How to Fix Windows 11 Not Connecting to WiFi

Why Windows 11 Won't Connect to WiFi

WiFi issues on Windows 11 usually fall into a few categories: a corrupted network stack, an outdated or broken driver, a misconfigured adapter, or a router problem. Work through the steps below in order — most users find a fix within the first three.

Step 1 — Run the Network Troubleshooter

Try this first. Go to Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters and run Internet Connections. Windows will automatically detect and attempt to fix common configuration issues.

Step 2 — Forget and Reconnect to the Network

Go to Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks. Find your network, click Forget, then reconnect and re-enter the password. Stale saved credentials or corrupted network profiles often cause silent connection failures.

Step 3 — Reset TCP/IP and Winsock

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands one by one:

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

Restart your PC after running all five. This clears corrupted network configuration at the OS level.

Step 4 — Update or Reinstall the WiFi Driver

Press Win + X and open Device Manager. Expand Network adapters, right-click your wireless adapter, and choose Update driver → Search automatically. If Windows finds nothing new, visit your laptop manufacturer's support site or your WiFi card manufacturer's site to download the latest driver manually.

If updating doesn't help, try Uninstall device (check the box to delete driver software), then restart. Windows will reinstall a clean driver on boot.

Step 5 — Disable IPv6 on the Adapter

In some cases IPv6 conflicts cause connection drops. Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network Connections, right-click your WiFi adapter, choose Properties, and uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6). Click OK and test.

Step 6 — Reset All Network Settings

As a last resort, go to Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset. This reinstalls all network adapters and resets networking components to defaults. You will need to reconnect to all saved networks afterward.

Quick Checklist

• Run the built-in Internet Connections troubleshooter
• Forget and re-add the WiFi network
• Reset TCP/IP and Winsock from an elevated Command Prompt
• Update or reinstall the wireless driver via Device Manager
• Try disabling IPv6 on the adapter
• Use Network reset if all else fails