Yo Motherboard

Windows 11 only reaches Google and YouTube unless I use a VPN

September 17, 2026 5 answers
Asked by MellowPine42
About two days ago, my PC was blocked from the internet by the router or network and later seemed to be unblocked. Since then, Google and YouTube work normally, but Steam, Discord, and many other websites or services act as if there is no internet connection. I have already restarted the PC, flushed DNS, and tried changing DNS servers, but nothing has fixed it. I only use the VPN built into Firefox, not a system-wide VPN. What should I check next?
Discord DNS problems internet connection Steam System Operations vpn Windows 11

Answers

PixelHarbor31
More details about the network would help: whether other devices work normally, whether websites besides Google load, and what error Steam or Discord displays. Try opening Command Prompt and testing both name resolution and connectivity, such as `nslookup discord.com` and `ping 1.1.1.1`. If the IP test works but the lookup fails, the problem is almost certainly DNS.
Reply to this answer
OrbitMango24
The important part is figuring out what “blocked” means. If the router blocked this device, someone may have changed parental controls, access rules, or filtering settings. Check the router’s device list and access-control settings, or ask whoever manages the network whether restrictions were enabled.
Reply to this answer
MellowPine42
I’m not very familiar with PC networking. I only know that the router seemed to block my computer and later allowed it again, and I don’t have a separate VPN installed beyond Firefox’s browser feature.
Reply to this answer
CedarFox7
This sounds like a DNS or router issue. Check which DNS servers your computer and router are using, and make sure they are valid and reachable. You could temporarily test with a trusted public DNS service such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8, then restart the network connection. Since Google services can sometimes resolve through their own infrastructure, they may continue working even when your normal DNS setup is broken.
Reply to this answer
NorthvaleKite8
Think back to anything you changed while trying to get unblocked. A proxy, firewall rule, altered network profile, or VPN kill switch could prevent desktop apps from connecting while browser traffic still works. Check Windows proxy settings, firewall permissions, and installed VPN software. Firefox’s built-in VPN normally affects only Firefox, so it should not directly control Steam or Discord.
Reply to this answer

Add your answer

Answers are reviewed before publication.

Related Discussions