How to Fix Wi-Fi Not Working on Windows 11

Your Windows 11 PC says it is connected, but nothing loads — or it will not connect at all. This guide works through the fixes in the order that solves most cases: the quick checks first, then the driver, then a full network reset, with something to check after each step so you know whether it worked. By the end, the PC should be back online, or you should know whether the fault sits with the PC, the router, or your provider.

Before you start

You will need your Wi-Fi password and access to your router, plus a few minutes for restarts. If another device, such as a phone, can connect to the same Wi-Fi network, the problem is most likely with the PC rather than the router.

Quick diagnosis: where is the fault?

Thirty seconds here can save you changing settings that were never the problem:

• Your phone connects to the same Wi-Fi but the PC does not: the fault is with the PC. Work through the steps below.
• Nothing connects, on any device: start with the router and your provider, not the PC. The checks at the end of this guide cover that.
• The PC connects but nothing loads: the network is up and the PC is not getting online. Steps 2 and 5 are the ones that usually settle it.

Steps

1. Restart your PC and your router. Turn the router off, wait 30 seconds, turn it back on, and wait for its lights to settle before restarting the PC.
2. Forget and reconnect to the network. Open Settings, then Network & internet, then Wi-Fi, select your network, choose Forget, then reconnect and enter your Wi-Fi password.
3. Run the Windows Network troubleshooter. Open Settings, then System, then Troubleshoot, then Other troubleshooters, and run the Network and Internet troubleshooter. Follow any suggestions it gives.
4. Update the Wi-Fi driver in Device Manager. Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter, choose Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers.
5. Reset network settings. Open Settings, then Network & internet, then Advanced network settings, then Network reset, choose Reset now, and restart your PC when asked. Note: this removes saved Wi-Fi networks, so you will need your Wi-Fi password again.
6. Check the router and other devices. If other devices also cannot connect, restart the router again or contact your internet provider. If only this PC is affected and the steps above did not help, try a wired connection or a USB Wi-Fi adapter to narrow down the fault.

What to check

After each step, check whether the Wi-Fi icon shows a connection and whether you can open a website. If Wi-Fi works after a step, stop there. You do not need to complete the remaining steps.

If the network appears but you cannot get online, check whether other devices on the same network can get online. That tells you whether the problem is the PC or the connection itself.

Where this usually ends

In most cases the connection comes back at step 1, 2 or 4 — a restart, a fresh reconnect, or a newer driver. If you have worked through all six steps and the PC still will not connect, the checks below narrow it to the PC, the router, or the provider.

What to try if none of the steps work

If none of the steps above restores your connection, use these checks to narrow down whether the problem is with your PC, your router, or your internet service.

• Check other devices. If a phone or another computer also cannot get online on the same Wi-Fi network, the problem is more likely with the router or the internet service than with your PC. If other devices work, the problem is more likely with your PC.
• Restart the router again. Turn the router off, wait 30 seconds, turn it back on, and wait a few minutes for it to fully reconnect before testing again.
• Check for an ISP outage. Look at your internet provider’s status page or app, and check the lights on your router. If an outage is reported, wait for the provider to restore service rather than changing more settings on your PC.
• Test a wired connection. If your PC and router allow it, connect your PC to the router with an Ethernet cable. If the wired connection works but Wi-Fi does not, the problem is with the Wi-Fi connection rather than the internet service itself.

Related guides: browse more guides in the Windows category, and see How to Clear App Cache on Android.

Once the PC is back online, the rest is keeping it that way: if the Wi-Fi drops again, first check whether other devices drop too — that one observation tells you whether to look at the PC or the router. For more fixes in the same area, see the and the Windows guides.