In this post, we provide 5 fixes for the Default Gateway Is Not Available error.
Causes
According to the tech site Appuals, the “issue can be caused by anything from a McAfee product or the Windows 8 auto logon feature to outdated and obsolete network adapter drivers. Since this problem messes with your internet connection, you can probably imagine just how severe an issue it actually is.”
Indeed, it can be an incredibly frustrating and confusing problem- people on Twitter got pretty incensed:
a;sdlkfds getting “default gateway is not available” errors again
windows 8.1 sucks nuts, news at 11
— 💜🎶⚧ JT Jackson⚧🎶💜 (@VioletVioIence) November 11, 2014
The Default gateway is not available….the lovely error I seem to get every day after getting kicked off the internet by @Ask_Spectrum and their modem.
— Yokuutsu (@yaoiofthepeople) December 14, 2017
The error I get is, “the default gateway is not available.” I’ve tried to look up solutions to that online but nothing they suggested helped https://t.co/XQEigW0mwy
— Blue Sparx (@BlueSparxLPs) October 11, 2017
A Popular VIdeo Fix
In the video description, the YouTuber provided a step-by-step rundown for Windows users:
- A simple way to fix the error is once reset your wifi or ethernet adapter.
- By right click on your network icon and select “Open Network and Sharing Center”.
- In this section, you can go to “Change adapter settings”.
- Here it shows your ethernet connection adapter or wifi adapter and then select it.
- Then right click on it and choose “Disable” and wait a bit.
- After the sometime again try to enable it- the problem should be fixed.
More Details
Windows 8 and 10 both are still not as stable, or popular as Windows 7 was, and never got close to the fame that Windows XP had. Even after several updates and huge sizes of service pack releases, there are still some major flaws lurking around in Windows 8 and Windows 10.
One of these issues is “Default gateway is not available” error.
Many users who have upgraded to Windows 8 or Windows 10, have faced this issue in the early versions very frequently where the internet connection would simply drop and get back on randomly. Because of this error, either the network connection would present an exclamation mark (Limited or No Connectivity) or it would simply not detect the Network Connection.
One of the fixes was to reset the wireless router but this can be a burden and time consuming considering the time it will take to set up the router from the beginning.
Problems with your LAN not connecting? Read this like article I wrote on Error Codes Pro!
Moreover, want to understand Windows errors more? This is our Ultimate Windows Error Code List I wrote. Want to tackle everyone’s PlayStation issues? Error Codes Pro has this Guide to PS4 Error Codes! How about fixing the Internet in general? Here’s an Ultimate HTTP Error Code List on Error Codes Pro!
When affected Windows users would try to use the diagnostic tools option by their network connection area, they would receive the “Default gateway is not available” error. There are multiple reasons that can cause this error, but this problem is entirely fixable in mostly all cases. From McAfee products interference with the operating system to obsolete network drivers, all are accountable for the cause of this error.
You May Also Like To Read: Fix One Or More Network Protocols Are Missing On This Windows Computer
However, there has been some suggestion regarding how to fix the “Default gateway is not available” error. Some of those solutions are as follows.
Caution: Before starting, it is recommended that you restart the power of your WiFi router. To do that, turn off your router along with the modem if there is one. After 2-3 mins, turn it back on. Also, you can use your smartphone to make sure that there is no sort of problem with your internet service. If the result is the same, then follow this article onward.
5 More Fixes
1. Remove All Installed McAfee Programs
Many of the Windows 10 and Windows 8 users faced this issue, and this solution worked mostly for all of them. McAfee server support coding was interfering with the Windows’ networking sector and that cash resulted in a “Default gateway is not available” error.
The solution to the “Default gateway is not available” error in this method is by simply uninstalling all of the McAfee Programs.
From update services to maintenance services. To perform that, click on the Start Menu bar and then Control Panel. Then open Programs and execute Programs and Features.
Alternatively, you can simply open Run windows by holding down Windows key and pressing the R then type in “appwiz.cpl” and this will open Programs and Features Windows.
Also Read: Some of the Common Problems with Antivirus Software
After opening the Programs and Features panel, simply click on the McAfee programs and click Uninstall. Perform this action to all of the McAfee programs and after that, restart your PC. After the restart, you can reinstall McAfee programs. If this solution does not resolve the issue, try one of the other solutions and then try reinstalling McAfee programs again.
2. Disable The Auto Logon Feature On Windows 8 and Windows 10
This solution is an unprecedented one. Security programs interfering with the network settings is not a new problem that Windows users face.
Video Guide
However, this issue was a particular one in nature. Microsoft introduced a new feature in Windows in which the user account would automatically login that was being used previously before the system was shut down.
This feature somehow unknowingly interfered with the Windows network system and caused the “Default gateway is not available” error.
Simply put a password on your user account so that it does not auto login. If you are afraid that you might forget the password, just put an easy password or use your Microsoft account so if you ever forget your password, you can recover it by using “forgot password” link.
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3. Update your Network connection drivers
Updating your network drivers is necessary. With Windows 10, however, it will still take time before hardware manufacturers can catch up, and develop specific drivers which will make the device compatible with the operating system completely. To upgrade your network adapter’s drivers, follow these steps.
If You Are New At Driver Updating, Try This: How To Update Drivers in Windows
- Right click on This PC and click on Manage…
- After that, click on Device Manager
- In Device Manager go to Network Adapters and expand it.
- Right click on the Network Adapters that you are using on the computer and then click on Update Driver Software
- After that click on Search automatically for updated driver software.
After this, the operating system will automatically start searching for the most recent driver software that is available in the Microsoft directory that’s compatible with your system, and the operating system. The search will take longer, depending on the speed of your internet. After searching for the best compatible and updated driver for your PC, Windows will install the driver itself as well.
Side Note
There is a possibility that Windows cannot find the best network adapter for you either on the internet, or on the computer itself. Windows does not update its driver library regularly so you might run into this problem. There are ways to get around this issue as well.
Try This Fix: Having Connectivity Issues in Windows 10? Try These Fixes!
- Go to the website of your hardware or motherboard manufacturer. All hardware providers keep a library of drivers’ for all of their hardware. Not only the latest one, but older ones are also available. Download the latest driver and install it on your computer.
- Using a third party software is also helpful in such situations. There are some reliable driver updates providing software. Using this option does cost for their services, but your system always stays updated.
- Internet availability can also be a concern. If the internet does not stay active long enough for the driver downloading to be completed, search Troubleshooting and open Windows Troubleshooter. Click on Network and Internet, then to Internet Connections and then click Next. Troubleshoot my internet connection and follow the instructions until the end of the wizard. Your internet connection should restore and extend the duration of disconnection enough that your drivers are updated or downloaded.
- If you cannot update the driver at all because of “Limited or No Connectivity,” then you can download the driver files on another PC and then transfer those files to your PC via USB and install them then.
4. Uninstall Your Network Connection Drivers
Another way to install fresh drivers is by uninstalling all of your network adapter drivers. It may seem worrisome and uncertain, but after uninstalling those drivers, Windows will install this driver itself when you reboot your system again.
Also Read: 5 Tools to Backup and Restore your Windows Drivers
Search for Device Manager, after that click on Device Manager Device then, expand Network Adapters. Double click will expand the Network Adapters. Right-click on the network adapter driver that you are using on your PC and click on uninstall. The system will ask for confirmation, click “Yes.” After uninstalling your driver, restart your system. After the restart, your system will automatically detect the drivers that are needed to be installed after detecting new hardware.
5. Change Your Network Drivers
When you install Windows, it comes with a complete set of drivers to support different sets of hardware. When you install a driver, other drivers also install simultaneously so that if by mistake, the system does not attain the correct driver for the system, then you can manually select which driver is the correct one. This feature is also an infamous solution of “Default gateway is not available” error.
Search for Device Manager, after that click on Device Manager Device after that, expand Network Adapters. Double click will expand the Network Adapters. Right click on the driver that you are currently using, and click on Update Driver Software. After that, a panel will appear with two options, “Search automatically for updated driver software” and “Browse my computer for driver software.”
Here, you have to choose the reciprocal network adapters. If you are using the Broadcom 802.11n, then select Broadcom 802.11a, if you are using Broadcom 802.11a then choose Broadcom 802.11n. After selecting the driver category, click Next and follow the on-screen instructions.
If you are not using any Broadcom network adapter, then simply keep uninstalling and installing a new and different driver from the list until you find one that does not show the “Default gateway is not available” error and is capable of holding the network connection.
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