Network connectivity is vital for any smart device today, be it a mobile phone or a PC. This can become very inconvenient for anyone who uses the Internet regularly. We may not be able to get help or do work without a network connection. Sometimes there is a possibility that the wireless network is not working on your Windows PC.
Because we understand how annoying the Wi-Fi not working error on Windows can be, we created this blog page. You will find all the solutions to bring Wi-Fi back to Windows. Let’s find out why this problem occurs as a bonus. We will also discuss the fixes needed to reconnect to the network.
Why doesn’t WiFi work on a Windows PC?
We have noted seven factors that can potentially prevent your Windows system from connecting to a wireless network.
- Problems with the network adapter driver
- Unavailable Wi-Fi networks
- Weak Wi-Fi signals
- Misconfigured network settings
- VPN Interference
- Disabled WiFi function on the modem
- Minor or major system errors
WiFI Solutions Not Working on Windows Error
- Restart PC and router
- Contact Service Provider
- Turn Airplane Mode on and off
- Temporarily disable your antivirus
- Reset network settings
- Disable metered connection
- Run the network troubleshooter
- Executing network commands
- Download driver updates for your wireless adapter
- Disable the IPv6 feature
- Download OS updates
Fix Wi-Fi Not Working Issue in Windows
Restart PC and router
The main workaround for fixing minor issues with the device is to reboot it. We can take it off both on PC and on your network router. All temporary changes and minor misconfigurations will be set by default. During this process, no data will be lost.
Here is how you can restart your Windows PC −
- Close all windows running in the foreground of your system. This is important as the PC cannot shut down while running processes.
- Open the Start menu by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Click the Power Options menu in the lower left corner of the window.
- Select “Restart”in the window and wait for the process to continue.
While the system is rebooting, restart the network router.
- Locate the reset button on the back of the router. It is located in a tiny slot on the back.
- Use a thin, non-metallic object to press and hold the button.
- Wait about five seconds for the lights to turn off and then back on. This is a sign that your modem has been reset.
Alternatively, connect the PC and modem if you have an Ethernet cable.
Contact Service Provider
There is a chance that the network servers will be down. The service may be under maintenance, an update, or a technical conflict. As users, there is little we can do about it.
The Internet Service Provider (ISP) can provide information about the status of the server. Network recovery may take an indefinite time. If the ISP acknowledges that the servers are down, you must wait until your Windows PC can access the Internet.
Turn Airplane Mode on and off
While it may take a few minutes to restart your PC, another quick method does the same. Putting the system into Airplane Mode and turning it off may delete unsaved configurations. This reset may bring the network settings to a state in which Wi-Fi works without problems.
Airplane mode can be accessed from two different locations on your Windows PC.
- Quick settings menu in the notification panel in the form of a toggle button.
- Inside the network settings page in the form of a toggle switch.
Temporarily disable your antivirus
Antivirus programs are useful for detecting and removing threats on your system. But sometimes the antivirus can interfere with the network. Internet access may return when your antivirus is disabled.
If you have a third-party antivirus, you can disable it through the application window. Alternatively, users can do this via the antivirus icon in the system tray. The second option is much faster, as it does not involve navigating through the antivirus interface.
For users with Windows Defender active, follow these steps to disable it.
- Press Windows + S keys and search for Windows security.
- In the “Security summary”section, click “Virus and Threat Protection”.
- On the next page, find the “Manage Settings”link and click on it. You will now see the Virus & threat protection settings page.
- Find the “Real-time Protection”and “Cloud Protection”sections. Now click on the toggle switches to disable them accordingly.
- Restart your computer and check if the network comes back after reboot.
Reset network settings
Resetting the network settings may cause the default settings to function. This means that your network can work just as well as when the device was new. Use the method below to reset network settings in Windows −
- Open Windows Settings. You can either press Windows + I or use the gear icon in the start menu.
- Click the Network and Internet tab in the left pane.
- Click on Advanced network settings.
- Under Advanced Settings, select the Network Reset option.
- Accept the confirmation request and the network reset process will begin.
- Reboot your device after resetting networks.
Disable metered connection
Your network may have usage restrictions. The feature that manages it might be useful for using your data, but not for a wireless connection. Perhaps disabling the Metered Connection feature could help in our case.
- Launch the settings window on your system.
- Navigate to Network and Internet settings via the left pane tab.
- Select the wireless network that the device is trying to connect to or is already connected to.
- Find the Metered connection toggle switch and disable it.
Run the network troubleshooter
Network troubleshooting is an easy way to find and fix a Windows error. It only takes one click to narrow down the error. Another click will fix the problem when found.
- Launch the Settings window (Windows + I) and navigate to the System section.
- Click on the “Troubleshoot”option.
- Go to the “Other troubleshooters”section.
- In the list of system troubleshooters, look for the Internet Connection troubleshooter.
- Click the “Run”button on the right side of the section.
- When the troubleshooting wizard appears, select “Troubleshoot my Internet connection”. Follow the instructions on the screen if necessary.
- Wait for the troubleshooting process to finish. You will be shown the causes and a fix if a problem is found.
- Select Apply this fix to make the necessary changes.
Executing network commands
Many commands reset your DNS address and reset the TCP/IP stack. This procedure will set the DNS server and IP settings to a universally functioning configuration.
The user must first open a command prompt on their computer. When this window opens, type the following command lines and press Enter. Be sure to complete them in the given order −
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
In addition to fixing this problem, commands can improve network speed and security.
Download driver updates for your wireless adapter
Your wireless network adapter may have updates pending. Since the latest Wi-Fi adapter drivers are required for best performance, let’s update them.
- Open the Device Manager window (devmgmt.msc).
- Navigate to the “Network Adapters”section and expand it. Here you will find the WiFi driver.
- Right-click it and select Properties from the context menu.
- Click on the Driver tab.
- On this page, select Update driver.
- Wait for the driver update wizard to appear. Then choose to automatically search for updated drivers.
- If there are driver updates available, they will be downloaded when you have a proper internet connection. To install them, just restart your PC.
You can also get driver updates from the manufacturer’s website. It could be the brand of your Wi-Fi router or your laptop’s chipset.
Disable the IPv6 feature.
If your Windows PC is not new, it may not support the new Internet Protocol (IP) version. In this case, we suggest that you disable the IPv6 feature.
- Open the Control Panel (cpl) window.
- Go to network and internet settings.
- In the left pane, select the Change adapter settings link.
- Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter in the list of network adapters.
- Select the “Properties”option.
- Clear the Internet Protocol Version 6 check box.
- Select Apply and OK to save your changes and close the windows.
Download OS updates
When a bug on your Windows system causes a failed Wi-Fi error, there is little we can do. There is a chance that the most recent update contains a solution to this error. It is worth trying to update Windows to the latest version.
- Launch the settings app through the start menu.
- Click the Windows Update tab on the left.
- Click on the Check for Updates option.
- If updates are available, click Download and Install.
- When the download is complete, reboot your system. It is important to select the “Update and restart”option.
The reboot process will take longer than usual due to the update being installed.
If your Wi-Fi is no longer working, you can contact your Internet Service Provider. They can look into the problem and fix it for you. You can get help from the nearest service center if you suspect a hardware failure or malfunction.