Windows "No Internet": Reset the Network Stack (ipconfig, netsh)

"No internet" with Wi-Fi connected, pages that won't load while Teams still works, or "DNS server isn't responding": most of these come from a confused Windows network stack. First find which layer is broken, then reset only what's needed.

1. Find the broken layer

Open Command Prompt and test from the inside out:

ping 127.0.0.1              :: the network stack itself
ping 192.168.1.1            :: your router (use your gateway address)
ping 1.1.1.1                :: the internet, by IP address
ping google.com             :: DNS name resolution

Fails at	Likely problem
`127.0.0.1`	Broken TCP/IP stack, so use the reset in step 3
The router	Wi-Fi/cable, wrong network, or bad DHCP lease
`1.1.1.1`	Router has no internet: ISP, modem or router issue
Only `google.com`	DNS problem, so see step 2

Look at your address details:

ipconfig /all

An IPv4 address like 169.254.x.x means Windows could not get an address from DHCP at all. Check the cable or Wi-Fi, restart the router, and renew (step 3).

2. DNS only is broken

ipconfig /flushdns

If it still fails, try a public DNS server temporarily. In PowerShell (Admin):

Get-NetAdapter                       # note the adapter name, e.g. "Wi-Fi"
Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -ServerAddresses 1.1.1.1,8.8.8.8

To return to automatic (DHCP) DNS later:

Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -ResetServerAddresses

If this fixes it, your router's or ISP's DNS is the problem.

3. The full reset sequence

Run in Command Prompt (Admin):

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

Then restart the PC. The winsock and int ip resets only take effect after a reboot.

Command	What it fixes
`ipconfig /release` + `/renew`	Gets a fresh address from the router
`ipconfig /flushdns`	Clears stale or poisoned DNS cache
`netsh winsock reset`	Repairs the socket layer, which is often damaged by VPN or security software
`netsh int ip reset`	Resets TCP/IP settings to defaults

4. Restart the adapter

Restart-NetAdapter -Name "Wi-Fi"

Or disable and re-enable it in Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings.

5. Check for a leftover proxy

Malware, old VPN or work software can leave a proxy that no longer exists:

netsh winhttp show proxy
netsh winhttp reset proxy

Also check Settings → Network & internet → Proxy and make sure "Use a proxy server" is off, unless you need it.

6. Drivers and power management

Device Manager → Network adapters → your adapter → Driver: try Update driver, or Roll back driver if the problem began after an update.
On the adapter's Power Management tab, untick "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". This is a common cause of Wi-Fi dropping after sleep.

7. The built-in "nuclear option"

Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset.

This removes and reinstalls all network adapters and resets networking to defaults. You'll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords, and you'll have to reconfigure VPN clients and virtual switches (Hyper-V, WSL, Docker). Use it last.

Still broken?

Test another device on the same network. If it fails too, it's the router or ISP, not Windows.
Disconnect any VPN and temporarily disable third-party antivirus/firewall to rule them out.
Check ipconfig /all for a wrong default gateway or DNS server (such as an old address from another network).
For problems beyond Windows itself, see Diagnose network connectivity step by step and the DNS troubleshooting guide.