Table of contents

In this article – which is a continuation of the previous article on resolving the The default gateway is not available error – we will describe additional solutions to the known internet/network problem.

  1. Reset TCP/IP through the netshell command:

The TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol) are setups or parameters every computer needs to connect to the internet normally. When something goes wrong with their settings, users experience connection problems, such as the one defined by the The default gateway is not available notification.

Here, we want you to reset the setups for TCP/IP by running certain commands on an elevated Command Prompt window. A good number of users managed to resolve the gateway problem by resetting TCP/IP on their computers, so we want you to do the same thing.

Go through these steps to reset TCP/IP:

  • First, you have to open a Command Prompt window with administrative rights:
  • Right-click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your display to see the Power User menu list.
  • From the programs and options, you must choose Command Prompt (Admin).

Your computer will bring up the elevated Command Prompt window now.

  • Now, you must type and run this command:

netsh int ip reset

  • Here, you must run one of these commands (the first command – if you use IPv4, the second command – if you use IPv6):
  1. netsh int ipv4 reset
  2. netsh int ipv6 reset

Note: If you do not know which IP version your computer uses, then you will do well to run both commands. Nothing will go wrong.

  • Close the Command Prompt window.

Now, you must try using the internet through whatever means you struggled with earlier to see if the connection issue defined by the ‘gateway being unavailable’ error has been resolved for good.

  1. Reinstall the troubled network adapter driver:

In Windows, drivers are programs that control and manage interactions or operations involving hardware devices and software (or code). Your machine’s hardware components, for example, cannot function without drivers. The network adapter driver plays an important role in the connection processes for the internet.

Here, we are assuming something is wrong with the network adapter driver your computer uses – and this might explain why the The default gateway is not available error is bothering you. We do not know what exactly the problem is, and we need not find out. By reinstalling the network adapter driver, you get to force through serious shakeups in its settings and code to eliminate inconsistencies or discrepancies.

These are the instructions you must follow to reinstall the network adapter driver:

  • Right-click on the Windows icon on your display to see the Power User menu list.
  • Click on Device Manager.

Windows will bring up the Device Manager application window now.

  • Check the list of categories, locate Network adapters, and then click on the expansion icon for Network adapters.

Your computer will now reveal the device drivers under the Network adapters category.

  • Locate the network adapter your computer uses to connect to the internet and then right-click on it.
  • Select Uninstall.

Windows is likely to prompt you to confirm the uninstallation operation.

  • Click on Uninstall again to affirm things.

Your system will now work to remove the troubled network adapter driver.

  • Close the Device Manager window.
  • Restart your computer.

After the reboot, if everything goes well, Windows will automatically detect changes and realize that an important driver is missing. Your system will subsequently act to find and install the needed software on its own. Everything gets done in a few minutes.

We recommend you wait a while and then restart your PC once more to ensure all the needed effects get applied. Finally, you must run some tests (as you did at the end of previous procedures) to verify that you can now use the internet on your computer without the disturbing default gateway error appearing.

  1. Update the troubled network adapter driver:

If the problems defined by the The default gateway is not available message persist even after you got Windows to reinstall the troubled network adapter driver successfully, then you have to update that driver. Or if Windows failed to install the necessary driver software (after you uninstalled the driver), then the driver update procedure should be your next line of action.

Here, we are assuming your network adapter driver is malfunctioning and causing problems because its software is outdated and can no longer handle the demands your internet connection imposes on it. Well, to make things right, you have to install a new driver version, which is likely to be up to the task. The driver update process is far from simple, though.

  • If you do not want to burden yourself with the tedious and complicated operations that define the driver update procedure, then you should get Auslogics Driver Updater and let this program do all the hard work for you. This application will run scans to identify the bad (corrupted, outdated, and broken) drivers on your computer, gather the necessary information on them, and then find and install good replacements for them.

Basically, with a few clicks, your computer will end up with the manufacturer-recommended driver versions for almost all the devices connected to it (and not just your network adapter). No stone gets left unturned. Even if the default gateway problem you are struggling with has anything to do with another network adapter driver being updated or broken (or any other driver in general), you still get to resolve all driver problems (for all devices) – and this is the best outcome.

  • Otherwise, if you do not mind getting your hands dirty with manual operations for the driver update task, then you can give it a go on your own. First, you will have to open the Device Manager app, locate the network adapter device whose driver you intend to update, access its properties window, and then copy or write down as much information as you can about the driver.

Once you get the necessary details, you have to fire up your web browser and then search for the needed driver software online. The driver name, provider, and version number should feature as terms in your queries. While searching for the driver online, you will have to contend with certain risks and take some precautions.

You must be mindful of the pages you visit or download software from because some sites are malicious and some download centers host harmful items disguised as good programs. You must also check or review the software you find before downloading it to ensure you get the correct version designed for your computer and system configuration.

If you download a malicious program, then your computer may get overrun with threats – and you will end up having to resolve more serious problems than you currently have. If you download the wrong driver version and install it, then your network adapter driver may not function the way you need it to work – and you will still struggle with internet connection issues.

Anyway, once you find the ideal driver version, you will have to download its package and then run the file. You will then have to follow the installation directions as they come up on your display. After everything gets done, you will have to close all programs and restart your computer. The needed changes (resulting from the installation of a new driver) are guaranteed to take effect only after a reboot.

In any case, once you finish updating your driver (through whatever means you chose), you have to run the necessary tests to confirm that the internet on your computer is now accessible and usable.

  1. Manually fill in the gateway settings:

If the default gateway unavailability problem is down to your connection setup being broken (and Windows failing to fix things automatically), then you may be able to bypass the problem by manually entering the needed gateway settings. Sometimes, the reset operation for TCP/IP (through codes executed on an elevated Command Prompt window) does not force through the needed changes – and users are left with no choice but to configure things themselves.

First, you have to fetch the IP address subnet mask and default gateway used on your computer. Follow these instructions:

  • Open an elevated Command Prompt window: Right-click on the Windows icon on your desktop to see a list of options and then select Command Prompt (Admin).This time, on the admin Command Prompt window, you must run this code:

ipconfig

Your computer will display a list of fields and values. You must take note of the important details there.

  • Write down the values for your IP address, subnet masks, and default gateway.
  • At this point, you must close the Command Prompt window.

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Now, you must go to important menus in the Control Panel and do some work there. Continue with these instructions:

  • Use the Windows button + letter X key combination to fire up the Power User menu list of programs and options.
  • This time, you must select Control Panel to launch this application.
  • On the Control Panel window, you must set the View by parameter to Category (in the top-right corner of your screen).
  • Now, you must click on Network and Internet. On the screen that follows, you have to click on Network and Sharing Center.
  • Check the links close to the top-left area of the window and click on Change Adapter Settings.
  1. If you connect to the internet through Ethernet, then you will see an Ethernet or wired connection. Right-click on it to see the available drop-down and then select Properties.
  2. If you connect to the internet via Wi-Fi, then you will see a Wi-Fi or wireless connection. Right-click on it to see the available drop-down and then select Properties.
  • Assuming you are now on the Properties window for the selected connection, you have to check the list under the This connection uses the following items text.
  • Locate Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), which is probably the IP protocol your computer uses. Double-click on it.

Otherwise, if you are sure your computer uses the newer protocol, then you have to double-click on Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).

  • On the IP window, you must tick the box for Use the following IP address and then fill in the required fields with the value you got from the Command Prompt window earlier.
  • You must then proceed to the DNS section, click on the box for Use the following DNS server addresses, and then fill the fields with these values:
  1. Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
  2. Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
  • Click on the OK button (where necessary) to save the changes you made.\
  • Close the Control Panel app (and other program windows).

Your work is done. You must now run some tests to see if your computer now reaches the web normally (as it is supposed to) without reports of the default gateway being unavailable coming up.

Other things you can try to resolve the The default gateway is not available error on a Windows 10 PC

At this point, if you came here to learn how to resolve connection errors defined by the ‘default gateway being unavailable’ error or if you wanted to learn how to reset the default gateway in Windows 10, you are likely to find the procedures and workarounds on our final list useful.

  1. Change the channel settings for your wireless router:

Some users managed to resolve the default gateway problem by changing the channel settings for their routers and using manual values (in place of automatic figures).

You will have to do some research to find out the values that suit your computer and internet setup best. Use those values.

  1. Change your system power or battery plan:

You may benefit from a configuration that forces your computer to use as much power as it needs instead of your system actively trying to conserve power.

The balanced and power-saving plans are off the menu. Use the maximum performance plan.

  1. Change the frequency settings for your wireless router:

Your computer adapter might be designed to only work with the 2.4 GHz frequency, while your router (especially if it is new) might be broadcasting at 5 GHz.

To resolve the discrepancy, you must alter your router’s settings to force it to only broadcast at 2.4 GHz, which your computer probably prefers.

  1. Reset your network (in its entirety), or use the tool called Manual Internet Optimizer.
  2. Reinstall Windows.