Windows 11 Wi-Fi Not Connecting: Step-by-Step Fix

Windows 11 Wi-Fi problems range from the connection refusing to establish at all, to connecting successfully but showing "No Internet, Secured", to dropping every few minutes. In most cases the root cause is a driver issue, a corrupted network profile, or a broken TCP/IP stack — all of which are fixable in software.

Quick fix (TL;DR)

• Run the Network Troubleshooter: Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Internet Connections
• Forget and re-add the network: Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks
• Reset the network stack in an admin Command Prompt:

  netsh winsock reset
  netsh int ip reset
  ipconfig /flushdns
  

• Roll back or reinstall the Wi-Fi driver in Device Manager
• Change DNS to 8.8.8.8 in adapter settings

Causes

• Wi-Fi driver outdated or corrupted: the most common cause — driver reinstall or rollback usually fixes it
• Saved network profile corrupted: wrong stored password or stale DHCP lease
• IP address conflict: DHCP failure or two devices assigned the same IP
• DNS server unreachable: connected to router but DNS cannot resolve domain names
• Winsock corruption: Windows network stack damaged by a software conflict or failed update
• Hardware switch off: physical Wi-Fi toggle on laptop, or airplane mode left enabled
• Windows Update installed wrong driver: automatic update replaced working driver with incompatible version

Step-by-step guide

Step 1 — Check the basics

Verify that airplane mode is off: click the network icon in the taskbar → confirm Airplane mode is toggled off.

Check whether other devices can connect to the same network. If they cannot, restart your router — the problem is not Windows 11.

Step 2 — Run the Network Troubleshooter

1. Open Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters
2. Click Run next to Internet Connections
3. Follow the on-screen prompts

Windows will detect and automatically fix common issues such as incorrect IP configuration or disabled network services.

Step 3 — Forget and re-add the Wi-Fi network

1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi
2. Click Manage known networks
3. Select your network → click Forget
4. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar, select your network, enter the password

This removes any corrupted stored credentials or stale DHCP lease.

Step 4 — Reset the network stack

Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search "cmd" → right-click → Run as administrator) and run these commands one by one:

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

Restart your PC. These commands rebuild the Winsock catalog and flush any corrupted IP or DNS configuration.

Step 5 — Change DNS servers

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Hardware properties
2. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit
3. Switch to Manual, enable IPv4
4. Set Preferred DNS to 8.8.8.8 and Alternate to 8.8.4.4 (Google)
5. Click Save

Step 6 — Update or reinstall the Wi-Fi driver

1. Right-click the Start button → Device Manager
2. Expand Network Adapters
3. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter → Update driver → Search automatically

If that doesn't help, try rolling back:

• Right-click the adapter → Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver

For the latest driver, visit your laptop manufacturer's support page (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, etc.) and download the Wi-Fi driver for your model.

Step 7 — Disable the adapter and re-enable it

1. In Device Manager, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter
2. Click Disable device → wait 5 seconds
3. Right-click again → Enable device

Step 8 — Check Windows Update

Go to Settings → Windows Update and install any pending updates, including optional driver updates. A specific Windows 11 build may have already patched the issue you are experiencing.

Step 9 — Reset network settings

As a last resort, reset all network settings:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings
2. Click Network reset
3. Click Reset now and confirm

This reinstalls all network adapters and restores all networking components to their default state. You will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi and reconfigure any VPN or custom DNS settings.

Common mistakes to avoid

• ❌ Restarting the PC but not the router — both are needed
• ❌ Running network reset commands without administrator privileges
• ❌ Forgetting the network but entering the wrong password when reconnecting
• ❌ Updating the driver via Windows Update only — manufacturer drivers are more reliable
• ❌ Overlooking airplane mode or a physical Wi-Fi hardware switch on laptops

Further reading

• If Windows 11 feels sluggish even after fixing Wi-Fi, see how to speed up Windows 11.
• If your whole home connection feels slow, check how to speed up your home Wi-Fi.