Windows: limited connectivity - what to do?
A yellow warning sign above the network icon indicates that Windows has limited connectivity on the network. We present possible solutions in this practical tip.
Windows: Limited connectivity due to the relationship of the IP address
The problem may be with the automatic relationship of the IP address by Windows. You can avoid this by setting the default gateway to the router.
- Find out the fixed IP address of your router. This is usually 192.168.2.1 or slightly different. You can usually find the IP address in the router management. How you call it up varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
- Open the Control Panel and there the "Network and Sharing Center" under "Network and Internet". Click on "Change adapter settings" there.
- Right click on the adapter that has limited connectivity and select "Properties".
- Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4)" from the list and then click on "Properties". Enter your administrator password if necessary.
- Select "Use the following IP address" and enter the IP address of your router under "Standard gateway" and below under "Preferred DNS server".
- Under IP address you either take your current IP address or that of the router, only that you change the last digit. We will show you how to find out your current IP address in the practical tips for Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.
- The "Subnet mask" field should be filled in automatically. Click OK to apply the settings.
Limited connectivity: other sources of error
If the approach above doesn't work, you can consider the following possible sources of error:
- Outdated software for the network devices may be the reason. Check for new firmware for your router or new drivers for your network adapter.
- Sometimes a simple reset of your router helps to reset all settings and to assign new IP addresses.
- If you get your Internet access via a Powerline adapter, there may be problems with the connection via the power grid. Again, try unplugging the router and plugging it back in and checking if a driver update is available.
This practical tip was tested with Windows 8.1, a Telekom DSL router and a Realtek PCIe network adapter. Learn how to add a printer to your wireless network here.