My computer suddenly stopped connecting to the internet one day. Restarting it fixed the problem once, but that no longer helps. Other devices can access the internet normally, so the issue seems limited to this PC. I'm connected through my home network, and I don't think malware is involved since I'm careful about downloads and mainly use Steam. What should I check to figure out whether the problem is with the network connection, router communication, or my PC's IP settings?
4 Answers
It’s only happening on my PC; my other devices are connected normally.
Check whether your router has accidentally assigned the same IP address to another device. A duplicate IP can prevent the computer from communicating properly. You can try renewing the network address or assigning the PC a different unused local IP, but make sure it matches your router’s network range.
Because the connection works on your phone and other devices but not on the PC, focus on the PC’s network adapter and settings. Disable and re-enable the adapter, restart it, and verify that it is set to obtain an IP address automatically. If it still fails, resetting the network settings or reinstalling the adapter driver may help.
Since other devices are online and only your PC is affected, the problem is probably on the computer rather than with your internet service. First check whether the PC can connect to the router at all, and whether you’re using Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable. That will help narrow down whether this is a local network issue or an internet access issue.
That confirms the internet service and router are probably fine. The next useful test is checking whether the PC can reach the router locally. If it cannot, investigate the cable or wireless adapter; if it can, the issue may be DNS or another Windows network setting.