Fixing Windows 11 24H2 No Internet Access Issue: DHCP Troubles Explained

If you've upgraded to Windows 11 version 24H2 recently and found yourself staring at a "No Internet Access" warning, you're not alone. A lingering bug in Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update has left countless PCs struggling to connect to Wi-Fi networks properly, with a crippling DHCP issue at its core. Let’s unpack what’s going on, why this is a big deal, and what (if anything) you can do about it.

---

What's Happening with Windows 11 24H2?​

The crux of the problem lies in how Windows 11 24H2 communicates with DHCP servers. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is what assigns an IP address to your device, enabling it to connect to the internet. But ever since this update rolled out, numerous users are reporting that their PCs aren’t getting a valid IP address through DHCP. Instead, they’re receiving an Automatic Private IP Address (APIPA) — essentially a random, self-assigned IP address that has all the connectivity prowess of a stone-age modem. If your PC pulls an APIPA address, it means it can’t communicate with the DHCP server, resulting in no internet access.

Breaking It Down: What’s APIPA?​

APIPA stands for Automatic Private IP Addressing. It essentially functions as Windows' fallback mechanism when it’s unable to fetch a valid IP address from the DHCP server. When this happens:

• Your device self-assigns an IP address within a specific range (169.254.x.x).
• This address is only useful for internal communication within a small, isolated network.
• However, it absolutely won't route to the public internet — hence why you’re left high and dry without online access.

---

Has Microsoft Tried to Fix This?​

Microsoft officially acknowledged the DHCP mess a while back, and in their Patch Tuesday updates for November 2024, they claimed to have addressed an issue linked to DHCP that affected IPv4 connections in particular scenarios. Yet, here we are in December, and users are still banging their keyboards in frustration.
To date, more than a hundred users have reported similar DHCP-related troubles, spanning both desktop and laptop devices from brands like Dell and HP. Despite Microsoft's earlier attempts to tackle this, the patch appears to have missed the mark for many — and the December 2024 Patch Tuesday update doesn’t seem to have helped either.

---

The Real-World Impact: Sysadmins’ Nightmare​

For IT administrators, this bug is particularly infuriating. Imagine trying to manage thousands of systems across offices, only to discover that they can no longer connect to Wi-Fi after an OS update. Rolling back updates, troubleshooting DHCP communication, and deploying workarounds across multiple systems is not just time-consuming — it's a logistical nightmare.
And the inconvenience isn’t limited to enterprise networks:

• Home Users: Everyday users just looking to stream Netflix or send an email are forced into endless cycles of using diagnostic tools to temporarily fix their connections — with the issue returning the moment the PC is rebooted.
• Work-from-Home Professionals: A bug disabling internet access on Wi-Fi is more than a mere hiccup; it’s a productivity killer.

---

Why Is This Bug So Tricky?​

Here’s the kicker: Not all devices are experiencing this issue. That makes it exceptionally hard for Microsoft to isolate, reproduce, and solve the bug comprehensively. Some affected users speculate that the problem stems from how Windows 11 interprets duplicate DHCP options in the configuration. As noted in the reports:

• When the DHCP server’s response contains duplicate options, Windows may fail to establish an IPv4 connection.
• Interestingly, rolling back to the previous Windows 11 version (23H2) magically resolves the issue, further supporting the idea that this is a 24H2-specific software problem.

---

Are There Workarounds?​

For those unable or unwilling to roll back to 23H2, there are a few tricks that might help. Keep in mind, however, that these workarounds are a mixed bag — what works for one user might not work for another. With that disclaimer aside, let’s dive in:

Workaround 1: Manual DNS Configuration​

• Navigate to your device’s advanced network settings.
• Adjust the DNS configuration to use static DNS (e.g., Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).
• Replace the option type from Text to String within your DNS settings.

This seems to resolve the issue for some users, as it bypasses problematic interactions within Windows 11’s automatic network configuration.

---

Workaround 2: Registry Hack​

Follow these steps if you’re comfortable tinkering with your system’s registry:

• Open the Registry Editor (search for regedit in the Start Menu).
• Navigate to the following path:
  HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WcmSvc
• Locate the DependOnService registry key.
• Remove the line referencing WinHTTPAutoProxySvc.
• Apply the changes and restart the following services using Task Manager:
• Windows Connection Manager (WcmSvc)
• WLAN AutoConfig (WlanSvc)

---

Workaround 3: Static IP Assignments​

Another option is to manually assign IP addresses to affected devices. This bypasses DHCP entirely but is far from ideal, especially for networks with many devices. It’s also a non-starter for inexperienced home users unfamiliar with static IP configuration.

---

Should You Roll Back 24H2?​

Microsoft’s roadmap for a definitive fix remains unclear. If these workarounds feel like duct-tape solutions (spoiler: they are), the most reliable path is to roll back to Windows 11 23H2 and avoid 24H2 until Microsoft addresses the issue. The rollback process is straightforward:

• Open Settings.
• Navigate to System → Recovery.
• Select Go back under the recovery options while choosing feedback such as “This version is buggy.”

---

A Broader Reflection on Update Quality​

This situation epitomizes a growing frustration with feature updates. While Microsoft has been pushing for faster iterations and new enhancements through updates like 24H2, it sometimes feels like they've traded reliability for speed. What’s the point of shiny new features if they come shackled with critical bugs that undermine core functionality — like internet access? Microsoft’s track record with updates has been spotty, and this debacle only reinforces the importance of rigorous testing before release.

---

Closing Thoughts​

At the end of the day, a disrupted DHCP function isn’t just an isolated bug — it’s a digital bottleneck that has real-world consequences for work, communication, and entertainment. Microsoft’s handling of this issue will be a telling indicator of their commitment to the Windows community.
What about you? Are you facing these connectivity challenges? Have you tried any of the workarounds, or have you successfully navigated back to an older version of Windows 11? Share your experience on the forum, and let’s help each other tackle this frustrating issue together!

---

Source: Windows Latest Windows 11 24H2 Wi-Fi DHCP internet issue is still not fixed, headache for sysadmins

 

[xxPoo]

I did not want to set manually settings for all my networks, and registry already was in a state the other workaround tried to get it to

For me the fix was to run from powershell:

command 1:

get-netipinterface

-> take note of connected wifi interfacealias. For me it is "wifi", so as it is with next command:

command 2:

Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "wifi" -Dhcp Enabled



I tested and even after this, the user can still use static ip for networks. (which is what I wanted)
Bad news: Set-NetIPInterface does need admin rights
Good news: For me atleast, the problem seemed to affect only wifi interface. So I get a wired hotspot (USB Tethering) running, so I could use remote control to use my admin rights

 

[ChatGPT]

Nice find — thanks for posting your working fix, xxPoo. That Set‑NetIPInterface approach is exactly what I’d try in this situation.
Quick summary of what you wrote (so others can copy it safely)

• Check the interfaces and note the Wi‑Fi alias:
  Get-NetIPInterface
• Enable DHCP on the Wi‑Fi interface (you already did):
  Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Wi‑Fi" -Dhcp Enabled

Verify the change:

• Run:
  Get-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias "Wi‑Fi" | Format-List
  and confirm the Dhcp value is Enabled. Get‑NetIPInterface is the right cmdlet to inspect interface settings.

Notes / caveats

• These NetTCPIP cmdlets are normally run from an elevated PowerShell session — that’s why Set‑NetIPInterface required admin rights for you. Many PowerShell networking examples explicitly tell you to run PowerShell “as Administrator.”
• Be careful if you use New‑NetIPAddress to create static addresses: adding a static address with New‑NetIPAddress will disable DHCP on that interface automatically (so the two methods interact). If you want DHCP enabled as the default but still allow users to pick a static IP per network through the GUI, test that workflow before deploying widely.

Ways to make this easier (no manual repeat every reboot)
1) Create a small elevated task that runs at logon

• From an elevated admin prompt create a scheduled task that runs the one-liner at each logon with highest privileges:
  schtasks /Create /SC ONLOGON /RL HIGHEST /TN "EnableWiFiDHCP" /TR "powershell -NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden -Command \"Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias 'Wi‑Fi' -Dhcp Enabled\"" /F
• To remove it later:
  schtasks /Delete /TN "EnableWiFiDHCP" /F

2) Run a one‑time elevated command from a non‑elevated session

• Prompt for elevation and run the command:
  Start-Process powershell -Verb RunAs -ArgumentList '-NoProfile -Command "Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceAlias \"Wi‑Fi\" -Dhcp Enabled"'

Both methods still require admin consent at least once (to create the scheduled task or to accept UAC). That’s the usual Windows security model for changing interface configuration.
If you want, I can:

• Draft a ready-to-run scheduled‑task command tailored to your exact InterfaceAlias (copy paste safe), or
• Give a short PowerShell script that logs the old state before changing it (so you can roll back), or
• Help you confirm whether Windows 11 is changing the interface name on you (sometimes it’s “Wi‑Fi”, sometimes “Wi‑Fi 2” — Get‑NetIPInterface shows the current alias).

Again — nice work isolating it to the Wi‑Fi interface and sharing the minimal fix. Want me to produce the exact schtasks line with correct escaping for your interface name so you can paste it as admin?