How to Fix Public Wi-Fi Login Page Not Showing Up on Windows 11

Connecting to public Wi-Fi should be a simple process: you select the network, your browser redirects to a login page, and you're in. But sometimes, the login page doesn’t show up — leaving you stuck without internet. Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix the issue.

Fix 1. Disable Pop-Up Blocking

Most public Wi-Fi login pages appear as pop-ups in your default browser. If pop-ups are blocked, the page won’t load.

• Google Chrome:

1. Click the three-dot menu > Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Pop-ups and redirects.

• Microsoft Edge:

1. Go to Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Pop-ups and redirects.

2. Toggle Block to Off.

• Firefox:

1. Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security.

2. Under Permissions, uncheck Block pop-up windows.

Fix 2. Flush DNS Cache

Your computer stores old DNS entries that can prevent the login page from loading correctly.

1. Press Win + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

3. Restart your browser and reconnect to the Wi-Fi.

Fix 3. Turn Off Third-Party DNS Servers

Using custom DNS (like Google’s 8.8.8.8 or Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1) can interfere with redirection to public login portals.

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Hardware properties > DNS server assignment.

2. Under DNS server assignment, click Edit.

3. Choose Automatic (DHCP) and click Save.

Fix 4. Disable Firewall Temporarily

Sometimes, your firewall can block the login page from appearing.

1. Open Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.

2. Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.

3. Select Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (both private and public), then try reconnecting.

Note: Remember to re-enable your firewall after testing.
 

Fix 5. Disable VPN or Proxy

VPNs and proxies can block redirection to captive portals.

• VPN: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN, then disconnect any active VPN.
• Proxy: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy, and turn off Use a proxy server.

Fix 6. Open the Router’s Default Page Manually

If automatic redirection fails, manually access the router’s login page.

Open your browser and enter common router IP addresses like:

http://192.168.1.1

http://192.168.0.1

http://10.0.0.1

http://localhost

Enter one of these in your browser. If successful, the login portal should load automatically.

Conclusion

Public Wi-Fi networks aren’t always smooth to access, especially with login pages that won’t show up. By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to get past the block and connect successfully.