Windows indicates that there is no internet connection, but there is one


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This issue is annoying to say the least. On the task tray, I am told that there is no network connection, however I am able to browse the web. But due to it claiming no connection, the app Your Phone does not work, because it can't detect an active internet connection. I ran the network diagnostics/troubleshooting and it said that it needed to reset the adapter, so I allowed it to do so and then restarted the system, but nothing changed. I am wondering why this is showing up like this, previously it has shown no connections, but shortly after I start browsing it disappears and switches to showing an active connection. This is a wired connection, however the motherboard does support WiFi, but I am connected via Ethernet.  

Not an answer but at least and acknowledgement, I've had that very thing happen and eventually a reboot addressed it but I have no idea what caused it or what really fixed it.  Hope you find the cause because I'm sure it will happen again.

do you do any vlan setups or vpn setups on your network?

 

I seem to remember reading a topic with this exact issue about a year ago on these forums and it was caused by a bad setup with one of those things.

as usual it was @BudMan to the rescue so hopefully he can help you as well 🙂

  On 12/06/2020 at 20:03, Brandon H said:

do you do any vlan setups or vpn setups on your network?

 

I seem to remember reading a topic with this exact issue about a year ago on these forums and it was caused by a bad setup with one of those things.

as usual it was @BudMan to the rescue so hopefully he can help you as well 🙂

Expand  

NordLynx vpn, and then 'network' both of which indicate no connection. Should I uninstall NordVPN?

You uninstalled that vpn whatever you had installed?

 

That for sure would/could mess with MS detection of internet access.. Which is normally done via dns query.

 

What are you pointing to for dns?  After you uninstall any vpn anything..

 

What OS you running?  Windows 10?  What build? 

Assuming Windows 10:

 

...can you screenshot your connections ... might be helpful to see what is going on.

 

Capture.thumb.JPG.c4e601f566177c44d05773ef2ae6e938.JPG

 

Typing at the start menu, without quotes, "Network Connections"

You can use the snipping tool to take a screenshot.

 

Might also be helpful to copy/paste your network properties:

 

Which you can see by right clicking the network icon > View your network properties                                   

example...
                                       
Name:    Wi-Fi
Description:    Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
Physical address (MAC):    
Status:    Operational
Maximum transmission unit:    1500
Link speed (Receive/Transmit):    300/300 (Mbps)
DHCP enabled:    Yes
DHCP servers:    192.168.1.1
DHCP lease obtained:    ‎Friday, ‎June ‎12, ‎2020 15:48:53
DHCP lease expires:    ‎Saturday, ‎June ‎13, ‎2020 15:48:53
IPv4 address:    192.168.1.5/24
IPv6 address:    fe80::a9e2:aa10:2c20:e2e6%14/64
Default gateway:    192.168.1.1
DNS servers:    192.168.1.1
DNS domain name:    
DNS connection suffix:    
DNS search suffix list:    
Network name:    TerrapinN
Network category:    Private
Connectivity (IPv4/IPv6):    Connected to Internet / Connected to unknown network
                                       
                                       
                                       
Name:    Bluetooth Network Connection 2
Description:    Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network) #2
Physical address (MAC):    
Status:    Not operational
Maximum transmission unit:    1500
IPv4 address:    169.254.189.159/16
IPv6 address:    fe80::ec6b:abe2:1fe2:bd9f%5/64
DNS servers:    fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1, fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1, fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
Connectivity (IPv4/IPv6):    Disconnected
                                       

 

Edit:  ... or just follow Budman's advice.  🙂  
                                       
 

Here is how windows 10 knows if your online or not.

 

Windows 10 or later versions:

NCSI sends a DNS request to resolve the address of the www.msftconnecttest.com FQDN.

If NCSI receives a valid response from a DNS server, NCSI sends a plain HTTP GET request to http://www.msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt.

If NCSI successfully downloads the text file, it makes sure that the file contains Microsoft Connect Test.

NCSI sends another DNS request to resolve the address of the dns.msftncsi.com FQDN.

If any of these requests fails, the network alert appears in the Task Bar (as described in Symptoms). If you hover over the icon, you see a message such as "No connectivity" or "Limited Internet access" (depending on which requests failed).

If all of these requests succeed, the Task Bar shows the usual network icon. If you hover over the icon, you see a message such as "Internet access."

 

If you have some vpn software that is messing with that, or dns filtering going on, or any sort of security software that blocks such access then sure you could have issues with windows knowing you have internet access.

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No internet icon for all users who used NO TELEMETRY tools, all MIRINSOFT apps block ping host for win10

 

https://www.mirinsoft.com/ms-apps/sharpapp

 

<img src="sharpapp-22-h_o.png">

  • Facepalm 1
  On 13/06/2020 at 01:38, Marujan said:

No internet icon for all users who used NO TELEMETRY tools, all MIRINSOFT apps block ping host for win10

 

https://www.mirinsoft.com/ms-apps/sharpapp

 

<img src="sharpapp-22-h_o.png">

Expand  

Goes to show you how idiotic these tools are.

  On 13/06/2020 at 01:38, adrynalyne said:

Goes to show you how idiotic these tools are.

Expand  

they are not, just dont use it if you dont know what is this used for...

Oh no, I got a facepalm for speaking the truth.

  On 13/06/2020 at 01:40, Marujan said:

they are not, just dont use it if you dont know what is used for...

Expand  

Under no circumstance should a ping test be blocked that triggers connectivity alerts.

 

That is in its own definition, idiotic. Why do they do it? Because they think they are blocking malicious phoning home. 

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  On 13/06/2020 at 01:40, adrynalyne said:

Oh no, I got a facepalm for speaking the truth.

Under no circumstance should a ping test be blocked that triggers connectivity alerts.

 

That is in its own definition, idiotic. Why do they do it? Because they think they are blocking malicious phoning home. 

Expand  

ping is default trigger for Windows 10

 

just dont use Windows 10 if you dont like it.

 

Android uses the same technologies

  On 13/06/2020 at 05:38, Marujan said:

ping is default trigger for Windows 10

 

just dont use Windows 10 if you dont like it.

 

Android uses the same technologies

Expand  

Yep Android does and you shouldn’t use stupid garbage to block that either. Why exactly should I stop using Windows 10?

So, i had this with a couple of versions of Win10.... be helpful to know what version and build number you are on!

One of the things i would do that would get the connectivity to show as connected (even though reboots didnt help) .... cmd as admin, ipconfig /flushdns then followed by ipconfig /renew

 

OR, in device manager, delete your NIC & Wireless adapter .... reboot, and let windows re-detect the devices. 

I use Express VPN (NordVPN throttled me too much).... so i also would uninstall the VPN client... reboot, see if your connection shows correctly, then install the last version of the VPN.

 

Again, this worked for me on some insider ring versions of Win10... it has been much more stable as of late though :)

  On 13/06/2020 at 00:36, BudMan said:

Here is how windows 10 knows if your online or not.

 

Windows 10 or later versions:

NCSI sends a DNS request to resolve the address of the www.msftconnecttest.com FQDN.

If NCSI receives a valid response from a DNS server, NCSI sends a plain HTTP GET request to http://www.msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt.

If NCSI successfully downloads the text file, it makes sure that the file contains Microsoft Connect Test.

NCSI sends another DNS request to resolve the address of the dns.msftncsi.com FQDN.

If any of these requests fails, the network alert appears in the Task Bar (as described in Symptoms). If you hover over the icon, you see a message such as "No connectivity" or "Limited Internet access" (depending on which requests failed).

If all of these requests succeed, the Task Bar shows the usual network icon. If you hover over the icon, you see a message such as "Internet access."

 

If you have some vpn software that is messing with that, or dns filtering going on, or any sort of security software that blocks such access then sure you could have issues with windows knowing you have internet access.

Expand  

Well overnight it must have decided that all the criteria was meet, because this morning the task tray icon is showing connected, and I was able to use the Your Phone app.

I am going to uninstall the VPN, since I have no use for it, but it is very odd to me that for two days, and reboots, that windows never got the response it was looking for, yet overnight it managed to...

@Marujan That is very interesting information, but I have not used any program like the one you mention, but it is very nice to know that it can cause more problems then it supposedly protects from!

The reason why it says there is no internet connection when there is one is because it cannot connect to some specific Microsoft servers.   Behind a content filter, this is a bit of a common occurrence.   It can be ignored as it is not a good indication if you do or do not have an internet connection.  
 

you aren’t alone in this “issue”. it is a false message, but it probably annoys you

 

here are a few things you can try

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-networking/no-internet-access-but-internet-is-working/41967ae9-3528-4518-b28e-ab3740a80e15

 


 

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/389933-windows-7-64-bit-getting-error-on-network-connection-but-internet-works

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