Are Your Windows Apps Struggling to Connect to the Internet? Try These Fixes
Most apps and programs on your computer require internet access to function. Therefore, when apps can’t connect to the internet on Windows, they are of little use. Fortunately, it’s possible to fix this annoying issue.
Here are a few effective solutions to try if apps on Windows are unable to connect to the internet.
1. Disable Windows Defender Firewall
Windows Defender Firewall keeps track of all apps and programs that connect to the internet. As a precautionary measure, it may occasionally block an app’s internet access and display the “Windows Defender Firewall has blocked some features of this app” security alert. This is one of the most common reasons why an app may fail to connect to the internet on Windows.
You can temporarily disable the Windows Defender Firewall to see if it fixes the issue.
Check to see if your apps can connect to the internet now. If this solves your problem, you may have to allow your apps through Windows Firewall. If you need help, check our guide onhow to allow apps through Windows Firewalland follow the steps outlined there.
2. Disable Your Antivirus Program
As with the firewall, your antivirus can also cause connection issues. To rule out this possibility, you should disable your antivirus program temporarily. Simply right-click on the antivirus program’s taskbar icon and selectDisable > Disable until the next restart.
3. Run Windows Troubleshooters
Windows 10 and 11 include a few troubleshooters that can automatically detect and resolve common system-level issues. Running the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter should resolve any issues with your apps and restore their ability to connect to the internet.
To run Windows Store Apps troubleshooter:
Next, run theInternet Connectionstroubleshooter from the same menu. It will diagnose your system for any internet-related issues and try to solve them. Following this, apps on your PC should connect to the internet.
4. Reset Microsoft Store Cache
A damaged Microsoft Store cache could affect Windows apps and prevent them from functioning properly. When this happens, you’ll face all kinds of issues with your apps, including the one discussed here.
Thankfully, it’s quite easy toreset the Microsoft Store cache on Windows. Here’s how to do it.
A blank command window will appear on your screen and execute the command. When the process is complete, the Microsoft Store will launch on its own. After that, try using your apps again and check if the issue is still there.
5. Disable Automatic Proxy Detection
When you use a proxy server to connect to the internet, the traffic goes through the proxy server rather than directly from your PC. It’s possible that your apps are using a proxy server that no longer works. You can try disabling the proxy server to see if that resolves the problem.
6. Reset Winsock Settings
Winsock is a program that allows applications to connect to the internet through Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Naturally, if there’s an issue with this program, apps on your Windows will have trouble accessing the internet. In most cases, you can fix such issues by resetting the Winsock data. Here’s how to do it.
Restart your PC (using one of the manymethods to restart a Windows PC) and see if the issue is resolved.
7. Reset Network Settings
If the problem persists, you can perform a full network configuration reset on Windows. There’s a chance that one of the network settings on Windows is conflicting with your apps and preventing them from accessing the internet.
To reset network settings on Windows:
After the reset is complete, your PC will restart. Following that, your issue will be resolved.
8. Troubleshoot the Issue With a Clean Boot
At times, third-party programs and services running on your PC can disrupt Windows processes and lead to such problems. To check for this possibility, you need to boot your PC in a clean boot start.
In a clean boot state, Windows only runs with essential drivers and programs. This can help you determine if a third-party app or service is causing trouble.
If you’d like to learn more about the topic, check out our guide onhow to perform a clean boot on Windowsand follow the steps listed there. If you perform a clean boot and the issue goes away, it means that one of the disabled services is the culprit. Now you may slowly re-activate the services until the problem reappears, and voila: you know what’s causing the issue.
Get Your Window Apps Back Online
You now have a good idea of what to do when apps on Windows cannot connect to the internet. One of the solutions listed above should help resolve any underlying issues and bring your apps back online.
Now that your apps are connected to the internet, you may want to limit how much data your Windows PC consumes.
Internet provider data caps got you down? Here’s how to limit how much data your Windows 11 PC uses.
My foolproof plan is to use Windows 10 until 2030, with the latest security updates.
Not Linux, not Windows. Something better.
It’s not super flashy, but it can help to keep your computer up and running.
If an AI can roast you, it can also prep you for emergencies.
The fix was buried in one tiny toggle.
