Why Can’t I Connect to a Network?
Wireless networks are complex because there are several points for failure. From the Wi-Fi switch to a software conflict, router issue, and ISP problem, finding out where the network fault is can be difficult. The common reasons for why Windows won’t connect to a network are misconfigured settings and physical distance from the network source. But there are also several other possible causes: Wi-Fi is turned off, a piece of software has broken the connection, the network that requires unique authentication, or the network is overcrowded.
How Do I Fix Network Connection Problems?
Given all the possible reasons for network issues in Windows 11, walk through these tips in order, testing after each one to see if the problem has been resolved.
There Might Be Nothing You Can Do
Step 1 touched on this. In many cases, a device that can’t connect to a Wi-Fi network is merely part of a bigger problem that’s out of your control. For example, if your phone, smart speakers, other computers, etc., are all able to reach the internet normally, you can safely assume the issue lies with your Windows 11 PC and you can continue these steps. But if nothing else is working, review these general tips for when you can’t reach the internet; you may need to contact your ISP (or wait it out). The fastest way to restart from the desktop is to right-click the Start button and go to Shut down or sign out > Restart. Some laptops have a physical switch which must be toggled to enable Wi-Fi. Others use a key combination, such as FN+F5 or FN+F2. A Wi-Fi toggle is also available in Settings: Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. After deleting the connection, return to Settings and go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks > Add network to set it up again. Inching closer to the access point, or moving it closer to you if possible, is the easiest way to eliminate distance as the reason for why you can’t get online. Go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Show available networks to find the Wi-Fi network. Select it and choose Connect automatically, and then Connect. You might need to confirm your information on that page, usually your email address and name, but sometimes other details like your room number if you’re in a hotel. In some cases, like on an airplane, you might need to pay for access. Here are some examples:
Disable Airplane Mode Disconnect from the VPN server Shut off the firewall and pause the antivirus software Toggle off the ‘metered connection’ setting
The easiest way to update the driver is to download it from a computer that has a working internet connection, and then copy it to your Windows 11 PC. Undoing a recent update is possible by rolling back the driver. For example, if you’re using a public network, like in a café or airport, it’s possible there are simply too many people online at once. Bandwidth isn’t unlimited, so at some point, a maximum number of devices will be reached, and depending on what they’re doing (e.g., downloading or streaming), it could be maxed out sooner than you’d expect. In this kind of situation, there’s really nothing you can do from your computer to fix it. Some issues are related to your ISP or the network device you’re using. If your whole town is out of internet, for example, it’s pretty clear that performing the above steps won’t help you get online. Similarly, and this is easier to realize if you have multiple devices attempting a connection, your router might be outdated or malfunctioning. If so, updating the router, upgrading to a newer one, or resetting the router are some things you can try.
