How can you troubleshoot software applications that are not connecting to the internet?

telnet or Test-NetConnection towards the application's server from the client towards the server is also a great way to check if the firewall might be your issue, either localy or centrally

Troubleshooting internet connectivity issues involves checking network connections, application settings, firewalls, DNS, and hardware. Ensure software is updated, run network troubleshooters, and contact your ISP if necessary. Scan for malware, debug using tools like ping, and consult support or online resources for specific issues. Keep a record of changes for efficient problem-solving.

“Keep it Simple” is one way of saying it. Determine if it impacts one or many users. This will direct your approach and severity. For this example let’s look at a single system. Check the network interface card. Flushdns from a command prompt to clear out any confusion of entries that can interfere. Is IPv6 necessary? If not, turn those off. Harden and optimize the system if it hasn’t been done in a while. For instance, update the OS, drivers. Check to see if there are any application dependencies that may have changed, i.e.. Java versioning or browser requirements. Work your way up the OSI model starting with the Physical layer until you get to the application layer. If all else fails, contact the applications support directly.

Before DNS, before PING, Telnet or RDP and other software based troubleshooting steps, always confirm that POWER is available to the end user device and to every device in the chain back to the internet gateway, by confirming everything is "live" at the physical layer BEFORE any other steps, you save yourself a lot of time (and in some cases embarrassment). Then confirm the METHOD of connection, being wired or wireless! I have lost count of the number of times that an offline device was merely a case of a wi-fi switch or setting that had been inadvertently turned off or disabled. If caller is remote you can patiently get them to be your eyes for a careful analysis of the equipment - or even use messenger to enable YOU to visually confirm.

also check proxy settings, IP settings, or think easy 1. does the cable connected? 2. do you need to replace it? 3. the WiFi have internet ? 4. check the router ...

90% of support begins with a restart of the system. That clears out anything that maybe cached or hung up. See if the issue stems from the profile that’s being used i.e. does it work logged in as an admin and not the user? Maybe it’s the profile and not the application.

Restarts are essential, especially if the device is managed. Quite often group policy updates, role or permission changes, patches, and application updates get rolled out to end-user devices throughout the day and night. Many of these processes are not applied until the system restarts. The longer a device remains online and without restart, the more these processes can build up, leading to conflicting and causing problems. Always check device uptime and get it the habit of effecting power cycles regularly when troubleshooting; it will serve you well.

this is the most common thing we do, mostly for Windows OS :P when it update applications start crashing so you need to restart to let application configure itself again .... Windows updates OMGs

Check for Error Messages: Most software applications provide error messages when something goes wrong. These messages often contain valuable information about the issue. Note down the error message, error codes, or any other details provided. Review Application Logs: Many software applications generate log files that record events and errors. Check the application's log files for any information that can help you pinpoint the problem. Log files are usually stored on your local system, so an internet connection is not required to access them.

We used to say on the Floor that Rebooting the machine does magic almost all the time. So this is one of the first things to be done.

Run network diagnostic tools, such as the "ping" command in the command prompt or network troubleshooting tools provided by your operating system, to check for network connectivity issues.

Reinstalling the application is usually the fastest option. Just make sure to back up the users configuration beforehand. The error messages would have asked you to complete an update if the application was out of date.

Your firewall or antivirus software may be blocking the application's access to the internet. Review your security software settings and consider temporarily disabling them for testing purposes.

or reinstall from scratch, do not use updates or restart ,just reinstall it, check the compatibility with OS and read reviews about it

For me the most common point of failure is DNS. Especially if the customer uses their own internal DNS server. When you set it up it needs to sync with "an outside" dns server.

First of all, it is important to know how to identify possible problems that could cause a lack of access. Check devices that are being connected, network cables that have all the connections working, check if internet is reaching the device that routes your access. And then you start testing for items.

To troubleshoot software applications not connecting to the internet, check your device's internet connection. Confirm that no firewalls or security software are blocking the application's access. If the issue persists, try restarting the application. Review proxy settings if your network uses a proxy server. Additionally, ensure that all cables and hardware are correctly connected. Check for reported service outages and review application logs for error messages or codes. If you're using antivirus or firewall software, temporarily disable them to see if they're causing the problem. Finally, ensure your application is up-to-date to make sure there are no compatibility issues.