No Windows Internet Connection

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

Symptoms observed so far all point to the same root cause which is that there is no Windows Internet connection:

1. Widgets do not work (no Windows Internet connection)
2. Outlook Classic does not connect to POP3 email (no Windows Internet connection)
3. Spotify app does not work (no Windows Internet connection)
4. Microsoft Store does not work (no Windows Internet connection)

Meanwhile, I checked that Windows is logged into my account. Microsoft OneDrive is accessible.

SpeedTest shows 1 GB per second up and down speeds.

Browsers are able to connect. Spotify works in the browser.

Has anybody experienced this problem?

Thank you for your help.

Cheers,
-Alex

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

My connection to the router is hardwired via Ethernet and not via WiFi. However, the problem persists in a WiFi connection,

KevTech · Jul 26, 2026

Go to Setting > Network and Internet > Advanced Network Setting

Select Network reset then reset now.

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

Thank you, KevTech. I am about to perform the network reset now. See you after the restart.

garlin · Jul 26, 2026

Do you have a 3rd-party security or firewall app? It sounds like some apps are blocked.

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

I'm back. After a network reset, the problem remains.

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

There are no 3rd party security of firewall apps. Thanks for the tip, garlin.

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

I had a long meeting with Dell Support last week. My technician was very helpful during a remote session while trying a number of procedures such as removing suspected corruptions in the Windows image. We concluded with a recommendation to re-install Windows 11. I felt that, although it may fix the problem, I would need to re-configure my laptop all over again. The initial configuration took over 2 months starting on January 6th 2026 when I received the new laptop. I would like to avoid that and find a more specific solution first.

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

Here's the catch. . . the network connection is fine as evidenced by SpeedTest and browser accessibility, but Windows apps cannot connect to the Internet.

dalchina · Jul 26, 2026

It rather sounds as if UWP ('Store') apps can't connect.
Now that's the case in Safe Mode (even with Networking).

Suggests one or more essential services may be disabled.
Has any of your extensive configuration involved 'optimisation' which may have caused this?

If you create a new user account for test purposes, do you see the same problem when logged in to that account?

=======================

I would need to re-configure my laptop all over again. The initial configuration took over 2 months starting on January 6th 2026 when I received the new laptop. I would like to avoid that

The way to avoid clean installs if you need to revert to a previous good state is to use 3rd party disk imaging periodically.

And now we also have 'Point in Time Restore' in addition to System Restore.
Is it now too late to consider using either of those?

KevTech · Jul 26, 2026

alexanderk said:
but Windows apps cannot connect to the Internet

See if resetting the store cache helps.

Open an admin command prompt then type wsreset.exe and press enter.

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

I have disabled a number of Microsoft services, dalchina.

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

Creating a new user account for test purposes will be my next step. But first, time for a break. . .

dalchina · Jul 26, 2026

Thank you.

Please post screenshots of
services.msc

showing which ones.

Disabling services is very unlikely to improve performance, but is likely, if you are not very careful, to have unexpected effects.

XxXxX · Jul 26, 2026

have you tried changing DNS settings to manual and using these
1.1.1.1 primary
1.0.0.1 secondary

or
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4

save the settings in network and internet then try the connection please.
best of luck Steve ..

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

Resetting the store cache did not help. Thanks, KevTech.

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

XxXxX said:
have you tried changing DNS settings to manual and using these
1.1.1.1 primary
1.0.0.1 secondary

or
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4

save the settings in network and internet then try the connection please.
best of luck Steve ..

I tried this and I'm afraid that it did not fix the root problem. Thanks, Steve.

alexanderk · Jul 26, 2026

I received a note from Dell Support earlier today on a follow-up. . .

[td]Hello alexander,[/td] [td]
I hope you are well.
From your description, I understand that internet connectivity is working in browsers such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. If that is the case, then at this point the issue appears to be related to corruption or a problem at the Windows operating system level rather than a general network connectivity issue.
As part of our troubleshooting, we have already run the SFC and DISM scans. Unfortunately, neither of these tools was able to identify or repair any corruption. Additionally, since there are no available Windows restore points to revert the system to a previous working state, the remaining resolution would be to perform an OS reinstall.[/td]

Lavik · Jul 26, 2026

Check the Date and Time.

KevTech · Jul 26, 2026

alexanderk said:
the remaining resolution would be to perform an OS reinstall

You could do this without losing anything.

Setting > System > Recovery

Select the option to let Windows Update fix.

No Windows Internet Connection

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