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Windows - Wi-Fi Login Page Not Showing

Windows 10 and 11 should open a pop-up sign-in window when joining a captive portal network. If it doesn't appear, here's how to trigger it manually and fix the underlying cause.

Quick Reference

Quickest fix

Open Microsoft Edge and navigate to http://neverssl.com. Windows should redirect you to the portal login page.

Custom DNS is a common cause

If you have 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 set as DNS, the portal can't intercept your requests. Set DNS back to Automatic (DHCP) temporarily.

How Windows handles captive portals

Windows Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI) tests internet connectivity by requesting http://www.msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt after joining a Wi-Fi network. If the network returns a captive portal redirect instead of the expected response, Windows marks the connection as "No Internet" and shows a sign-in prompt. If DNS is set to a custom server that resolves differently, or a VPN is active, NCSI's probe may never reach the portal.

Step 1 - Check the system tray sign-in prompt

  1. Look at the bottom-right system tray for a Wi-Fi icon with a globe or exclamation mark
  2. Click it - A "Connect" or "Sign in" link may appear below the network name
  3. Click the link - Windows opens a browser window pointed at the portal
  4. If no prompt appears, continue to the next steps

Step 2 - Open the portal manually in Edge

  1. Open Microsoft Edge (Edge handles portal redirects more reliably than Chrome on Windows)
  2. Navigate to http://neverssl.com
  3. Edge should be redirected to the portal login page by the network
  4. If not, try http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect - This is Windows' own portal trigger URL

Step 3 - Set DNS to Automatic (DHCP)

On Windows 11:

  1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi
  2. Click Hardware properties (or View hardware properties)
  3. Click Edit next to "DNS server assignment"
  4. Select Automatic (DHCP) and click Save
  5. Disconnect and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network

On Windows 10:

  1. Go to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings
  2. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter → Properties
  3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → click Properties
  4. Select Obtain DNS server address automatically
  5. Click OK → OK, then disconnect and reconnect

Step 4 - Disable your VPN

  1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → VPN
  2. Click your VPN connection → click Disconnect
  3. Also open your VPN application and click Disconnect there too
  4. If the VPN has a "Connect automatically" or "Kill switch" setting, disable it before reconnecting to Wi-Fi

Step 5 - Forget and reconnect to the network

  1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks
  2. Click the network name → click Forget
  3. Reconnect to the network - Windows re-runs NCSI on every fresh connection

Step 6 - Disable HTTPS-Everywhere or browser extensions

If you're using a browser extension that forces HTTPS (HTTPS Everywhere, uBlock with strict mode, Privacy Badger), it can block the HTTP redirect the portal needs. Open an InPrivate / Incognito window (extensions are disabled by default) and try loading http://neverssl.com again.

Windows Firewall / security software

Third-party security suites (Bitdefender, Kaspersky, ESET) sometimes block HTTP traffic or DNS on untrusted networks. Temporarily disable the network protection component of your antivirus, connect to the portal, then re-enable it.

Fix for another device: iPhone / iPad → Android → macOS → Linux → All devices →
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How to force the Wi-Fi login page on Windows

  1. Check the system tray prompt. Click the Wi-Fi icon with a globe or exclamation mark in the system tray and follow any Connect or Sign in link below the network name.
  2. Open the portal in Edge. Launch Microsoft Edge and go to http://neverssl.com, or to http://www.msftconnecttest.com/redirect, which is Windows' own portal trigger URL.
  3. Set DNS to Automatic (DHCP). On Windows 11 use Settings, Network and Internet, Wi-Fi, Hardware properties, Edit DNS to Automatic; on Windows 10 use the IPv4 properties of the Wi-Fi adapter.
  4. Disable your VPN. Go to Settings, Network and Internet, VPN, disconnect it, and turn off any kill switch or auto-connect option before rejoining the network.
  5. Reconnect or try InPrivate. Forget the network under Manage known networks and reconnect so NCSI re-runs, or open an InPrivate window to bypass HTTPS-forcing extensions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NCSI and how does it relate to the sign-in prompt?

NCSI is the Windows Network Connectivity Status Indicator, which requests msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt after you join Wi-Fi. If a portal redirects that request, Windows labels the connection No Internet and shows a sign-in prompt. A custom DNS or active VPN can stop the probe reaching the portal, so the prompt never appears.

Why is Microsoft Edge recommended over Chrome for opening the portal?

Edge is integrated with Windows and tends to handle portal redirects more reliably than Chrome. It also gives you msftconnecttest.com/redirect, which is Windows' own portal trigger URL. Loading a plain HTTP page or that redirect address in Edge is usually the quickest way to force the login screen open.

Do I set DNS back to Automatic differently on Windows 10 and 11?

Yes, the menu paths differ. On Windows 11, go to Settings, Network and Internet, Wi-Fi, Hardware properties, then Edit the DNS server assignment to Automatic (DHCP). On Windows 10, use Control Panel, Network and Sharing Center, Change adapter settings, then the IPv4 properties of your Wi-Fi adapter to obtain DNS automatically. Reconnect afterward.

Could my antivirus or a browser extension be blocking the portal?

Both are common culprits. Security suites such as Bitdefender, Kaspersky, or ESET may block HTTP or DNS on untrusted networks, so temporarily disable their network protection, log in, then re-enable it. HTTPS-forcing extensions can also block the redirect, so try an InPrivate window, which disables extensions by default.