Wi-Fi Not Working in Windows 10 and 11: How to Fix It
Wi-Fi disappeared, won't connect, or shows 'No Internet'? Step-by-step fixes for the most common Wi-Fi problems in Windows — from missing adapter to DNS issues.
Wi-Fi problems fall into a few categories: the adapter is missing entirely, Windows sees the network but won't connect, or it connects but shows no internet. Here's how to diagnose and fix each.
Step 1: Check the Basics
Before diving into settings:
- Make sure Wi-Fi is enabled:
Win + A(Action Center) → check Wi-Fi tile is on - Try Airplane Mode off: same Action Center, or
Win + I→ Network & Internet → Airplane mode - Restart the router and PC
- Check if other devices connect to the same network — if not, the problem is the router
Step 2: Run Network Troubleshooter
Win + I → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Internet Connections → Run
Also run: Network Adapter troubleshooter from the same menu.
Step 3: Wi-Fi Adapter Missing Entirely
If Wi-Fi doesn't appear in network settings:
# Check if adapter is detected
Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name, Status, MediaType
If it's not listed: open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager) → Network adapters. Look for:
- A yellow warning icon on the Wi-Fi adapter
- Unknown device entries
Re-enable disabled adapter: Right-click the adapter → Enable device
Reinstall the driver: Right-click → Uninstall device → check Delete the driver software → restart. Windows will reinstall automatically.
If the adapter is completely absent: the driver may be corrupted. Download the Wi-Fi driver from your laptop/motherboard manufacturer's website and install manually.
Step 4: Can See Network But Can't Connect
Forget and reconnect:
Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks → select your network → Forget → reconnect.
Check date and time — incorrect date/time breaks certificate verification and prevents connections:
Set-Date (Get-Date) # sync with system clock
w32tm /resync # sync with internet time server
Reset network stack:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew
Restart after running these.
Step 5: Connected But "No Internet Access"
This usually means IP address or DNS issues.
Check IP address:
ipconfig /all
If your IP starts with 169.254.x.x — Windows couldn't get an IP from the router (DHCP issue). Try:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
Fix DNS:
netsh dns flush
Set manual DNS temporarily to rule out DNS issues:
Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -ServerAddresses ("1.1.1.1","8.8.8.8")
Step 6: Slow Wi-Fi or Keeps Disconnecting
Disable auto power saving on the adapter: Device Manager → Wi-Fi adapter → Properties → Power Management → uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power
Change wireless channel on router — if neighbors are on the same channel, there's interference. Log into your router admin page and switch to a less congested channel (use a Wi-Fi analyzer app to see which channels are busy).
Update Wi-Fi driver: Download from manufacturer, not Windows Update — manufacturer drivers often fix connection stability bugs.
Step 7: Reset Network Settings Completely
If nothing works:
netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh advfirewall reset
Or: Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset → Reset now
This removes all network adapters and reinstalls them. You'll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi and re-enter passwords.
Summary
Most Wi-Fi problems are fixed by: running the troubleshooter, resetting the network stack (netsh winsock reset + netsh int ip reset), and reinstalling the driver. For "no internet" with valid connection: check IP address and switch to manual DNS (1.1.1.1).