How to Fix “Network Settings Preventing Access” Error in Bing Chat

The error message “Looks like your network settings are preventing access to this feature” in Bing AI often arises when you try to access the feature while using a third-party VPN service. VPN connections can disrupt the underlying connection, and as a result, web servers may flag your requests as suspicious.

To resolve this problem, you need to ensure that your network connection is not compromised by any third-party services on your system. The following methods will guide you through various steps to isolate and fix the error message.

1. Sign in to Microsoft Account

To use Bing AI effectively, you should first sign in to your Microsoft account. This step authenticates your identity and helps verify your network connection to the service.

Even if you’re using a VPN, signing in with your Microsoft account could resolve the issue.

1. Open Bing Chat in your browser using this link.
2. Click on the Sign In option in the top-right corner.

   

3. Enter your Microsoft account details when prompted.
4. Refresh the Bing Chat webpage to ensure that your name shows up, indicating a successful sign-in.
5. Check if the error message still appears.

2. Allow Third-Party Cookies

Cookies, particularly third-party ones, are used to enhance user experience on websites. Privacy settings in browsers might block these cookies by default, potentially impacting the functionality of certain websites such as Bing AI.

To avoid disruption, allow third-party cookies for the site. The process to do so varies across different browsers, but usually involves searching within browser settings.

1. Open your browser.
2. Click on the More icon (often denoted by three dots or lines) in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. In the settings, use the search function to look up “cookies”.

   

4. Select the option related to Third-party cookies.
5. Make sure the setting to Block third-party cookies is not activated.

   

6. Revisit the Bing Chat page to check whether the issue is resolved.

3. Update Date of Birth

Your Microsoft account’s date of birth may sometimes trigger this error, especially if it hasn’t been set, resulting in restricted access.

Outdated user account information has been known to cause other issues with Bing Chat as well. Therefore, if you haven’t provided a date of birth, ensure you update it.

1. Login to your Microsoft account on the Bing Chat webpage by clicking the Sign In button.

   

2. Click on your profile in the top-right and choose Manage account.

   

3. Select the Your Info tab on the account page.

   

4. Click on the Date of Birth section and enter your correct information.

   

5. After the update, refresh Bing Chat and try accessing the AI chat feature again.

4. Disconnect VPN Connection

While VPNs are great for privacy, they can disrupt certain online services, which includes Bing Chat. To rectify the error, you may need to disconnect your VPN.

Disabling your VPN may vary depending on whether it’s a standalone app or configured within Windows.

1. Open the VPN application and click the Disconnect button, if it has one.
2. Alternatively, access the Windows Settings app using the Windows key + I combination.
3. Go to Network and Internet > VPN.

   

4. Click on Disconnect next to your VPN profile.
5. Restart your web browser to check if the error message still appears.

5. Disable Third-Party Extensions

Browser extensions can sometimes interfere with network requests, leading to unexpected errors on websites, including Bing Chat.

To determine whether an extension is causing the issue, try disabling your extensions or using your browser’s Incognito Mode, where extensions are typically disabled by default.

1. Click the More icon in your browser’s top right corner.
2. Select Extensions from the menu.

   

3. Toggle off the extensions and check if the error has been resolved.
4. Refresh the Bing Chat page after disabling your extensions.

6. Change DNS Server

If none of the above methods work, the issue could be related to your DNS server, which might be failing to resolve network requests properly.

Switching to a public DNS, such as Google’s or Cloudflare’s, can address this issue.

1. Open the Settings app with the Windows key + I command.
2. Head to Network and Internet > Advanced network settings.

   

3. Expand your network adapter options.

   

4. Select Edit next to More adapter options.

   

5. In the properties window, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

   

6. Check Use the following DNS server addresses.
7. Enter the public DNS server addresses as follows:

   Google: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4
   Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1

   

8. Click Apply, then OK.
9. Now, restart your browser to see if the problem still exists.

7. Check for Browser Updates

An outdated browser may lead to compatibility issues with newer system updates or website features. Ensure your browser is up to date:

1. Open your browser’s settings menu.
2. Find the section labeled ‘Help’ or ‘About’.
   
3. Look for any update-related options.
4. Install any available updates and restart the browser.

8. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Sometimes, corrupt or outdated cache and cookies can cause issues with website functionality. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies with these general steps.

1. Open the browser settings and go to the privacy or history section.
2. Locate the option to clear browsing data.
   
3. Select to clear both ‘Cookies and other site data’ and ‘Cached images and files’.
4. After clearing, restart your browser.

9. Test on a Different Network

In some cases, network policies or configurations can block access to certain features. Try accessing Bing Chat on a different network, like a mobile hotspot, to rule out network-specific issues.

10. Reset Network Settings

If the problem is due to corrupted network settings on your device, resetting them could help.

1. On Windows, go to Settings > Network & Internet.
2. Scroll down and select the ‘Network reset’ option.
   
3. Click ‘Reset now’ and confirm the action.

For mobile devices, the steps will vary based on the operating system and version.

11. Use a Different Device

To determine if the issue is device-specific, try accessing Bing Chat on a different computer, tablet, or smartphone. If it works on another device, the problem likely lies with the original device.

These methods should help you resolve the network settings issue with Bing Chat. If the error persists, consider reaching out to the Microsoft support team for further assistance.