Fix: DHCP is not Enable for Wifi

It is expected that whenever you set up a wireless internet connection, your devices will be able to access the World Wide Web so long as you provide the correct password or the correct login information. However, in some cases, users complain the lack of internet access despite the Wi-Fi being connected to the internet.

The case in question here is that the user is able to find the wireless Wi-Fi connection and connect to it successfully. However, the user cannot browser on Mozilla, Chrome, IE and other browsers. Apps that require internet connection do not seem to work also. The best they can get is a connected Wi-Fi icon in the system try but with a yellow exclamation along with it. More information indicates that the connection is limited and there is no internet access. In some instances, connecting through a LAN cable will get the internet working which unfortunately creates the inconvenience of cables. More baffling is the fact that other computers and laptops seem to be working fine and are able to connect to the internet. This article will explore this issue; giving advice on how you can troubleshoot and narrow down the problem. We will also highlight what causes this problem and give step by step solutions.

Why you get a connected Wi-Fi with no Internet Access

There are several reasons why your Wi-Fi connection does not have an internet connection. The simple reasons are that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has encountered a problem. Another simple reason is that your subscription period to the ISP might have expired. This is a case where all computers and devices show the same symptoms. If other computers and devices are able to connect to the internet, then the reasons below might be the problem on the computer.

1. An incompatible Wi-Fi adapter driver might be problem. The card might be able to connect to the Wi-Fi network, but due to incompatible or outdated drivers, it cannot be able to parse the incoming information or outgoing data packets/pings.
2. It is also likely that there might be a software conflict that is stopping you from connecting to the internet. Internet security software might restrict you from internet access on a new router in a bid to protect you. Following a virus attack, you might also have your internet connection disabled. Windows controls the internet connection via Internet Explorer settings. By setting a false proxy server address, you will not be able to connect to the internet since the proxy server that was set could not be reached.
3. In the case where you want to block a device from accessing the internet via your router, you can block the connection of the device by restricting its IP address in your router settings. This works perfectly in an office setting where the server is hardly restarted. In a home router, restarting the router will force it to reassign the IP addresses, and there is a chance that the restricted IP address could be assigned to your computer or device.
4. A common reason is that your PC has a disabled DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) for Wi-Fi. This can be caused by a virus attack that changes the IP and DNS settings or by manual changes. DHCP is a protocol used to provide quick, automatic, and central management for the distribution of IP addresses within a network. DHCP is also used to configure the proper subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server information on the device. In most home and small businesses, the router acts as the DHCP server. A device (the client) requests an IP address from a router (the host), after which the host assigns an available IP address to allow the client to communicate on the network. If you have the specific IP address for your router and the specific DNS address, you can be able to set them manually. If you input the wrong DNS or router ID address, then you will not get an internet connection since you will not be able to communicate with the router.

Troubleshooting a Wi-Fi Connection with no Internet Access

If you have restarted the router and the PC, then sure enough, the fact that other computers connect to the internet can tell us that the problem resides with the faulty computer, but doesn’t help much on narrowing down the problem. Here are few more tests to identify the problem.

Apart from the troubleshooting tool in the network and sharing centre (Open Run and type control.exe /name microsoft.NetworkandSharingCenter), you can start off by doing a clean boot. By loading minimal drivers and system services, you can be able to eliminate software conflict cause by internet security programs. Find our guide on setting up a clean boot in Windows 10 here and for Windows 7 and Vista here. You can also try disabling your internet security software and antiviruses. If a clean boot resolves the internet issue, then the problem might be a software conflict especially with firewall and internet security software/antivirus.

With a ping test, you can be able to identify the problem. Open command line (Winkey + R > type cmd and hit enter). Type: “ping 8.8.8.8” (without the “”) if this is working (no lost packages) type “ping google.com” if this is also working contact your ISP the fault might be on their site (if the symptoms are the same for other devices); you might also be having a proxy server setting on your PC or a software conflict due to a virus of internet security program. If the first one is working but not the second one, then the DNS isn’t working and might be configured wrongly. If nothing is working you have to check the configuration on your PC and Router; this can be due to bad drivers or due to wrong IP and DNS server addresses. Below are images for successful and unsuccessful pings.

Here are the methods you might want to try to resolve this issue.

Method 1: User Windows Network Diagnostic Tool

If DHCP is disabled and you are using the wrong IP and/or DNS addresses, or you have set the wrong Proxy address, then running Windows Network Diagnostic tool will identify this problem and resolve it. To run the diagnostic:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run Window
2. Type ncpa.cpl and hit enter to open the Network Connections Window
   
3. Identify your Wireless Connection, right click on it and select ‘Diagnose’ to open the Wireless Network Diagnostic Tool.
   
4. The Windows Network Diagnostic Tool will come up and start troubleshooting the network
   
5. Your issues will be identified and listed. Below is an example where DHCP was disabled
   
6. There might be more than one issue or a different issue causing the connection problem. Click on ‘view detailed information’ to find out more on the problem. In the details window, click on ‘detection details’ and look for data like ‘Rx failure’, ‘Tx ACK Failure,’ or ‘Disconnected from BSSID’ reason codes. This will help you in finding solutions online.
   
7. Click on next to start fixing the issue(s) found. Click on ‘Try This Repairs as an Administrator’ and let Windows attempt a fix.
   
8. On the next prompt, click “Apply this Fix” to accept the solutions
   
9. Windows will apply the fix. Click on close and check if your issue has been resolved.

Method 2: Set the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) to enabled

Most routers provide an automatic DHCP. By obtaining IP and DNS server addresses automatically, you will not be faced with the trouble and errors of entering one manually. To manually enable and allow DHCP on your computer, follow the steps below.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run Window
2. Type ncpa.cpl and hit enter to open the Network Connections Window
   
3. Identify your Wireless Connection, right click on it and select ‘Properties’ to open the Wireless Network Properties.
   
4. On the Networking tab of the Wireless Network Connection Properties window, Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click on properties.
   
5. On the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) properties Window that appears, set ‘Obtain an IP address automatically’ and ‘Obtain a DNS server address automatically.’  If you use a TCP/IPv6 router connection, then do the same for the ‘Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)’ setting. If you are in an office, ask the administrator which settings to use.
6. Click OK and retry your settings.

Method 3: Uninstall and Reinstall Wireless Adapter Drivers

By uninstalling and reinstalling the Wireless adapter settings, you will clear any bad, corrupt or incompatible drivers. This will also reset the DNS and IP address for your Wi-Fi.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open Run
2. Type devmgmt.msc and hit enter to open the device manager
   
3. In the device manager window, expand the network adapters section.
4. Right Click on your wireless device and choose ‘Uninstall’
   
5. Confirm that you want to uninstall the drivers
   
6. Your device should be reinstalled automatically. If this does not happen, restart your PC to automatically install the drivers.

Method 4: Update Wireless Adapter drivers

In case your drivers are old or incompatible, you will need to update to the correct and compatible drivers. If you are able to get an internet connection via your LAN cable, you can connect your PC to your router via LAN for the update.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open Run
2. Type devmgmt.msc and hit enter to open the device manager
   
3. In the device manager window, expand the network adapters section.
4. Right Click on your wireless device (Your device might have a yellow exclamation indicating the adapter has a problem) and choose ‘Update driver software…’
   
5. On the next window, click on “Search automatically for updated driver software.” The PC will search for the latest drivers and install them. Retry your connection after this.
   
6. You might need to restart your PC for effect to take place.

If you can’t get an internet connection, you will need to search you manufacturer’s website and download the appropriate drivers. Here is our guide on identifying the Wireless drivers you need.

Method 5: Scan for malware and reset your proxy settings

If a virus attack might have changed you default proxy settings, you are not likely to get a connection since this is the default connection setting for application and browsers that have been set to use the default windows internet settings. You can scan for the malware and reset your proxy server such that you are not redirected to a proxy server.

1. Download Malwarebytes from here and scan your PC then remove/fix any viruses/issues. You can get our guide on using Malwarebytes here.
2. After the scan, Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run window. Type inetcpl.cpl and hit enter to open the internet properties window.
   
3. Go to the ‘Connections’ tab and click on ‘LAN settings’ button
   
4. In the popup window, uncheck the ‘Use a proxy server for your LAN’ checkbox.
   
5. Click OK and retest your internet connection. You can also reset the connections from the advanced tab.

Method 6: Reset Winsock

‘netsh winsock reset’ is a useful command that you can use in Microsoft Windows to reset winsock catalog back to default setting or clean state. You can try this if you are having Internet access or networking problems but still failing to resolve the problem after trying all other suggestions. To reset Winsock:

1. Press Windows Key Key + R to open Run
2. Type netsh winsock reset and hit enter (note: if it doesn’t run, then open cmd as administrator, and then run the command).
   
3. A black Command Prompt box will flash and close after successfully resetting Winsock. Depending on your PC, you might be asked for password. Input your password and hit enter to continue.

Method 7: Check your Router Blacklisted IP

If your device has been assigned a blocked IP, you won’t get a connection. You can see blacklisted IPs from the router settings.

1. Open a browser on a working PC
2. Type in your Router IP address. It is usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 or as indicated on your router sticker or manual

1. Check from your network filter or from black list or any other filter that no IP address is blocked. Settings may vary depending on your router.

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