Fix Wi-Fi problems, IP conflicts, and slow DNS

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If your wireless connection keeps dropping, you're getting weird IP errors, or websites are loading incredibly slowly even though the speed test shows spectacular figures, you're not alone. Wi-Fi problems, IP conflicts, and DNS failures These are among the most common problems in both Windows and Android, and can be caused by a thousand factors: from a simple router failure to corrupted network drivers or a bad system configuration.

The good news is that most of these issues can be fixed at home, without being a network engineer. With a few well-made adjustments and using the tools that the system already provides (plus some additional router checks), it's possible to go from unstable Wi-Fi and a frustratingly slow DNS to a solid and fast connection in a matter of minutes.

What's happening: disconnections, IP conflicts, and slow DNS

Before you start messing around with configurations haphazardly, it's worth understanding at least a little about which pieces are involved. When you connect to the Internet, the router, DHCP server, DNS, your network adapter, and the operating system itself all come into play.If any of them fail, symptoms like these appear:

• Wi-Fi connected but no internet accessThe icon looks correct, but the websites don't load or the typical "offline" message appears.
• IP address conflict messagesTwo devices on the network are trying to use the same internal IP address, and that breaks connectivity.
• DNS is very slow or not respondingThe browser takes forever to start loading pages, or the error "the DNS server is not responding" appears.
• Obtaining an infinite IP addressThe mobile phone or PC gets stuck on "Obtaining IP address" forever and never connects.
• Unstable connections or random outagesThe Wi-Fi connection comes and goes, sometimes due to channel saturation, sometimes due to software glitches.

When the problem is with DNS, what is failing is the "translator" that converts domain names (for example, "example.com") into numerical IP addresses. If the DNS server fails, becomes overloaded, or is misconfiguredYour computer cannot resolve domains and the browser either waits or displays direct DNS errors.

DNS errors: why does "DNS server not responding" appear?

The message "The DNS server is not responding" is a classic in both Windows and other systems. Basically, it means that your computer has not been able to establish a proper connection with the DNS server. which is configured to ask. This is not a problem with the website itself, but with the intermediary layer that handles name translation.

The most frequent causes of this error are quite varied: Temporary problems with your ISP's DNS server, router malfunctions, an outdated browser, antivirus or firewalls blocking traffic, a corrupted DNS cache, or a damaged Windows network stackTo a lesser extent, it can also occur due to issues with the website hosting, but usually the problem is on your end.

Luckily, it can often be fixed with very simple actions. Restart your router and computer, try a different browser, or temporarily change your DNS servers. That might be enough to make the message disappear. If that's not enough, there are more advanced solutions you can also apply without too much trouble.

To understand the role of DNS, it's worth remembering that DNS servers are systems that store and resolve domain namesso you don't have to memorize numerical IP addresses. Without this component, browsing the internet would be like trying to make a phone call knowing only the names, but not the numbers.

Basic steps to rule out simple problems

Before diving into advanced commands, it's a good idea to rule out the simplest ones. A good strategy is to start with the browser and router, then move on to antivirus and firewall, and finally look at the operating system.This way you avoid messing with sensitive settings if the problem was something minor.

First, try access the same website from another browserIf you normally use Chrome, try accessing the site with Edge, Firefox, or Safari (if you're on a Mac). If the website works fine in the alternative browser, the problem is most likely with the browser itself: an outdated version, a conflicting extension, or a corrupted cache. Update it to the latest stable version or reinstall it from scratch if it's already up to date.

The next almost obligatory step is restart both the router and the computerThe router accumulates cache, session data, and minor errors over time. Ideally, you should turn it off by unplugging it from the power outlet, waiting 10-15 seconds, and then plugging it back in, rather than using the power button if it has one. On your PC, a full restart also clears unusual network stack states.

If after these two steps you still have the same error, you need to check if any Is your antivirus, firewall, or security suite interfering with DNS traffic?On Windows, you can go to Control Panel or Security Settings, locate Virus & threat protection, and temporarily disable it. On macOS, you can disable it for a few minutes in System Preferences, under Security & Privacy > Firewall.

Once deactivated, try browsing again. If disabling your antivirus or firewall stops you from seeing DNS errorsYou have two logical options: add the problematic website to the whitelist (if it's trustworthy) or consider changing or updating your security solution, because its filtering module is causing more problems than expected. Remember to reactivate the protection after the test.

Operating system diagnostics: safe mode and connections

If the basic steps don't solve anything, it's time to look a little deeper into the system. Safe mode with networking is a very effective way to check if the problem is coming from third-party programs., incorrectly installed drivers or internal conflicts after a system update.

In Windows, you can start safe mode with networking from the restart screen. Press Reset while holding down the Shift keyInstead of starting normally, you'll see a menu of options. Go to "Troubleshoot," then "Advanced options," and then "Startup Settings." After another restart, you'll be able to choose an option that enables Safe Mode with Networking. In this minimal environment, open your browser and try accessing the problematic websites.

On macOS, it's done similarly but with a different combination. With the Mac turned off, turn it on while holding down the Shift key. until the Apple logo appears. You might be asked to log in twice; this is normal. A "Safe Boot" indicator should appear in the menu bar to confirm you're in that mode. Navigate through the options and see if the problem persists.

If navigation works fine in safe mode, that's a clear indication that Some recently installed software, a driver, or even a system update is causing the conflictIn that case, it's advisable to uninstall any programs you've recently added, check browser extensions, and, if necessary, restore a backup from before the problem occurred.

Another thing worth checking is whether your device has multiple active network connections that may be interferingImagine you have Ethernet, Wi-Fi, VPN virtual adapters, and other interfaces installed; sometimes Windows makes unfortunate combinations.

In Windows you can go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center, and there click on "Change adapter settings". Turn off all connections you are not using (Right-click > Disable) leaving only the active adapter you actually use to connect. On a Mac, from System Preferences > Network, select the network services you don't need and remove them with the "-" button, keeping only the active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet, whichever you use).

Repair Windows using network commands: ipconfig and netsh

When the problem seems to be centered on Windows and not so much on the router or the browser, it's time to use the tools that the system itself offers. The ipconfig and netsh commands are two very powerful tools for recovering a network that has become "dumb". after an IP conflict, a power outage, or malware.

The command ipconfig It's not just for viewing your private IP address or which DNS you're using; with certain parameters, it also allows you to release and renew your IP address and clear your DNS cache. To use it, open a Command Prompt (cmd) window with administrator privileges: search for "cmd" in the taskbar, right-click on "Command Prompt," and choose "Run as administrator."

Within that black window, you can run:

• ipconfig / release: releases the current IP address assigned to the device and temporarily disconnects it from the network.
• ipconfig / renew: requests a new IP address from the DHCP server (usually your router), resetting the connection from scratch.
• ipconfig / flushdns: clears the DNS cache stored on the computer, useful if there are old or corrupted resolutions.

This trio of commands helps a lot when you're suffering IP conflicts, problems obtaining an address, route failures, or persistent DNS errorsReleasing and renewing the IP address forces the system to rebuild the network configuration and renegotiate with the router.

The other great tool is netshThis is an advanced command for managing internal network settings in Windows. For repair purposes, the most important parameter is the one related to Winsock. Winsock is the catalog that manages how applications communicate with the InternetIf it becomes corrupted by malware, a faulty installation, or a conflict between programs, errors such as "no internet access" or widespread failures to open websites will appear.

To reset it, in that same command prompt window with administrator privileges, run:

• netsh winsock reset: resets the Winsock catalog to its default state.
• netsh int ip reset: Resets the entire TCP/IP stack, more aggressively, restoring basic configurations.

After using these commands, it is recommended Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.Note that some applications may require subsequent reconfiguration: antivirus programs that filter traffic, VPN clients, third-party firewalls, or corporate network tools may lose some of their settings and need to be reconfigured.

In addition to using commands, Windows also includes automatic troubleshootersIn Windows 11, you'll find them in Settings > System > Troubleshoot, and in Windows 10 in Update & Security > Troubleshoot. There you'll see troubleshooters for internet, network adapters, updates, and more. They don't always solve the problem, but they offer quick help and, if they don't resolve it, they at least provide additional recommendations.

Update or reinstall the network adapter drivers

Another very common cause of disconnections, erratic DNS, or loss of speed is that the network adapter drivers are outdated, corrupted, or incompatible with a recent Windows updateThis is especially common after major system updates.

Before touching anything, it's a very good idea. Download a copy of the network drivers from the website of your PC manufacturer or network card manufacturerIf your computer doesn't have internet access, you can do this from another computer and copy the driver to a USB drive. You'll need to know the make and model of your computer or network adapter.

To update the driver from Windows, open the Device administratorIn the search bar, type "Device Manager" and open it. In the list, expand the "Network adapters" category and locate the adapter you're using (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Right-click on it and select "Update driver." Then, choose "Search automatically for updated driver software" so that Windows attempts to find a newer version.

If Windows doesn't find anything new, you can always manually install the driver you downloaded Download the driver from the manufacturer's website, following their instructions. Make sure to restart your computer afterward so the new driver loads correctly.

If your connection became unstable right after a large update, you can also Uninstall the driver and let Windows reinstall it automatically.To do this, in Device Manager, right-click on the adapter > "Uninstall device" and check the box "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" before confirming. Then restart your PC: Windows will search for and reinstall the network adapter driver. If it doesn't, install the backup driver you prepared on the USB drive.

Android-specific solutions: Wi-Fi connected but no internet, IP and DNS

Wi-Fi problems are also very common on Android phones and tablets: Gray Wi-Fi icon with no data, endless loops of "Obtaining IP address", seemingly correct password but never connects, or networks that are not detectedAlthough the router is often the culprit, there are several Android settings that are worth checking.

When you see that the Wi-Fi icon is connected but grayed out or shows no traffic, and you also don't have internet access, a common recommended solution is to device factory resetBut before going to that extreme, it's worth trying less drastic configuration changes, such as manually setting IP and DNS.

To do this, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap and hold the network you're connected to, and select "Modify network." Check the box for advanced options, and under "IPv4 settings," change from "DHCP" to "Static IP." Then, Configure the DNS using known public values.For example, Google's DNS 1 = 8.8.8.8 and DNS 2 = 8.8.4.4. This can resolve issues caused by a faulty or traffic-filtering ISP DNS server.

If the mobile phone is stuck on "Obtaining IP address" indefinitely, it's likely that there is There may be a conflict with the router's DHCP server, or the IP address it's trying to assign may already be in use by another device.Make sure you haven't manually assigned an IP address on your Android device that might be duplicated. If you're still having problems, turn your phone's Wi-Fi off and on again to force a new request. If many devices are connected to the router, temporarily disconnect them to see if one is causing the conflict. As a last resort, restart your router to redistribute the entire range of addresses.

When your Android displays "Connection saved" but never actually connects, it's almost always due to a misspelled passwordPress and hold the network name, select "Modify network," enable "Show password," and carefully re-enter it, checking capital letters, special characters, and numbers. If you still can't access it, check your router to see what type of encryption the network uses; some older devices don't work well with WEP networks, so it's best to use WPA2 or higher.

If you see messages like "Bad connection. Disabled" or similar, the cause is usually a A combination of poor coverage, network restrictions, or problems with the DHCP protocolIn addition to physically moving closer to the router, you can try setting a static IP address as before: in "IPv4 Address" change the last number to a free one (between 2 and 199 is usually normal in many home networks) and, in Gateway and DNS 1, enter the router's IP address (for example, 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.254, depending on the case).

When the mobile phone doesn't even detect the Wi-Fi network, it's necessary to distinguish whether This only happens with a specific router or with all networksIf it's only with one network, try add it manually From Settings > Wi-Fi > "Add network", enter the name (SSID), security type, and password. If it still doesn't work after that, the router's antenna might be faulty. If the problem occurs with any network, then it's a serious issue, and the smartphone's Wi-Fi antenna itself might be damaged.

Slow DNS, strange routes, and problems with providers

There are more damned cases where the download speed and the network latency Measured by Speedtest or similar, it's very good. (for example, over 150 Mbps with pings below 10 ms), but certain sites like Linux repositories, F-Droid, Termux or APKMirror are extremely slow, with downloads that don't exceed a few hundred KB/s or directly time out.

In these types of scenarios, the problem is often not your home Wi-Fi, but the routes your Internet provider uses to reach certain services or how your country's DNS resolvesSometimes long routes are chosen, passing through countries where certain content is blocked or where there is congestion at certain points. Therefore, sometimes changing DNS (for example, to Google or Cloudflare's) solves the problem of slow speeds because different, shorter routes with less congestion are used.

But the exact opposite can happen: Changing the DNS on your router or mobile device will cause you to lose your connection. and the system displays "No Internet". Some carriers limit or filter the use of external DNS servers, or their IPv6 implementation conflicts with the manual configuration of public DNS servers. On Android, for example, selecting private DNS servers like dns.google or one.one.one.one might cause the phone to indicate no connection, while a VPN like Warp (from Cloudflare) might work and speed up downloads because it creates its own encrypted tunnel and alternative route.

In these cases, changing providers is often not feasible or simply doesn't solve anything, because Several operators from the same country share infrastructure or suffer from the same congested routesThe best strategy involves:

• Try different DNS servers (from the operator, public ones from Google, Cloudflare, etc.) whenever the network allows it.
• Check with traceroutes where the performance drops occur.
• Use, if possible, reliable VPN services that route traffic through less congested paths.

If those same websites load quickly when using another operator's mobile network or your phone's network as a hotspot, it's another clue that the bottleneck is... between your fiber provider and the destination serversnot on your Wi-Fi or your PC.

Clear DNS cache, renew IP, and adjust IPv6

In addition to ipconfig /flushdns on Windows, it's advisable to know how Clear the DNS cache and renew the IP address on other systems as well.A corrupted cache or an expired DHCP lease can cause all sorts of strange errors.

In Windows we have already seen the procedure: open cmd as administrator, run ipconfig / flushdns to clear the cache, and then, if you want to fine-tune further, ipconfig / registerdns to re-register the DNS settings. On macOS, this is done through Terminal: from Finder > Applications > Utilities, open "Terminal" and use commands like dscacheutil -flushcache, to which in modern versions is usually added also sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponderThe exact command depends on the macOS version, but the idea is the same: to empty the cache to force the system to request the addresses again from the configured DNS servers.

To renew your IP address in Windows, you already know that ipconfig / release followed by ipconfig / renew It's the right combination. On a Mac, you don't need Terminal: from the Apple menu > System Settings > Network, select your connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), go to "Details," and on the "TCP/IP" tab, click "Renew DHCP Lease." This will cause the system to request a new IP address from the router and discard the old one.

Another piece to consider is IPv6It is the modern protocol that expands the Internet address space, but in some poorly configured environments or with old equipment can cause conflicts and resolution errorsAlthough it's not ideal, you can temporarily disable it to check if it's the source of the problems.

On Windows, go to your network connection properties (Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections), right-click on your adapter, choose "Properties," and uncheck the "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)" box. Click OK and test the connection again. On a Mac, you can use commands like [commands to access the Terminal]. networksetup -setv6off Wi-Fi to disable it in the wireless connection, or networksetup -setv6off Ethernet to do it on the wired connection.

If disabling IPv6 makes the network behave normally, you may need to update network drivers, router firmware, or even the operating systemso that they can better manage that protocol.

Change DNS servers on Windows and Mac

When you've tried everything above and you're still seeing messages that the DNS server isn't responding, one fairly effective maneuver is change the DNS servers your computer usesIf you've never touched them, it's probably using the ones from your internet provider automatically.

In Windows, go to your network connections settings, locate the adapter you're using (for example, "Wi-Fi"), right-click it, and select "Properties." Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click "Properties." At the bottom, check "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter, for example, 8.8.8.8 as the preferred server and 8.8.4.4 as the alternative If you want to use Google's, accept the changes and restart your browser.

On macOS, go to System Preferences > Network, select your connection, and click "Details." In the DNS section, below the IPv4/IPv6 addresses, click the "+" symbol and add the addresses of the servers you want to use (for example, Google's or other trusted public servers). Save the changes and try browsing again.

If your browsing returns to normal after changing your DNS, it's clear that The problem originated from the original DNS server (usually your operator's).If, on the other hand, things remain the same, at least you will have eliminated an important piece of the puzzle.

When all of this comes together—a stable router, up-to-date drivers, fast-responding DNS, conflict-free IP addresses, and properly configured applications—the normal outcome is that Wi-Fi disconnections, IP conflicts, and slow DNS messages will become the exception. And not a daily ordeal. And if there are still specific websites that resist, you'll almost always find the culprit in your provider's routing or some intermediate filter, rather than on your own device.