Windows Won't Connect to Wi-Fi? Reset the Network Stack
When Windows will not connect to Wi-Fi at all, the problem is usually in the computer's network settings, not the router. Work through these steps in order, from the quickest checks to a full network reset, and stop as soon as you are back online.
Follow these steps
- Check the basics first. Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on, Airplane mode is off, and you are trying to join the right network. If other devices connect fine, the problem is in this computer, not the internet connection itself.
- Forget the network and join it again. Open Settings, then Network and internet, then Wi-Fi, then Manage known networks, forget the network that will not connect, and join it again with the password. A saved network profile can become corrupted, and rejoining fresh often fixes it.
- Restart the Wi-Fi adapter. Open Settings, then Network and internet, then Advanced network settings, find your Wi-Fi adapter, and disable it, wait a few seconds, and enable it again. This restarts the adapter without touching any other settings.
- Run the network troubleshooter. Open Settings, then System, then Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters, and run Network and Internet. Follow what it suggests; it can repair common configuration problems automatically.
- Update or reinstall the Wi-Fi driver. Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter, and choose Update driver. If that does not help, choose Uninstall device, restart the computer, and let Windows reinstall the driver automatically.
- Reset the network stack as a last resort. Open Settings, then Network and internet, then Advanced network settings, then Network reset, and reset. This removes all network adapters and saved Wi-Fi passwords, so you will need to reconnect afterwards, but it clears deep configuration problems.
What NOT to do
- Reset your router first when only one computer has the problem. If other devices work, the router is fine and resetting it just interrupts everyone else.
- Download a driver from a random website. Use Windows Update or Device Manager, or the computer maker's official support page, and nothing else.
- Turn off your firewall or security software permanently to get online. That trades a connection problem for a security problem.
- Keep trying the same password over and over. If the password is wrong, forgetting the network and typing it carefully once is more useful than repeated failed attempts.
If you are back online, you are done, even if you never found out exactly what broke. If none of these steps work and other devices connect fine, the Wi-Fi adapter itself may need a repair check.