# A simple way I check for internet access in VBA

> Every now and then, I need to know whether a machine actually has internet access before doing anything else. Usually that’s before calling an API, syncing data, or pulling something external that would otherwise just… hang. There are a few ways to approach this, but I tend to keep it very simple.

Author: Farhan Munim  
Published: 5 January 2026  
Updated: 26 October 2026  
Tags: VBA, Excel  
Source: https://farhan.app/blog/a-simple-way-i-check-for-internet-access-in-vba/

## The idea

Instead of trying to detect network adapters or DNS settings, I just make a real HTTP request and see if it works.

If a request succeeds, the internet is probably there.  
If it doesn’t, it probably isn’t – or at least not in a usable way.

That’s usually good enough.

## The function

This is what I use. It’s basic on purpose.

```vba
Function HasInternetConnection() As Boolean
    Dim http As Object

    On Error Resume Next
    Set http = CreateObject("WinHttp.WinHttpRequest.5.1")

    http.Open "GET", "https://www.microsoft.com", False
    http.SetTimeouts 5000, 5000, 5000, 5000
    http.Send

    HasInternetConnection = (Err.Number = 0 And http.Status = 200)

    On Error GoTo 0
End Function
```

And then wherever I need it:

```vba
If HasInternetConnection Then
    ' carry on
Else
    ' fail early, show a message, skip sync, etc.
End If
```

## Why this works

-   It makes a **real outbound request**, not a guess
-   `WinHttpRequest` is available on most Windows machines
-   A `200` status tells you the request actually completed successfully
-   Timeouts stop Excel from freezing if the connection is dead

It’s not trying to be clever. It just asks a simple question and moves on.

## When I use this

-   Before API calls
-   Before background syncs
-   In startup checks where I want to fail early
-   Anywhere a silent failure would be worse than a clean stop

If the internet drops five seconds later, that’s a different problem. This just answers *“can I reach the outside world right now?”*

## A couple of notes

-   You can swap the URL for anything reliable you trust
-   If you’re behind a proxy-heavy corporate network, results may vary
-   This checks **connectivity**, not quality or speed

That’s fine for most Excel-based workflows.