• Tech
  • News
  • Health

How to Fix the ‘Default Gateway Is Not Available’ Error in Windows 10

54.6KShares
738.8KViews

Whether you use a wired connection such as an ethernet cable or prefer to keep it wireless with WiFi, many issues can arise while setting up your internet connection. One of these issues comes up when running the network troubleshooter included in Windows 10: the Default Gateway Is Not Available.

While surfing the Internet and exploring websites, we often encounter an internet connection problem. When we try to search the reason, we get a caution that the ”default gateway is not available.” So let’s learn what it means and how to resolve it.

This article discusses the concept of the default gateway and how to fix the ‘Default Gateway Is Not Available Error in Windows 10.

What is the Default Gateway?

A default gateway is a router or network node in the computer networking system that behaves as a forwarding hop to the other networking system when no next hop IP address is specified in the routing table for the forwarding of a data packet to the destination host.

COPYRIGHT_NOVA: Published on https://www.novabach.com/i/default-gateway-is-not-available-error-in-windows-10/ by Daniel Barrett on 2022-08-10T16:33:38.000Z

If the IP packet at some instance of the node doesn’t find a suitable set of rules and routes to be followed to deliver the packet to the destination address, it will choose the default gateway for the further routing process.

Thus, the default gateway is itemized by a set of particular configurations known as the default route. For example, in small offices or home networks, the router that links up the LAN network to the Internet behaves like a default gateway for all the network components.

How to Fix the Default Gateway Not Available Issue

Below is a detailed guide on how you can potentially fix this problem in your system. Our methods require no past expertise in Windows 10 troubleshooting, allowing anyone to successfully resolve the “Default gateway is not available” error.

Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Software

Antivirus applications cause issues with Windows 10’s network and internet connections. You can quickly test whether or not your antivirus software is interfering with connections by temporarily disabling it.

If you’re able to connect to the internet without the “Default gateway is not available” error after disabling such apps, they likely caused the error.

Here’s how you can temporarily disable any antivirus app.

Note: Make sure you turn on Windows Defender while operating your system without a third-party antivirus. Windows 10’s integrated security solution doesn’t cause issues and provides essential protection against most threats.

  • Right-click on an empty space in your taskbar and choose Task Manager.
  • If the Task Manager launched in compact mode, make sure to expand details by clicking on the “Mode details” button.
  • Switch to the Start-up tab using the header menu located at the top of the window.
  • Find your antivirus application from the list and select it by clicking on it once.
  • Click on the Disable button now visible in the bottom-right of the window. This will disable the application from launching when you start your device.
  • Restart your computer and attempt connecting to your network again.

Remove the MacAfee Programs from Your PC

Tr2.png
Tr2.png

One of the reasons for showing that the “default gateway is not available” is the McAfee security program installed on the PC. Hence, to remove this problem, go to the control panel of your PC, then click on programs and select the programs and features option. Go to the add or remove program option, select McAfee, and then completely uninstall it.

After you uninstall this program, your issue will be resolved. To make your system virus-free, you can install some other security products.

Disable the Auto-Login Feature

Tr4.png
Tr4.png

While the automatic logon feature changed the game back in Windows 8’s time, it may cause network conflicts on newer systems. Luckily, you can use the Registry Editor with all Windows copies to disable this feature and test whether or not your connection is restored.

Warning: Before beginning this step, we recommend creating a backup of your Registry.

  • Press the Windows + R keys on your on-screen keyboard to open Run, then type “regedit” into the input field. Finally, press the OK button to launch the Registry Editor.
  • You can navigate the Registry Editor by expanding folders using the arrow icon next to their names. Using this, locate the following Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Alternatively, you can copy and paste the key into the Registry Editor’s address bar for faster navigation.

  • Right-click on the “AutoAdminLogon” key, then choose “Modify” from the context menu.
  • Change the data value from “1” to “0” and click the OK button. Make sure not to modify any other settings!
  • Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Update Your Network Adapter Drivers

If you get the caption ” default gateway is not available, you need to update the latest version of the network adapter drivers on your PC if you get the caption that “default gateway is not available.” This is one of the solutions, but it doesn’t mean that it will surely resolve your issue.

Thus download the driver software from the authenticated site of your hardware manufacturer and then install it on your device.

The steps are as follows:

  • First, go to the device manager on your PC.
  • Then expand the network adapter option by right-clicking on the caption.
  • After expanding it, the version of the driver you are currently using will be displayed where you have to select the update driver software option from the contextual menu.
  • You can select this option and then search for automatically updated driver software.
  • Download the suitable software.
Update-network-adapter-driver.jpg
Update-network-adapter-driver.jpg

If the automated search doesn’t get relevant results, manually search for the updated software and download it. This will fix the issue.

Uninstall Your Network Adapter Drivers

It is also one of the popular solutions to fix the “default gateway is not available” issue. You need to uninstall the network drivers from your computer completely. One should not be concerned about the effect of the non-existence of the drivers, as when you reboot your system, the windows will detect the drivers and reinstall them.

The steps included are as follows:

  • First, go to the device manager on your PC.
  • Then expand the network adapter option by right-clicking on the caption.
  • After expanding it, click on uninstall.
  • After successfully uninstalling, reboot the system.
  • The network adapter will be identified and reinstalled once your system boots up.
Uninstall-network-adapter.jpg
Uninstall-network-adapter.jpg

Reset TCP/IP with the Netsh command

You can use the Command Prompt to reset your TCP/IP settings and possibly resolve issues with the default gateway. Follow the steps below to learn how you can do this.

  • Press the Windows + R keys on the on-screen keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
  • Type in “cmd” and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys on your keyboard. Doing so, you’re launching the Command Prompt with administrative permissions.
  • If prompted, click Yes to allow the Command Prompt to make changes on your device.
  • Once in the Command Prompt, type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: netsh int ip reset
  • Wait for the command to finish processing. Then, ensure that you don’t close the Command Prompt or shut your computer down.
  • Restart your device after the command is completely done and reset your TCP/IP settings.

Change the Frequency of the Wireless Router

The new generation router works on a 5GHz frequency, but the adapter you are often using will not support this frequency. Hence changing the frequency from 5GHz to 2.4GHz will resolve the gateway issue. The process of changing the frequency will be given in the router manual. Thus one can go through the steps mentioned and make changes.

Editor’s picks:

Share: Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin

About The Authors

Daniel Barrett

Daniel Barrett

Recent Articles

  • How To Delete ITunes Backup On Windows 11

    How Tos

    How To Delete ITunes Backup On Windows 11

    How to Delete iTunes Backup on Windows 11 can take up a significant amount of space on your Windows 11 computer. If you have multiple devices backed up on the same computer, it can quickly add up to several gigabytes.

  • Google Issues New Warning For 3 Billion Chrome Users

    News

    Google Issues New Warning For 3 Billion Chrome Users

    Google issues new warning for 3 billion Chrome users should wake you up! Everyone should make it a top priority to update their web browser as soon as possible after Google discovered the first Zero Day flaw in the Chrome web browser this year.

  • How To Remove Favorites On Apple Maps

    How Tos

    How To Remove Favorites On Apple Maps

    If you've added a location as a favorite in Apple Maps, it can be handy to quickly access it later. However, if you no longer need that location as a favorite or have accidentally added the wrong location, you might be wondering how to Remove Favorites on Apple Maps.

  • How To Turn Off Shared Photos On IPhone On IOS 15 And Stop Sharing Completely

    How Tos

    How To Turn Off Shared Photos On IPhone On IOS 15 And Stop Sharing Completely

    If you're using an iPhone with iOS 15, you might be wondering how to Turn Off Shared Photos on iPhone on iOS 15 and Stop Sharing Completely. By default, iOS 15 allows you to automatically share photos with friends and family through the Shared with You feature.

  • Best TIFF To JPG Converter On Windows, Mac, Android, And IPhone

    Software & Apps

    Best TIFF To JPG Converter On Windows, Mac, Android, And IPhone

    Best TIFF to JPG Converter on Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone can be necessary for various reasons, such as reducing file size, increasing compatibility, or sharing images online.

  • How To Airdrop Between Mac And IPhone

    How Tos

    How To Airdrop Between Mac And IPhone

    How to Airdrop between Mac and iPhone. Airdrop is a fantastic feature that allows Apple users to quickly and easily share files between their Mac and iPhone.

  • Getting The “Use Your Apple ID For IMessage” Message? What To Do

    How Tos

    Getting The “Use Your Apple ID For IMessage” Message? What To Do

    Getting the “Use your Apple ID for iMessage” message? What to do If you're an iPhone or iPad user, you're probably familiar with iMessage. It's Apple's messaging app that allows you to send messages, photos, and other content to other Apple users for free.

  • Is Wordle An App On IPhone Or Android? Everything You Need To Know

    Software & Apps

    Is Wordle An App On IPhone Or Android? Everything You Need To Know

    Wordle, the addictive online word guessing game, has taken the internet by storm. Players worldwide are trying to guess the five-letter word in six attempts, causing the game to go viral. But with its popularity comes the question: is Wordle an app on iPhone or Android? everything you need to know.

  • Download LG USB Driver For Windows And Mac

    Guides

    Download LG USB Driver For Windows And Mac

    When you want to connect your LG smartphone to a computer, you'll need to download LG USB driver for Windows and Mac. The driver ensures that your computer recognizes your LG phone and enables you to transfer files, flash firmware, and more.

  • How To Copy Your IPhone Backups To An External HDD

  • Google CEO Says Search Engine Will Get ChatGPT-Like Integration

  • How to Fix the Netflix Error Code Ui-800-2

  • Best Zip Program For Mac - 4 Options To Know

  • How To Drag And Duplicate Tabs On Safari On Your IPhone And IPad