Question:

How can I troubleshoot a network connectivity issue on a Windows 11 PC that only works with a mobile hotspot?

I have a Windows 11 PC that cannot access the internet through my home network, either by Ethernet or Wi-Fi. The PC shows that it is connected to the network, but there is no internet access. However, the PC can connect to the internet through my phone’s mobile hotspot without any problem. This issue has been persistent for a while, and restarting the PC or the modem does not help. I have tried updating the network drivers, resetting the network settings, and running some commands in the command prompt, but none of them solved the problem. All other devices in my home network can access the internet normally. My home network consists of a modem from Inteno, a router from Tenda, and an ISP from Bredbandsson. I am not sure what is causing this issue or how to fix it. I would appreciate any guidance from an expert. I have no VPN installed on my PC.

Answer:

Network connectivity issues can be frustrating and hard to resolve, especially when they affect only one device in your home network. If you have a Windows 11 PC that cannot access the internet through your home network, either by Ethernet or Wi-Fi, but can connect to the internet through your phone’s mobile hotspot, you may be wondering what is causing this issue and how to fix it. In this article, we will explain some possible reasons for this problem and provide some steps to troubleshoot and resolve it.

Possible causes

There are many factors that can affect the network connectivity of your Windows 11 PC, such as:

• Faulty or outdated network drivers: Network drivers are software components that enable your PC to communicate with your network devices, such as your modem, router, and network adapter. If your network drivers are faulty or outdated, they may not work properly with your home network or with Windows 11, resulting in network connectivity issues.
• Incorrect network settings: Network settings are configuration parameters that determine how your PC connects to your network, such as your IP address, DNS server, gateway, and proxy. If your network settings are incorrect, they may prevent your PC from accessing the internet through your home network, but not through your mobile hotspot, which uses different settings.
• Network interference or congestion: Network interference or congestion occurs when there are too many devices or signals competing for the same network bandwidth or frequency, resulting in poor network performance or connectivity. This may affect your Wi-Fi connection more than your Ethernet connection, as Wi-Fi is more susceptible to interference from other wireless devices or signals, such as microwaves, cordless phones, or Bluetooth devices.
• Malware or firewall issues: Malware or firewall issues are security-related problems that can affect your network connectivity. Malware is malicious software that can infect your PC and interfere with your network traffic, such as redirecting your browser to unwanted websites or blocking your access to certain websites or services. Firewall is a software or hardware component that monitors and controls your network traffic, such as blocking or allowing certain incoming or outgoing connections. If your PC is infected by malware or your firewall is misconfigured, they may cause network connectivity issues on your PC.

Troubleshooting steps

To troubleshoot and resolve the network connectivity issue on your Windows 11 PC, you can try the following steps:

• Update your network drivers: Updating your network drivers can fix any compatibility or performance issues with your network devices and Windows 11. To update your network drivers, you can follow these steps:
• Open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X and selecting Device Manager from the menu.
• Expand the Network adapters category and right-click on your network device, such as your Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter.
• Select Update driver from the context menu and choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.
• Restart your PC and check if the network connectivity issue is resolved.
• Reset your network settings: Resetting your network settings can restore the default configuration parameters for your network connection and fix any incorrect or corrupted settings that may cause network connectivity issues. To reset your network settings, you can follow these steps:
• Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I and click on Network & internet.
• Click on the Advanced network settings tab on the right side.
• Under the More settings section, click on the Network reset tab at the bottom of the page.
• Click on the Reset now button to reset your network settings.
• Click Yes to confirm and restart your PC.
• After the restart, reconnect to your home network and check if the network connectivity issue is resolved.
• Reduce network interference or congestion: Reducing network interference or congestion can improve your network performance and connectivity, especially for your Wi-Fi connection. To reduce network interference or congestion, you can try these tips:
• Move your PC and router closer to each other and away from any sources of interference, such as walls, metal objects, or other wireless devices or signals.
• Change your Wi-Fi channel or frequency to a less crowded one, such as 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz, if your router and PC support it.
• Use a wired connection instead of a wireless one, if possible, as Ethernet is more stable and reliable than Wi-Fi.
• Limit the number of devices or applications that use your network bandwidth, such as streaming, gaming, or downloading, and prioritize the ones that are more important or urgent.
• Scan your PC for malware and check your firewall settings: Scanning your PC for malware and checking your firewall settings can ensure that your network traffic is not compromised or blocked by any security-related problems. To scan your PC for malware and check your firewall settings, you can follow these steps:
• Open Windows Security by pressing Windows key + S and typing Windows Security in the search box.
• Click on Virus & threat protection and select Scan options.
• Choose Full scan and click on Scan now to scan your PC for malware.
• If any malware is detected, follow the instructions to remove it from your PC.
• Click on Firewall & network protection and select your network profile, such as Private network or Public network.
• Make sure that the Windows Defender Firewall is turned on and that there are no rules or exceptions that may block your network connection.
• If you have any third-party antivirus or firewall software installed on your PC, make sure that they are not interfering with your network connection and that they are updated to the latest version.

Conclusion

Network

connectivity issues can be caused by various factors, such as faulty or outdated network drivers, incorrect network settings, network interference or congestion, or malware or firewall issues. To troubleshoot and resolve the network connectivity issue on your Windows 11 PC that only works with a mobile hotspot, you can try updating your network drivers, resetting your network settings, reducing network interference or congestion, or scanning your PC for malware and checking your firewall settings. If none of these steps work, you may need to contact your ISP, your modem or router manufacturer, or a professional technician for further assistance. We hope this article was helpful and informative for you. Thank you for reading.