Fixing Dell SupportAssist: Troubleshooting Internet Connectivity Issues

2024/12/05

Dell SupportAssist relies on an active internet connection to troubleshoot issues on your device. If it fails to connect, the cause may be an obsolete application, improperly set network configurations, or an overly protective antivirus software obstructing the connection.

You might first try restarting your device, switching to an Ethernet cable, or using an alternative connection to diagnose the issue. However, if you still cannot get Dell SupportAssist to connect online, consider the following steps.

What Should I Do If Dell SupportAssist Is Unable to Connect to the Internet?

1. Look for Connection Errors

1.1 Initiate the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

Press the Windows key, then select Settings.
Go to System and then click on Troubleshoot.
Select Other troubleshooters.
Find Network Adapter troubleshooter and click the Run button next to it.

1.2 Execute the Internet Connections Troubleshooter

Press the Windows key and open Settings.
Select System, then proceed to Troubleshoot.
Click on Other troubleshooters.
Find the Internet connections option and click Run.
Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

1.3 Update Your Network Driver

Press the Windows key, type in Device Manager in the search box, then click to open.
Locate Network adapters, right-click, and choose Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for updated drivers.

1.4 Conduct a Network Reset

Press the Windows key and select Settings.
Navigate to Network & internet.
Click on Advanced network settings.
Select Network reset options.
Then press the Reset now button.

2. Configure SupportAssist for Internet Connectivity

Open your Dell SupportAssist application from the desktop.
Click the Settings icon in the upper right corner, then choose Internet.
Select Internet connection (proxy) > Connect Directly.
Hit Save, exit the app, and then restart it to check for connectivity.

3. Disable Windows Firewall Temporarily and Run as Administrator

Press the Windows key and go to Settings.
Choose Privacy & security.
Click on Open Windows Security.
Select Firewall & network protection.
Click on Public network.
Toggle Microsoft Defender Firewall to the off position.
Right-click on the Dell SupportAssist icon and choose Properties, then select Shortcut.
Click on Advanced.
Select the checkbox labeled Run As Administrator and press Apply.
Try to launch Dell SupportAssist and verify if it can now connect online.

Note that some antivirus software can interfere with connections, sometimes mistakenly flagging Dell SupportAssist as a potential threat. Such strict firewall settings can impede the application’s internet access.

4. Consider Using a VPN

Press the Windows key and select Settings.
Select Network & internet and click on VPN from the right menu.
Click on Add VPN, and follow the instructions to set it up.
Attempt to connect Dell SupportAssist to the internet again and see if the error continues.

Using a VPN generally redirects your connection through another server, which might resolve any configurations issues blocking communication with the Dell servers. For more flexibility, specialized VPN software like ExpressVPN can be a superior alternative to the default Windows VPN.

5. Restart Dell Services

Press Windows + S for the Search menu, type Services, and select the matching result.
Find all the Dell services (these will be listed together in alphabetical order) and double-click on one.
Select Disabled from the Startup type dropdown and press the Stop button.
If a confirmation message appears, indicating that other linked Dell services will stop, click Yes to continue.
Click Apply and OK to save your changes.
Repeat the same process for any other currently active Dell services.
Now, redo the steps, but this time select Automatic as the Startup type.

6. Disable Fast Startup

Press the Windows key, type Control Panel in the search box, then select Open.
Select System and Security.
Click on Power Options.
Select Choose what the power buttons do from the left-hand list.
Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Uncheck the box next to Turn on fast startup, then hit Save changes.

7. Reinstall the Dell SupportAssist Application

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter .
Select Dell SupportAssist from the applications list and click Uninstall.
Click Yes to confirm and follow the prompts to finish the uninstallation.
Uninstall any remaining applications like Dell SupportAssist Remediation and Dell Power Manager Service as well.
Visit Dell’s official website and click on SupportAssist for Home PCs, provided your computer isn’t part of an organization.
Click on the Download Now button to obtain Dell SupportAssist 64-bit for Windows 11.
Navigate to your Downloads folder and execute the SupportAssistInstaller.exe file, then click Yes on the UAC prompt.
Follow the instructions given on-screen to finalize the installation.

Although trying all the above suggestions may assist, they do not guarantee that Dell SupportAssist will connect to the internet. At times, the issue may be on Dell’s side, with the application malfunctioning or displaying a blank screen.

You may need to wait or reach out to Dell’s support team for additional help. Meanwhile, consider exploring alternative diagnostic tools, especially built-in options that do not necessitate an internet connection.

If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to share them below.

Author: Egor Kostenko

My goal is to make complex technical topics simple and accessible. On this site, I gather unique and useful content that not only solves users’ problems but also helps them better understand the capabilities of Windows.