How to Troubleshoot Chromebook Connected to Wi-Fi but No Internet

ByJim Miller

If you're frustrated with your Chromebook connected to Wi-Fi but unable to access the internet, don't worry. This article will guide you through the troubleshooting process to fix this issue and get your Chromebook back online.

Check Your Router

Before diving deep into Chromebook-related solutions, it's essential to determine whether the problem lies with your router or the Chromebook itself. Connect another device to the same Wi-Fi network and see if it can access the internet. If other devices also can't access the internet, then the issue is with your router. However, if other devices are working fine, then the problem is specific to your Chromebook.

If the Problem Is With Your Router

If the issue lies with your router, here are some steps you can take to resolve it:

  1. Turn off your router for thirty seconds and then turn it back on. Rebooting often solves the problem.

  2. Check if your router is connected to the internet. Look at the WAN light on the router. It should be blinking, indicating an active internet connection. If it's constantly on or off, there may be a loose or broken broadband cable connection, an issue with your ISP, or a capped monthly data plan. Contact your ISP's customer care for assistance.

  3. Verify if your ISP is experiencing any service disruptions. Visit the Downdetector website and search for your ISP to check if there are any reported outages in your area. If there are widespread outages, you'll have to wait until the service is restored.

  4. Some Wi-Fi networks have captive portals that require an additional sign-in step even after connecting to the network. Reconnect to the Wi-Fi or forget the network and connect again to trigger the captive portal notification. You can also use the Chrome connectivity diagnosis Chrome extension to check if the Wi-Fi network has a captive portal.

  5. Check if your router's firmware is up to date. Outdated firmware can cause security issues and other problems. Access your router's settings using the default IP address, username, and password provided by your ISP. Look for the firmware option and update it using the firmware image from your router manufacturer's website. Regularly updating your router's firmware is recommended.

  6. Enable both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks on your router. Some websites may not load on a slow 2.4GHz network. By enabling both networks, you can force your device to connect to the faster 5GHz network. Not all routers support 5GHz, so check your router's settings to enable both networks.

  7. If none of the above solutions work, you can reset your router to factory settings. This will revert all changes made on the router. Find the reset option in the router's maintenance or advanced options page, or press the physical reset button on the back of the router.

  8. If the problem persists after trying these steps, contact your ISP as there may be a hardware issue with the router.

If the Problem Is With Your Chromebook

If the issue is specific to your Chromebook, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot:

  1. Shut down your Chromebook for thirty seconds and then turn it back on. Rebooting often resolves common issues.

  2. Check if multiple websites can be accessed. Some websites may be blocked by your college, office, ISP, or country's government. If no websites can be accessed, check if the problem is with your VPN, if you are using one.

  3. If you are using a VPN, try reconnecting or connecting to a different location. If the issue persists, turn off the VPN temporarily.

  4. Verify if your Chromebook is blocked on your router's network. Access your router's admin panel using the default IP address, username, and password provided by your ISP. Check the blocklist under wireless settings, network settings, or administration settings. If your device is blocked, unblock it.

  5. Change your DNS provider. By default, Chromebook uses DNS provided by your ISP. However, changing it to Google's name servers (8.8.4.4 and 8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare's (1.1.1.1) may improve the connection. You can change the DNS settings in Chrome OS settings under the Wi-Fi network's Network options.

  6. Flush the DNS cache on your Chromebook. Copy and paste “chrome://net-internals/#dns” in the Chrome browser's address bar, then click the “Clear host cache” button to clear the DNS cache.

  7. Make sure your Chrome OS is up to date. Connect to another Wi-Fi network or use USB tethering to update the OS to the latest version.

  8. Hidden SSID networks may cause issues with Chromebooks. If your Wi-Fi network is not visible during scanning, check if the hidden SSID option is enabled on your router settings and disable it.

  9. Ensure you are using the main account on your Chromebook. Secondary accounts may have connectivity issues. Connect to the Wi-Fi network from your main account and enable the “Allow other users of this device to use this network” option.

  10. Use the Chrome connectivity diagnostics Chrome extension to troubleshoot the problem. This extension will scan for network issues and provide instructions for fixing them.

  11. If all else fails, you can powerwash your Chromebook. This will reset it to factory settings, so make sure to back up your files before proceeding.

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to fix the “Chromebook connected to Wi-Fi but no internet” issue. If none of these solutions work, consider contacting your ISP or seeking professional assistance.