Home Wi-Fi doesn't work on laptop, but home Wi-Fi works on other devices. Home Ethernet works on laptop, and laptop seems to work on other public Wi-Fi networks (Windows 11, Lenovo Legion)

Open | Networking

This is such a dumb problem. I have a Lenovo Legion (16IRX9H) laptop with Windows 11 Home (version 24H2).

I work from home with this laptop and use ethernet 99% of the time. The ethernet works great.

I recently noticed my Wi-Fi wasn't working when I changed rooms. I observed the following:

  • I see my usual home wireless networks available (same network, but 2.4ghz and 5ghz versions)

  • When I try to connect to them, it thinks for 30 seconds and says "No internet, secured"

  • The Windows troubleshooter says "Can't connect to the internet because your current IP address is for a local network only" - the remaining troubleshooting steps never work (see below)

  • My phone and other devices in the home connect to these WiFi networks just fine

  • I was visiting family in late June and used their wireless network without a problem. I experimented today and was able to connect to McDonald's WiFi, no problem

I have done a lot of reading and found many reddit threads with similar or adjacent problems. Here is what I have tried so far:

  • Restarted Wi-Fi adapter
  • Restarted modem and router
  • Ran diagnostics on my router - all was fine except "DNS #1" was "Fail," but it didn't suggest any fix
  • "Forgot" wireless networks and re-added them
  • Changed DNS from Automatic to CloudFlare (1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1) and Google (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) DNS services (neither worked)
  • Switched from a public network to a private network and back
  • Went to command line (as administrator) and did a bunch of things suggested by redditors (netsh winsock reset; flush dns, registerdns, release, renew)
  • Checked for Wi-Fi adapter (Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX211) driver update (already up to date) but reinstalled driver anyway from Intel website
  • Disabled Windows firewall
  • Checked for updates: there were no windows updates available (last update was 7/13), and Lenovo had a BIOS update so I updated that (didn't help, but I didn't expect it to)
  • Virus scan including Windows Defender offline scan (no problems found)

I've seen other posts express concern about the NIC being bad, but I got onto McDonald's Wi-Fi today (as a test) and streamed a long youtube video. (I don't tether to my phone and I had mobile data off on my phone) - it was definitely Wi-Fi

Let me know if I can provide any other information.

Posted Jul 19, 2025, 7:41 PM UTC

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