SC
Software Conspiracy

≈ Network Errors

Limited connectivity on Windows 11 — How to fix

Limited connectivity on Windows means the adapter is linked but never got a valid IP from DHCP. Either DHCP is failing or the address conflict prevents one being assigned.

Time
10 min
Difficulty
easy
Applies to
Windows 11, Windows 10
Updated
May 25, 2026

Symptoms

  • ▸Notification 'Limited connectivity'
  • ▸Wi-Fi / Ethernet shows IPv4 address like 169.254.x.x (APIPA)
  • ▸Other devices get IPs normally

Likely causes

  • ▸DHCP server unreachable
  • ▸IP address conflict with another device
  • ▸Stuck DHCP Client service
  • ▸Corrupted Winsock catalog

How to fix it — step by step

  1. 01

    Release and renew

    ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
  2. 02

    Restart DHCP Client service

    services.msc → DHCP Client → Restart.

  3. 03

    Reset network stack

    netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
netsh int tcp reset
  4. 04

    Check router DHCP scope

    On the router admin page, ensure the DHCP scope isn't exhausted. Set a slightly larger scope if you have many devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related fixes

Network

"No internet, secured" on Wi-Fi — How to fix Windows 11

Network

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN — How to fix on Chrome / Edge

Network

Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting on Windows 11 — How to fix

Network

Ethernet not working on Windows 11 — How to fix

All Network Errors →