How to Fix “Can’t Connect to This Network” in Windows

“Can’t Connect to This Network” means Windows cannot complete the Wi-Fi connection. Reconnect with the current password, restart the laptop and router, and test another network first; if other networks work, forget and rejoin the saved network, repair the Wi-Fi adapter driver, or reset TCP/IP and DNS without deleting personal files.

First, find out whether the problem is your PC or the Wi-Fi

Windows commonly shows this message when it cannot authenticate with the access point, obtain an IP address, or communicate with the network correctly.

Can't Connect to This Network

The message usually appears immediately after you select a wireless network and enter its password. Identify the scope of the failure before changing settings.

1. Connect a phone or another computer to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Open a few websites on that device.
3. On the Windows laptop, try joining a different network, such as a phone hotspot or public Wi-Fi.

Use the results as a guide:

• If every device fails on the same Wi-Fi, the router, wireless service, or internet connection is the likely problem.
• If other devices work but the Windows laptop fails on this network and another network, the laptop or its Wi-Fi adapter is the likely problem.
• If the laptop joins another network but not your usual one, check the saved password, router security mode, frequency band, and access restrictions.
• If the laptop connects to Wi-Fi but websites do not load on any device, the Wi-Fi link may be working while the internet service is down.

A device can connect to the router even when the provider has an outage. Test both a local connection, such as opening the router's administration page if you know its address, and several unrelated websites before deciding which part has failed.

Try these safe fixes before changing Windows settings

These steps apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11. They normally require no Administrator permission, do not delete personal files, and do not reset the router. You do not need to back up files for these first checks, although Windows may need to restart later.

1. Select the network icon on the Windows taskbar and confirm that Wi-Fi is turned on.
2. Open the network panel and make sure Airplane mode is off.
3. Check the network name carefully. Nearby networks can have similar names.
4. Re-enter the Wi-Fi password instead of relying on a password copied from an old device. Passwords are case-sensitive.
5. Move the laptop closer to the router or access point and try again.
6. Restart Windows, then try to connect before opening other network software.
7. Unplug the router and any separate modem from power. Wait for the device lights to settle after reconnecting them, then try again.

If the laptop connects after one of these steps, open more than one unrelated website to confirm that internet access works. If the router has separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network names, try the other band. A laptop may support one band more reliably, and distance or walls can affect the higher-frequency band more strongly.

Do not press the router's factory-reset button at this stage. It can erase the network name, password, provider settings, and other configuration. Also avoid downloading random driver utilities; use Windows Update or the computer or adapter manufacturer's support site instead.

Forget the network, then repair the Windows Wi-Fi connection

If other devices can use the network, rebuild the saved Wi-Fi profile first. Forgetting a network requires no Administrator permission, but you will need the current Wi-Fi password.

1. Open the Wi-Fi settings and display saved networks.

Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks

2. Select the affected network and choose Forget.
3. Return to the Wi-Fi list, select the network, choose Connect, and enter its current password.
4. Confirm that Windows shows the network as connected, then open more than one unrelated website.

If Windows connects after rejoining, the saved profile or password was the problem. If it still refuses the connection, run the built-in network troubleshooter.

Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Network and Internet > Run

The troubleshooter may repair a disabled adapter, an incorrect setting, or a failed network service. If it reports a specific cause, apply that recommendation and test the connection again. If it cannot fix the problem, continue.

Check the Wi-Fi adapter in Device Manager. You need Administrator permission to install or remove a driver.

1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click the wireless adapter and choose Update driver.
4. Allow Windows to search automatically, or install a driver downloaded from the laptop manufacturer's support page.
5. Restart Windows and test the connection.

If the adapter is present but its driver is damaged, right-click it, choose Uninstall device, and restart Windows. Windows may reinstall the driver automatically. If it does not, use an Ethernet connection, another computer, or a USB drive to obtain the correct driver. Do not uninstall the adapter if you have no way to reinstall its driver.

If the laptop connects after the driver change, open several websites and, if possible, test the connection on another network. If it still cannot connect, reset the network protocols from an Administrator Command Prompt. This does not erase personal files, but it can remove custom network settings and requires a restart.

Do not run these reset commands first. Use them after reconnecting, restarting, forgetting the network, and checking the adapter driver.

1. Open Start, type Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, and approve the prompt.
2. Run each command on its own line.

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

3. Restart Windows and reconnect to Wi-Fi.

A successful reset normally reports that the Winsock catalog or IP configuration was reset and that a restart is needed. If ipconfig /renew reports that no operation can be performed while the media is disconnected, Windows still has no working Wi-Fi link; return to the adapter, password, signal, and driver checks. If Wi-Fi connects but name lookup fails, ipconfig /flushdns may help, but a wider DNS or provider problem can still be present.

Check the fixes that apply after an update or router change

A connection that failed immediately after a change needs a targeted check rather than repeated resets.

If the problem began after a Windows update or driver update, open Device Manager, select the Wi-Fi adapter, open Properties, and inspect the Driver tab. If Roll Back Driver is available and the timing is clear, rolling back is usually safer than installing an unrelated driver. Otherwise install the current driver from the computer manufacturer's support page. Restart after changing it, then test the connection on the affected network and on another network if available.

If the Wi-Fi password changed, forget the saved network and join it again with the new password. A saved profile can contain the old password even if the network name has not changed.

If the router's security setting changed, the laptop and router may no longer agree on the authentication method. Older adapters may not support a newer security mode or encryption option. Check the router's documentation and use a security mode supported by both devices. Avoid weakening the whole network permanently just to accommodate one laptop; updating the laptop's driver or replacing an obsolete adapter is preferable. Do not change router security settings unless you can restore the previous configuration.

Try the other Wi-Fi band if the router recently changed band steering or channel settings. A 2.4 GHz network generally reaches farther, while 5 GHz can be faster at short range. Some older adapters cannot use every channel or band.

A VPN, third-party firewall, or endpoint security program can interfere with connection setup. Disconnect the VPN temporarily and test again. Do not leave security software disabled beyond the test; if it is the cause, update or reconfigure it.

On hotel, school, airport, and café networks, Windows may connect without internet until a sign-in page is completed. Open a browser and visit a plain HTTP page to prompt the captive portal. If the network requires device registration, only its administrator can complete that step.

Finally, check router access controls such as MAC filtering, parental controls, maximum device limits, and blocked devices. A router may reject one laptop while allowing every other device.

Confirm you are really back online—and know when to stop troubleshooting

A successful Wi-Fi icon is not enough. Verify both the local connection and internet access.

1. Select the Wi-Fi icon and confirm that the affected network shows Connected.
2. Open more than one unrelated website.
3. Test a local device or service you normally use, such as a shared printer or the router's administration page.
4. Open Command Prompt and inspect the address assigned to the adapter.

ipconfig

Look for the wireless adapter. It should have an IPv4 address and a Default Gateway. An address beginning with 169.254 usually means Windows could not obtain an address from the router. If websites fail but the adapter has a normal address, test DNS and the internet connection separately rather than reinstalling the driver again.

Use Windows Network Reset only after the targeted fixes fail. It removes and reinstalls network adapters and returns network settings to their defaults. You may need to reinstall VPN software, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and re-enter passwords afterward.

Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset > Reset now

Restart when Windows requests it. If the laptop still cannot connect to any network afterward, the Wi-Fi adapter, its antenna, or the motherboard may need repair. A USB Wi-Fi adapter can help confirm an adapter failure, provided its driver is supported.

If every device loses access to one router, inspect the router's status lights, cables, configuration, and firmware, then contact the internet provider if the service remains unavailable. Replace or factory-reset the router only when its hardware or configuration is genuinely at fault and you have the provider settings and current network details needed to set it up again.

Conclusion

If the laptop still cannot join any network after the adapter and Windows fixes, test with a supported USB Wi-Fi adapter or arrange hardware repair. If every device fails on one router, contact the internet provider or repair the router; do not factory-reset it without the required provider settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will forgetting a Wi-Fi network delete my files?

No. Forgetting removes Windows' saved connection details, such as the network name and password. It does not delete personal files or uninstall the Wi-Fi adapter.

Why does Wi-Fi say connected but websites do not open?

The laptop may be connected to the router while the router has no internet service, DNS is failing, or a VPN or captive portal is blocking access. Test several websites, check another device, and inspect the adapter's IP address and default gateway. A normal IPv4 address with a `Default Gateway` confirms that the laptop received a local network configuration, not that the internet service is working.

Should I factory-reset my router when Windows shows this error?

Usually not. First test other devices, restart the router, verify the password, and check its security and access-control settings. A factory reset can erase provider settings and the existing Wi-Fi configuration. Use it only when the router's hardware or configuration is genuinely at fault and you have the details needed to set it up again.