Windows 10 bug causes weird Wi-Fi issue that only breaks certain apps

Linksys Router 2-20e2
Linksys Router 2-20e2 (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • A bug has emerged that causes connectivity issues with Windows 10 version 2004.
  • The issue seems to allow web browsing but stops certain apps from connecting to the internet.
  • Microsoft is investigating the issue.

Some people's PCs have an odd connectivity bug that can cause issues with certain apps on Windows 10. An issue in Windows 10 version 2004 (Windows 10 May 2020 Update) causes some PCs to show an error stating "No Internet Access." The bug is odd because it clearly states that a device doesn't have internet access but PCs showing it can still access the internet in certain cases.

One user named AndyJefferson shared an experience with the issue on a Microsoft answers page. The post reads, "Since updating my Dell Iaptop to Windows 10 Version 2004, Network and Internet settings is showing that my home wifi network has "No Internet Access" when in fact it is working fine. I've rebooted my laptop, reset the router and reinstalled the network wireless adaptor but still same message."

According to Windows Latest the issue doesn't seem to stop people from browsing the web but can cause certain apps that rely on an internet connection to not work. Apps including Spotify, Cortana, the Microsoft Store, and the Feedback Hub seem to have issues reaching servers through the web when this bug affects a system.

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A report in a Microsoft answers forum shares one person's issues with Cortana that seems connected to the same issue. It's worth noting that report was from months ago by a system on the Windows Insider Program. The PC was running Windows 10 Enterprise version 2004.

Microsoft is aware of the issue, according to Candy Luo, a Microsoft contingent Staff member. Luo states that the issue is currently being investigated by Microsoft.

Sean Endicott
News Writer

Sean Endicott is a News Writer at Windows Central, where he covers Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, apps, and the broader PC ecosystem. Since joining the site in 2017, he has written well over a thousand articles across the Microsoft landscape, covering breaking news, analysis, and feature reporting.

He writes Windows Wrap, a weekly column covering the biggest stories in Windows and the PC industry, and what they mean for the platform going forward.

Before joining Windows Central full-time, Sean worked in journalism and media production after earning a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University. Outside of tech, he is an award-winning American football coach based in Nottingham, England, and was named BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year in 2024.