How to Fix “The Default Gateway is Not Available” Error?

The “Default gateway is not available” error happens when Windows can’t connect to the network router’s gateway. This usually means there’s a problem with the router. Restarting your router often fixes it. If not, the issue might be due to:

Here are methods to solve this problem.

1. Change Network Adapter Power Settings

To stop Windows from putting the network adapter to sleep, adjust the power settings for your network adapter. This helps keep a stable network connection and avoids interruptions from power-saving mode. Incorrect power settings can cause the network adapter to go into a low-power state, leading to connectivity issues.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.

   

3. Right-click your network adapter and select Properties.
4. Go to the Power Management tab.
5. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

   

6. Click OK.
7. Check if the issue is resolved.

2. Disable Third-Party Antivirus or Firewall

Third-party security programs can block network access due to their protective measures. They might misinterpret network traffic as suspicious and block it, causing connectivity issues. To troubleshoot this:

• Temporarily disable your third-party antivirus program to see if it resolves the issue.
• If disabling the program solves the problem, consider uninstalling or replacing it for better network connectivity.

3. Reset IP Settings

Resetting your IP settings can fix this issue. Follow these steps:

1. Search for Command Prompt and click Run as administrator.

   

2. Enter the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

   netsh int ip reset C:\resetlog.txt
   netsh winsock reset
   ipconfig /flushdns

   

3. Close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.
4. Check if the problem persists after your PC restarts.

4. Update Network Drivers

Incompatible or corrupted network drivers can cause this issue, preventing your computer from communicating effectively with your router. Updating your network drivers ensures any bugs or issues in old drivers are fixed. To update your network drivers:

1. Open Device Manager.

   

2. Expand the Network adapters list.

   

3. Right-click on your network adapter driver and select Update driver.

   

4. Select Browse my computer for driver software.

   

5. Click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers.

   

6. Uncheck the Show compatible hardware checkbox.

   

7. Choose a different driver from the list and click Next.
8. After it installs, check if the problem is resolved.
9. If not, try reinstalling the network driver.
10. Right-click the driver and select Uninstall device.

    

11. Restart your computer to reinstall it automatically by Windows.
12. Check if the error message is gone.

5. Change DNS Server

Changing the DNS server to a more reliable one can help fix connectivity issues. DNS servers translate domain names into IP addresses. Using a reliable DNS service can improve speed and reliability. Popular DNS alternatives include Google’s DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) and Cloudflare’s DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1). Here’s how:

1. Right-click on the network icon on your taskbar.
2. Select Network and Internet settings.

   

3. Navigate to Advanced network settings.

   

4. Click More network adapter options.

   

5. Right-click your network adapter and select Properties.
6. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

   

7. Enter the following DNS addresses (Google or Cloudflare):

   Google: 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4
   Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1

   

8. Click OK and check if the issue is resolved.

6. Perform Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with only essential services running, minimizing potential conflicts from third-party applications. This can help identify if a third-party service or application is causing network connection issues.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Switch to the Startup tab and disable all listed applications by selecting them one by one and clicking Disable.

   

3. Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.

   

4. In the System Configuration window, switch to the Services tab and check the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox.

   

5. Click Disable all and then Apply.

   

6. Restart your computer to perform a clean boot and check if the problem is resolved.