How to Fix the “Unidentified Network, No Internet” Error in Windows

The internet is fantastic, but what happens when it fails to function? Most mysterious network issues or no internet in Windows can be resolved with troubleshooting. If you follow this detailed guide, you’ll be able to solve the problem with your internet and go back online as quickly as possible.

There are many reasons why you might not be able to connect to the internet on Windows, so you’ll have to try each one until you find one that works and will be able to fix unidentified network errors.

Unidentified Network Error: Possible Causes

As we all know very well, the internet has become an essential part of our lives in recent years. Whether you’re looking for a restaurant or using the unlimited entertainment available online, you need a solid internet connection, whether you’re on a wireless connection or hooked up with an ethernet cable. Many things can cause an error, like “Unidentified Network.”

To fix any problem, the first thing you need to do is figure out what the problem is. The following list contains some of the most typical causes of the Unidentified Network error:

• Outdated or Corrupt Windows Files – Although Windows 10’s automatic updates are great and straightforward to install, there is a chance something would go wrong during the installation of updates. New updates may change essential system files, resulting in the Unidentified Network problem.
• Misconfigured IP Settings – It is easy for networks to find your computer because it has a unique IP address that they can use. If this address isn’t set up correctly, it can cause many problems when you try to connect to a network or the internet.
• Outdated Network Adapter Driver – Your drivers should always be up to date. The Unidentified Network issue is most often caused by an outdated or corrupt network adapter driver.
• Incorrect Network Settings – In the same way, your IP address helps you establish a connection, your network settings also play a big part. You won’t be able to connect if your settings are incorrect.
• Applications Are Blocking Your Network Connection – Many people who use Windows 10 say that third-party apps like antivirus programs keep them from establishing a network connection and getting unidentified network errors.

If any of the causes mentioned above appear to be related to your device’s Unidentified Network problem, proceed to the following step.

Troubleshooting Methods to Fix the Unidentified Network Problem

Since various distinct factors could cause this issue, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, we’ve put together the best ways to fix this problem on Windows 10, so you can connect to your network and reaccess the internet.

First Method – Reset Your Modem or Router

You’d be surprised at how quickly internet access may be restored by resetting the internet router to its factory settings. A new connection will be made with the Internet service provider, and the factory settings will be restored, potentially fixing unidentified network errors.

1. Power off your router and wait for at least 10 seconds before powering it back on.
2. Once your router is back on, look for the reset button on your router and hold it down for at least 15 seconds. The reset button/switch may require using a pin, needle, or paperclip.
3. After resetting your router check your internet connection and confirm if this was able to fix unidentified network errors on your computer.

Second Method – Make Sure to Disable Flight Mode

We’ve all made the mistake of forgetting to turn off a feature and then regretting it afterward. Because Flight mode is available in Windows 10, there’s a chance you switched it on by accident or were not aware it was turned on at all.

When using Windows 10, Airplane Mode allows you to rapidly disable all wireless functions such as the wireless network connection and Bluetooth with a single click.

1. On your taskbar, click on the Action Center icon and ensure the flight mode is not highlighted.

2. After making sure that the Airplane Mode is disabled, try to reconnect to your wireless network and check if you can now connect to the internet. If not, please move on to the next step.

Third Method – Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

The Network Troubleshooter can assist you in diagnosing and resolving fundamental connection issues. To use the tool, follow these steps.

1. Hold down the “Windows” key and press the letter “R” and type in “control update” in the run command window.

2. In the next window, click “Troubleshoot” and click “Additional Troubleshooters.”

3. In the next window, you should see the network adapter troubleshooter. Click “Network Adapter” and click “Run the Troubleshooter” in the next window.

4. Just follow the prompts for the tool to determine if there are issues with your network adapter. Once it fixes any detected problems, restart your computer and check if the “Unidentified Network, No Internet issue persists.”

Fourth Method – Launch the Internet Connections Troubleshooter

Another built-in utility that you can use in Windows to diagnose and fix internet connection problems, such as the “Unidentified Network, No Internet access issue persists,” is the Internet Connections Troubleshooter.

1. Open the Windows settings by holding down the “Windows” + “I” keys simultaneously.

2. Click on “Update & Security.”

3. Click on “Troubleshoot” in the left pane and click “Additional troubleshooters.”

4. Under additional troubleshooters, click on “Internet Connections” and click “Run the Troubleshooter.”

5. The troubleshooter will then scan for any issues and show you the problems it has found and the fixes it applied. Restart your computer to see if the “Unidentified Network, No Internet issue persists” error has already been fixed, and get your network connection back.

Fifth Method – Update Network Adapter Drivers

A network adapter lets your computer connect to a network wirelessly or through a network cable. As with other hardware devices on your computer, you may need to update the network card driver for optimal performance and avoid internet issues such as the unidentified network problem. The drivers are available for download from the manufacturer of the network adapter. 

In some cases, you may also update the network driver automatically. In contrast, you may have to use your computer’s device manager to install the new version in other cases.

1. Press the “Windows” and “R” keys and type in “devmgmt.msc” in the run command line, and press enter to open Device Manager.

2. In the list of devices in the Device Manager, expand “Network Adapters,” right-click on your network adapters, and click “Update Drivers.”

3. Select “Search Automatically for Drivers” and follow the following prompts to completely install the new network card drivers. Close the Device Manager window, restart your computer, and check if this fixed the unidentified network with no internet access problem.

Sixth Method – Check for New Windows Updates

Microsoft and device manufacturers regularly issue updates on their drivers to improve the performance of their devices. This is especially important for network adapters to ensure your computer’s network stability.

1. Click the start button and the gear icon to open the settings menu. Go to the Update & Security menu.

2. Be sure you’re on the Windows Update tab and click Check for updates. Windows will automatically find the latest updates and some drivers.

3. Install driver updates from your device manufacturer. Go to their website and search for drivers and updates. Usually, they will be grouped by network adapters device model. Install any updates they provide.
4. After you’ve downloaded and installed new drivers for your network adapters, check if you already have internet access and if the unidentified network error has already been fixed.

Seventh Method – Perform a DNS Cache Flush

A DNS cache sometimes referred to as a DNS resolver cache, is a temporary database stored on your computer. Your computer’s operating system normally keeps it, and it keeps track of all the webpages and other internet locations you’ve visited or tried to access recently.

Regrettably, this cache can get corrupted, causing Microsoft Edge to malfunction. You’ll need to flush the DNS cache to fix this.

1. On your keyboard, hold down the “Windows” key and press the letter “R.”
2. In the Run window, type “cmd.” Next, press enter to open the Command Prompt.
3. In the Command Prompt, type “ipconfig /release.” Be sure to include a space between “ipconfig” and “/release.” Next, hit “Enter” to run the command.
4. In the same window, type “ipconfig /renew.” Again, you need to add a space between “ipconfig” and “/renew.” Press Enter.

5. Next, type in “ipconfig/flushdns” and press “enter.”

6. Exit the Command Prompt and restart your computer. Once you have the computer back on, go to your favorite website on your browser and check if this was able to fix the unidentified network no internet access issue.

Eighth Method – Reset the TCP/IP Configuration

Try resetting TCP/IP if you get an unidentified network, no internet connectivity problem after installing particular software or changing network settings. You can do so by following the instructions below:

1. Hold down the “Windows” key and press “R” and type “cmd” in the run command line. Hold both the “ctrl and shift” keys together and press enter. Click “OK” on the next window to grant administrator permissions.
2. Now we will start to reset Winsock. Type in the following commands in the CMD window and press enter after every command:

• netsh winsock reset
• netsh int ip reset

3. Type in “exit” in the command prompt and press “enter,” and restart your computer once you’ve finished running these commands. Check if this method was able to fix the “unidentified network” issue still occurs and if you already got your internet access back.

Ninth Method – Manually Configure the Preferred DNS Server Addresses

Some Internet Service Providers give you their DNS server address, which could be slow at times. Alternatively, you can use Google Public DNS to improve the speed of your connection to websites.

1. On your keyboard, hold down the “Windows” key and press the letter “R.”
2. In the Run window, type “ncpa.cpl”. Next, press enter to open the Network Connections.

3. In the Network Connections window, right-click on your network connection and click “Properties.”
4. Click on Internet Protocol version 4 and click “Properties.”
5. Under the General Tab, change the the “Preferred DNS Server Address” to the following DNS server addresses:

• Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
• Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

6. Click on “OK” to apply the changes and close the window. After performing this step, check if your network connection is working back normally.