'Connected without internet'

[RJB67]

My Android phone is connecting to WiFi with the message "Connected without internet."

Every other device - two Windows PCs, two iPads, two iPhones, Sonos, and my Samsung TV - are all connected to the same network and can access the internet just fine.

The phone can connect to other non-Internet devices on WiFi (the printer, the Sonos controller) and can access the router's home page. My phone also can access the internet on other WiFi networks (e.g., my office).

The phone connects to the internet over T-Mobile's 4G with no problems.

I first observed this three days ago. This phone has been connecting to this network for over three years, and the SIM card was replaced in June. The router has been in use since August.

Two days ago, I switched from "Randomized MAC" to "Phone MAC" and it immediately reconnected correctly. Yesterday, when the phone physically left the network (i.e., left the house) and returned, it again gave me "Connected without internet" message. I switched from "Phone MAC" to "Randomized MAC" and it immediately reconnected correctly. Today, I had to reboot the router - and the "Connected without internet" has returned, regardless of anything else I try.

I have forgotten the network and re-entered credentials, rebooted the router, and rebooted the phone (in every possible sequence of those three steps), to no use.

It is a Samsung Note9 running Android 10 - N960USQU9FVG2 / N960UOYN9FVG2 / N960USQ9FVG2 with Security patch level June 1, 2022. According to the phone, my software is up to date.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Are you using 2.4 or 5 GHz channel on your router?

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! See this for other ideas: http://forums.androidcentral.com/am...roubleshooting-wi-fi-connection-problems.html

Log into your router settings and make sure your DHCP range isn't too narrow.

 

[RJB67]

Thanks, both. \

@Laura: I have both 2.4 and 5 on router, but I have always exclusively used the 5. I get the same "Connection" message if I try logging onto the 2.

@B.Diddy: Explain what "too narrow" is, please? Also, why would it suddenly become unacceptable?

Thanks

 

[B. Diddy]

The DHCP range sets how many separate IP addresses a network can handle. The default is usually pretty wide (like around 255 addresses), but it can be adjusted to as narrow as 1. If you never adjusted it, then it's most likely not the issue, but in case someone fiddled with it and narrowed it down to, say, 10, then it's possible that if all 10 address slots are taken up, then trying to connect an 11th device can lead to no internet.

 

[RJB67]

Thanks. I'm the only one that fiddles so doubtful. But in attempts to fix this particular issue, I have played with the DNS server settings on the phone, etc., so wanted to clarify. Will double-check nonetheless.

 

[B. Diddy]

Thanks. I'm the only one that fiddles so doubtful. But in attempts to fix this particular issue, I have played with the DNS server settings on the phone, etc., so wanted to clarify. Will double-check nonetheless.

Oh, that's another thing -- if you changed the DNS to a custom one (like Google or Cloudflare), try changing it back to the ISP-provided DNS. I've seen connection problems occur, even with DNS servers like Google that you'd assume would not cause problems (especially when trying to connect to public wi-fi like at a hotel).

 

[RJB67]

Yeah, I don't think I did anything to the router, but I did try to change it to Google's on my phone. I am hesitant to reset all my network settings, because I have lots of saved networks that I use fairly frequently, as well as BT settings. That's almost nuclear, in my book.

At office now will report back in AM after I get home and... fiddle.

 

[B. Diddy]

Changing the DNS server is pretty easy in the Chrome app's settings -- you don't have to reset all network settings. It's Settings>Privacy and Security>Use Secure DNS.

 

[RJB67]

On the router - it's an Archer A9 - it shows a full band on Advanced=>Network=>DHCP Server. ("Enable DHCP Server" is checked, and the address pool is .100-.249).

My phone does show up as a connected device in Advanced=>Security=>Access Control=>Online devices. (Well, its IP shows - but the MAC address on the router is different than the MAC Address listed on the phone's Settings=>About phone=>Status. I'm guessing because I had "randomized MAC" selected on the phone?) The MAC Address on the phone is on the router's whitelist.

I forgot all my local networks (i.e., my router's 2.4 and 5, both "regular" and "guest" settings) and tried to re-add the 5. Same results.

I have tried with Phone's Connections=>More connection settings=>Private DNS on "Off", "Automatic", and "Private DNS provider hostname: dns.google", all to no avail. (I don't have "Privacy and Security" under Settings, nor "Secure DNS" show up in Settings' Search box.)


Again, it connects easy-peasy to my work network, just like always.

 

[B. Diddy]

To be clear, the Privacy and Security menu option I'm referring to is in the Chrome app's settings, not the system settings. Did you look there?

 

[RJB67]

Oh - no. I never use Chrome, just Samsung's built-in browser.

It's set to "Use secure DNS" and "Use your current service provider".

Either way, curious why a browser setting would impact the overall connectivity! Is Android/Chrome that inbred?

 

[B. Diddy]

Ah ok. It was worth checking, since I had run into a problem recently when trying to connect to hotel wi-fi with the DNS set to Google's, but you're right, if the system itself is saying there's no internet, then the browser's setting probably has no impact.

Is the router firmware up to date? https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/download/archer-a9/#Firmware

 

[Thomas_George]

Check whether the number of connected devices to access internet has reached the upper limit. Some ISP or wireless router may have a limitation for this.

 

[RJB67]

Check whether the number of connected devices to access internet has reached the upper limit. Some ISP or wireless router may have a limitation for this.

Thanks. Is there a way to check on the router? I do have a ton of stuff on there, between all the phones, laptops, Sonos speakers, etc., but nothing new has been added in months.

Although that wouldn't make sense at the router level, since the phone signs on to the network, just not the internet (can access the Sonos interface (but not its internet radio stations, natch) and the printer).

Is it possible the device would be blacklisted at the ISP? Hmmmm...

 

[Thomas_George]

Thanks. Is there a way to check on the router? I do have a ton of stuff on there, between all the phones, laptops, Sonos speakers, etc., but nothing new has been added in months.

Although that wouldn't make sense at the router level, since the phone signs on to the network, just not the internet (can access the Sonos interface (but not its internet radio stations, natch) and the printer).

Is it possible the device would be blacklisted at the ISP? Hmmmm...

In this case, it looks more like the ISP has an upper limit on the number of devices connected to internet.
You'd better contact your ISP to confirm.
Also, in general, ISPs are unlikely to blacklist devices behind routers.