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Fix Wi‑Fi Not Connecting on Windows 10/11 (Step‑by‑Step Guide)

If your Wi‑Fi suddenly stopped working or your PC won’t connect to the internet, you’re not alone. Windows 10 and 11 often run into wireless issues caused by drivers, settings, or router problems. This guide walks you through simple, proven fixes to get your Wi‑Fi working again.

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Symptoms

You may notice:

  • Wi‑Fi icon missing
  • “No Internet, secured”
  • Can’t find your network
  • Constant disconnects
  • Slow or unstable connection

Common Causes

  • Corrupted Wi‑Fi drivers
  • Router issues
  • Incorrect network settings
  • Windows updates
  • Power management settings
  • DNS/TCP/IP corruption

Fix 1: Restart Network Services

This resets the Windows networking stack without changing settings.

  1. Press Windows + R
  2. Type: services.msc
  3. Restart these services:
    • WLAN AutoConfig
    • DHCP Client
    • Network Connections

Fix 2: Forget and Reconnect to Your Wi‑Fi

This clears corrupted connection profiles.

  • Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi‑Fi
  • Click Manage known networks
  • Select your network → Forget
  • Reconnect and enter your password

Fix 3: Reset the Network Adapter

  1. Open Settings
  2. Go to Network & Internet
  3. Scroll down → Network Reset
  4. Click Reset now

Your PC will restart and reinstall all network adapters.

Fix 4: Update or Reinstall Wi‑Fi Drivers

Update:

  1. Right‑click Start → Device Manager
  2. Expand Network adapters
  3. Right‑click your Wi‑Fi adapter → Update driver

Reinstall:

  1. Right‑click the adapter → Uninstall device
  2. Restart your PC Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

Fix 5: Reset TCP/IP Stack

Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

This fixes DNS and IP issues.

Fix 6: Check Your Router

  • Restart your router (unplug 10 seconds)
  • Ensure Wi‑Fi is enabled
  • Check if other devices can connect
  • Log into router settings and confirm:
    • SSID is broadcasting
    • 2.4GHz/5GHz are enabled
    • MAC filtering is off

If only your PC can’t connect, the issue is on Windows.

Final Checks

  • Try connecting to a mobile hotspot
  • Try a different Wi‑Fi band (2.4GHz vs 5GHz)
  • Disable VPN temporarily
  • Disable firewall temporarily (for testing only)

If your PC connects to a hotspot but not your router → router issue. If it connects to nothing → Windows or driver issue.

Wrap‑Up

Wi‑Fi issues are extremely common on Windows, but most can be fixed with a few simple steps. If none of these solutions worked, your wireless card may be failing — especially on older laptops. You can continue exploring more fixes on the Windows Fixes Blog.

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