Are Your Windows Apps Struggling to Connect to the Internet
Most applications and programs on your computer require Internet access to function. Therefore, they are of little use when apps cannot connect to the Internet on Windows. Fortunately, it is possible to fix this annoying problem.
Here are some effective solutions if apps on Windows can’t connect to the Internet.
Windows Defender Firewall keeps track of all apps and programs that connect to the Internet. As a precautionary measure, it may sometimes block the app’s Internet access and display a “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 Windows Defender Firewall to see if that fixes the problem.
Check to see if your apps can now connect to the Internet. If this solves your problem, you may need to allow your apps through Windows Firewall. If you need help, check out our guide on how to allow apps through Windows Firewall and follow the steps outlined there.
2. Disable Your Antivirus Program
Like a firewall, your antivirus can also be causing connection problems. To exclude this possibility, you should temporarily disable your antivirus program. Just right-click on the antivirus program’s taskbar icon and choose Disable > Disable until next restart.
3. Run Windows Troubleshooters
Windows 10 and 11 include some troubleshooters that can automatically detect and fix common system-level problems. The Running Windows Store Apps troubleshooter should resolve any problems with your apps and restore their ability to connect to the Internet.
Next, run the Internet Connection Troubleshooter from the same menu. It will diagnose your system for any internet related issues and try to resolve them. Next, the apps on your PC need to be connected to the Internet.
4. Reset Microsoft Store Cache
A damaged Microsoft Store cache can affect Windows apps and prevent them from working properly. When this happens, you will encounter all kinds of problems with your apps including the one discussed here.
An empty command window will appear on your screen and execute the command. When the process is complete, the Microsoft Store will launch automatically. After that, try using your apps again and check if the issue still occurs.
5. Disable Automatic Proxy Detection
When you use a proxy server to connect to the Internet, the traffic goes through the proxy server instead of directly through your PC. It is possible that your apps are using a proxy server that is no longer working. You can try disabling the proxy server to see if that solves the problem.
6. Reset Winsock Settings
Winsock is a program that allows applications to connect to the Internet via Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Naturally, if there is a problem with this program, the apps on your Windows will have trouble accessing the Internet. In most cases, you can fix such problems by resetting the Winsock data. how to do this.
Restart your PC (using one of the many methods for restarting a Windows PC) and see if the problem is resolved.
7. Reset Network Settings
If the problem persists, you can perform a full network configuration reset on Windows. There is a possibility that one of the network settings on Windows is conflicting with your apps and preventing them from accessing the Internet.
After the reset is complete, your PC will restart. After that your problem will be solved.
8. Troubleshoot with Clean Boot
Sometimes, third-party programs and services running on your PC can interrupt Windows processes and cause such problems. To check this possibility, you need to boot your PC in Clean Boot Start.
In a clean boot state, Windows runs with only the necessary drivers and programs. This can help you determine if a third-party app or service is causing the problem.
If you want to learn more about the topic, check out our guide on how to perform a clean boot on Windows and follow the steps listed there. If you do a clean boot and the problem goes away, it means that one of the disabled services is the culprit. Now you can slowly re-enable services until the problem reappears, and voila: you know what’s causing the problem.
Get Your Windows Apps Back Online
Now you have a good idea of what to do when apps on Windows can’t connect to the Internet.
