The internet has become an integral component of our daily life. We all utilize it on a regular basis, whether for personal or business reasons. But what if you’re in the middle of something important and your internet access is blocked? And what should you do about the dreaded “ERR_NETWORK_ACCESS_DENIED” notice that appears on your screen?
When you move your mouse pointer over the wifi sign and see messages such as No Internet access or Connected to Wifi but no Internet, it signifies the computer was unable to connect to the internet. When the phrases “Not Connected” or “No Internet Connection” appear, it indicates that there is an issue connecting to the router. Before looking for a solution, it’s critical to figure out what kind of error message you’re dealing with.
Top Causes That Lead To Blocked Internet Issue In Windows 10
Seeing such warnings in the middle of a critical work is obviously inconvenient. The following are the most common causes of internet problems in Windows 10:
- Malware or viruses infect your computer using a downloaded file, an infected USB device, or any other malicious file. These infections can alter your network and browser settings, resulting in the error “Your internet connection has been banned.”
- Many antivirus programs have a firewall feature that can block internet access if certain websites or files are flagged as suspicious.
- One of the causes for your internet access being limited could be a network driver issue.
- Some websites are prohibited if you are using the internet in an office, school, college, or other public location. The only option in such situations is to call the authorities and have the problem resolved.
8 Best Solutions To Consider If Your Internet Access Is Blocked
As you can see, there are a variety of causes for “ERR_NETWORK_ACCESS_DENIED,” therefore one remedy will not work for everyone. Below is a selection of possible solutions; choose the one that works best for you.
1. Restart Your PC
Whatever the cause of your Internet access is blocked, the most common and simple solution is to restart your computer. Many problems can be resolved by rebooting or restarting the computer. If you have a minor problem, you can fix it by resetting your computer.
Open your browser after the restart and see if your internet access is banned or if it is working.
2. Reboot Your Modem And Router
The modem and router, unlike the computer, do not have a way to reboot them. You must unplug them and wait for some time if your internet access is prohibited. First, connect your modem, then your router. Examine the router’s lights to see if they are the correct colors.
If everything appears to be in order, reconnect to the internet. The problem is more complicated if you still see “ERR_NETWORK_ACCESS_DENIED” on your screen. It necessitates delving into the nitty-gritty of network troubleshooting.
3. Disable Antivirus And Firewall
Antivirus software is essential for your computer because it protects it from malware and viruses. Antivirus software nowadays comes in all-in-one packages that also include firewall protection. Although antivirus software will not prevent you from accessing the internet, the built-in firewall defense may.
Disable your antivirus and see whether your browser’s error disappears. If not, you can try another antivirus or contact customer service to resolve the issue.
If your internet access is being banned, you can also turn off the Windows firewall, which may be blocking your connection.
Go to the Control Panel and select System and Security to disable the Windows firewall.
To alter the firewall settings, click Windows Defender Firewall.
Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off may appear in the left pane of the next window; click it to turn off the firewall.
Restart your computer. Open your browser to see if your internet connection is restricted or if it is working properly.
4. Restore Antivirus To Previous Settings
Have you made any recent modifications to your antivirus firewall settings? If you answered yes, it’s possible that it’s preventing you from accessing the internet. Reset your antivirus to its default settings.
If the ERR_NETWORK_ACCESS_DENIED error no longer appears in your browser, then leave the restored firewall settings alone.
5. Reinstall Antivirus
If none of the aforementioned options worked and you’re still convinced your antivirus is to blame, try reinstalling it. Remember not to install the firewall application during the reinstallation because the Windows firewall is sufficient.
6. Run Windows Network Diagnostics
Running Windows Network Diagnostics does not guarantee that the restricted internet access problem will be resolved. However, there is no harm in experimenting with this solution.
Go to Network & Internet in Settings.
Go to Status and select Network Troubleshooter from the drop-down menu.
A new window emerges, doing Windows Network Diagnostics on your behalf. To continue the process, follow the wizard’s instructions.
7. Roll Back Network Drivers
If your internet connection is banned, the latest network driver upgrades can cause problems. You can revert to a prior version by going into the network driver settings.
Go to Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X. Network adapters can be found by searching for it and clicking on it.
Right-click on the driver you wish to reverse and select Properties from the drop-down menu.
Go to the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver, then OK.
Note: If the Roll Back button is grey, it implies there is no previous version to which you may revert.
After the rollback, restart your computer to see if ERR_NETWORK_ACCESS_DENIED has been resolved.
8. Update Or Uninstall Your Network Adapter Driver
Your internet connectivity may be hampered by an out-of-date network adapter. You can verify if your Internet access is blocked or fixed by updating your network driver.
If the problem persists or you are unable to update the drivers, uninstalling the network driver is a viable option. The system will automatically update your Network drivers.
Chrome Specific Solutions To Fix Blocked Internet Access Issue
If you visit a website in Chrome and receive an ERR_NETWORK_ACCESS_DENIED error, try visiting the same website in other browsers such as Internet Explorer or Firefox.
If you can view the site in other browsers, it’s likely that Chrome is the issue. The short fixes listed below can quickly remedy this problem.
1. Clear The Cache
Clearing your browser’s cache and browsing history can help you regain access to the internet. It’s because your browser history and cookies can sometimes interfere with a website’s IP address, causing your internet connection to be blocked.
To clear the cache, open the browsing history tab with Ctrl + H and select Clear browsing data.
Then, to remove your browsing history, cookies, and cache, tick all three boxes. Also, ensure that the Time range is set to ‘All time.’
Clear the data by clicking on it.
Check to see if your system is working properly after clearing the cached images and data.
2. Reset Chrome
Your internet access may have been banned due to some changes in Chrome settings. To fix the problem, try resetting Chrome.
To reset Chrome, select Settings from the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser.
To view the reset options, go to Advanced.
Go to Reset and clean up and click the triangle next to Restore settings to defaults.
Click the Reset settings button in the pop-up box that displays.
Check whether your internet access is blocked or if your internet connectivity problem has been resolved by refreshing your browser.
3. Delete Chrome Profile
ERR_NETWORK_ACCESS_DENIED can sometimes be fixed by removing the Chrome profile. You must terminate the chrome.exe job from Task Manager in order to remove the Chrome profile.
Restarting your computer is also an option. After restarting Google Chrome, do not open any instances of the browser. To erase the Chrome profile later, follow the procedures below.
To launch Run, press Windows + R and type the following into the textbox, then press Enter:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\
Look for Default in the file explorer and rename it to default.old.
4. Allow Chrome To Access The Network In Your Firewall Or Antivirus Settings
The exception is to ensure that the Chrome browser is not blocked by the Windows Firewall. To authorize the Chrome app, you must make the necessary changes to your firewall settings.
Let’s look at how to grant Chrome network access in your firewall or antivirus settings.
To access Settings, press Windows key + I and then pick Update & Security.
Go to Windows Security and click on it.
Then select Firewall and network protection.
When the firewall & network protection window appears, select Allow a program to pass through the firewall.
A new window comes on the screen; click Change settings and then Google Chrome.
Depending on your needs, you can choose between private and public networks.
- It’s a private network since it’s your home network.
- It is a public internet network that we utilize in public locations such as coffee shops and offices.
To save the changes, click OK.
Similarly, you can use their guide to add a Chrome exception to your antivirus.
5. Disable Third-Party Extensions
Some of the extensions may be causing the firewall to block websites, preventing you from accessing the internet. To avoid the ERR NETWORK ACCESS DENIED issue, deactivate all undesirable browser extensions.
Select Extensions from the More tools menu by clicking the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser.
All of the extensions are listed on the Extensions tab. Remove any superfluous extensions; you can also disable an extension by moving the switch to the off position.
Refresh the page if necessary. Check to see whether your internet access is banned.
Run Malwarebytes Or CCleaner
Finally, you can run a virus and malware scan, as a virus could be the cause of your internet access being limited. Some viruses have the ability to alter your network settings, such as proxy or LAN. It has the potential to harm network drivers. Even a malicious file can prevent you from accessing the internet. As a result, it is preferable to play it safe and run the security check.
CCleaner can help you keep your computer clean.
We’ve already written about using Malwarebytes to keep your PC safe from Malware..
Ensure that Malwarebytes and CCleaner are downloaded from their official websites. You can also get them by clicking on the link below.
Download Malwarebytes here
Download CCleaner here
Conclusion
Your problem with limited internet access should be resolved using the options given above. You may either figure out what’s causing the problem and then fix it, or you can attempt one of the typical fixes from the list.
Your internet access is still blocked, it could be due to a more complex issue. To resolve the problem, you should contact your Internet Service Provider or get professional assistance.
