Solve the problem of Unidentified Network no internet access in Windows in 4 ways
Network problems on Windows are very numerous, and are often caused by an error in defining the network card or a malfunction in the router.
But perhaps the most famous is the Unidentified Network problem, where a yellow exclamation mark appears on the miniature Internet icon in the taskbar with the words "...Identifying .. no internet access" appearing, whether you are connected via an Ethernet cable or wirelessly via Wi-Fi, and of course this problem completely prevents the Internet connection.
Windows does not specify exactly why this issue occurs, however, there are several aspects that can be considered to get the Internet working normally again.
So, in this article, we will list some effective methods that you should try when facing the “Unknown Network” issue on Windows.
Method 1: Use the Network Maintenance Tool in Windows
One of the most important features of the Windows operating system is that it includes a number of tools dedicated to dealing with various problems that users may encounter.
Whether it's a sound problem, a keyboard problem, or even a network problem, there's a tool programmed to try to automatically detect and fix the problem or tell you what's wrong if the solution requires user intervention.
So, when you face Unidentified Network issue on Windows you can run Network Maintenance Tool.
This can be done either by right-clicking on the mini Internet icon on the taskbar and selecting “Troubleshoot problems” from the pop-up menu,
Or go to the Settings app on Windows 10, then go to the Update & Security section, then to the Troubleshoot page, then click on Internet Connections. Once you click on the Run the troubleshooter button, the network maintenance tool will start working.
The tool will first check your internet status and examine all the possible causes of the crash and then report its findings. In case of an “unknown network” issue, the tool will most likely fix it automatically. If not, it will show you why it happened.
As shown in the image above, the reason we are facing this issue is because the network does not have a valid IP configuration, so we will need to check the IP settings on our network.
So in any case, the built-in Windows Network Maintenance tool will help you fix the problem – even if you're sure it won't help at all, it's still a step you shouldn't skip.
You may also be interested in: How to convert a router to an access point
Method 2: Replace the Ethernet cable
Most often, the Unidentified Network problem occurs due to damage to the Ethernet cable itself, or perhaps one of the cable wires is not properly connected to the socket;
This makes Windows recognize the presence of an Ethernet cable connected to the computer, but does not know the source of the network, and therefore you cannot even access the router settings page .
In this case, you only have two options: either remove the cable, check the condition of the socket, and then reconnect it again (if you do not notice any signs of damage),
Or replace the cable completely with another cable, especially if it is a very old cable or a new one but of poor manufacturing quality, as it is possible that there is a cut or damage in some part inside the cable.
However, you can postpone this solution until you try the other methods reviewed in the following lines.
You may also be interested in: How to know the Wi-Fi password from the computer
The third method: Deactivate the network card drivers
If the message “Identifying... no internet access” appears , you can deactivate the network card or Wi-Fi driver and then reactivate it again until the problem is solved, as happened to me before.
This is done by right-clicking on This PC and then selecting Manage.
Then from the window that will appear, choose Device Manager, then under Network Adapter, right-click on each definition in front of you, then choose Disable, then repeat the same step and choose Enable.
You may also be interested in: - The meaning of WLAN, DSL, and WPS in the router and other router lights
Method 4: Reinstall the network card driver in the computer
Windows 10 provides a quick solution to overcome most network related problems with the click of a button, which is resetting the network card driver in the computer.
This means that the system will uninstall the network driver and then reinstall it again and return its settings to the default as it was.
So, if you followed the previous steps and did not solve the problem, try reinstalling the network card driver in Windows 10.
To do this, all you have to do is go to Settings by clicking on the Win key + the letter i together on the keyboard, then go to the Network & Internet section and on the Status page scroll down until you reach the Change your network settings section where there is the “Network reset” option below it, which is what is required.
After clicking on Network reset, you will need to click on the Reset Now button to start the process of resetting the network definition on the computer.
This may take 5-10 minutes at most, and after it is finished Windows will ask you to restart your computer. The problem should go away after your computer is back up and running again.
Method 5: Restart the router
Restarting the router from the computer , mobile, or even the router itself is one of the effective solutions to eliminate the Unidentified Network problem on the computer.
In fact, this was the only solution I could get rid of this problem while it was appearing on my computer - I don't know the secret behind it, but a reboot is definitely an effective process in overcoming many problems.
So, head over to your router and press the power button on the back/side and then turn the router back on and wait for the network to be configured.