what is causing the issue and help you to fix it with instructions. Just download the extension and open it from the Chrome OS app drawer. The extension will scan for the network issues and notify you if it finds any.
Install Chrome Connectivity Diagnostics Chrome Extension
10. Powerwash Chromebook
If you’re certain there’s no problem with your router and you haven’t found any issues with your Chromebook itself, a powerwash (factory reset) is the next step. Since Chrome OS automatically backs up most of your settings, apps, and even your wallpaper, you can powerwash your Chromebook and then sign back in with your Google account to restore your data. However, Chrome OS doesn’t back up locally stored files, so be sure to back up any important files before powerwashing.
To powerwash your Chromebook:
- Open Chromebook settings > Advanced > Reset settings.
- Click the Reset button next to the “Powerwash” option.
The powerwash process can take up to a minute. Your Chromebook will then restart, prompting you to sign in again.
Wrapping Up
I blocked my own Chromebook in the router settings accidentally. If none of these solutions are solving the issue, it could be a hardware problem. Contact the ISP if the problem is with the router. If you have a problem with Chromebook, get the in-built Wi-Fi card checked.
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