- A
The Wi-Fi network's SSID is hidden.
Why wrong: A hidden SSID does not affect IP configuration or internet access once connected.
- B
The laptop's static IP address is not in the same subnet as the router.
A mismatched subnet means the laptop cannot communicate with the default gateway, so internet access fails.
- C
The laptop's Wi-Fi driver is corrupted.
Why wrong: A corrupted driver would likely cause connection drops or inability to connect, not a stable connection with no internet.
- D
The router's DHCP server is disabled.
Why wrong: Since the laptop uses a static IP, DHCP status is irrelevant; other devices may still work.
Question 486 of 1,020
Fix 'No Internet, Secured' Error with Static IP
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of mobile device network connectivity. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is troubleshooting a laptop that connects to a Wi-Fi network but gets a 'No Internet, Secured' message. The laptop has a static IP address configured. What is the most likely issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the laptop’s static IP address is not in the same subnet as the router. This is the most likely issue because when a device has a manually configured static IP, it does not automatically receive subnet and gateway settings from the router via DHCP. If the static IP falls outside the router’s subnet range, the laptop can establish a local Wi-Fi link—showing “Secured”—but cannot route traffic to the internet, resulting in the “No Internet” message. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of IP addressing and subnetting fundamentals, often appearing as a common trap where test-takers blame DNS or the router itself. A useful memory tip is “Static IP, same subnet, or no net”—if the static address doesn’t match the router’s subnet mask and network ID, the gateway is unreachable, and internet access fails.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The laptop's static IP address is not in the same subnet as the router.
A static IP address that is not in the same subnet as the router prevents the laptop from communicating with the default gateway. Even though the Wi-Fi association succeeds (hence 'Secured'), the laptop cannot route traffic to the internet because it cannot reach the router's IP address. This mismatch causes the 'No Internet' message while the link-layer connection remains intact.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The Wi-Fi network's SSID is hidden.
Why it's wrong here
A hidden SSID does not affect IP configuration or internet access once connected.
- ✓
The laptop's static IP address is not in the same subnet as the router.
Why this is correct
A mismatched subnet means the laptop cannot communicate with the default gateway, so internet access fails.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The laptop's Wi-Fi driver is corrupted.
Why it's wrong here
A corrupted driver would likely cause connection drops or inability to connect, not a stable connection with no internet.
- ✗
The router's DHCP server is disabled.
Why it's wrong here
Since the laptop uses a static IP, DHCP status is irrelevant; other devices may still work.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The 220-1201 exam often tests the misconception that 'No Internet, Secured' always points to a DHCP or DNS issue, but here the static IP mismatch is the root cause because the laptop cannot reach the gateway despite a successful layer-2 connection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a device has a static IP in a different subnet, it cannot ARP for the default gateway, so all off-subnet traffic is dropped. The 'No Internet, Secured' message in Windows indicates that the Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI) probe (e.g., http://www.msftconnecttest.com) fails because the laptop cannot route to the internet. This scenario is common in enterprise environments where static IPs are misconfigured after a subnet change.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Mobile Device Network Connectivity — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Mobile Device Network Connectivity — This question tests Mobile Device Network Connectivity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The laptop's static IP address is not in the same subnet as the router. — A static IP address that is not in the same subnet as the router prevents the laptop from communicating with the default gateway. Even though the Wi-Fi association succeeds (hence 'Secured'), the laptop cannot route traffic to the internet because it cannot reach the router's IP address. This mismatch causes the 'No Internet' message while the link-layer connection remains intact.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.
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