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How to Fix Laptop WiFi Not Working on Windows 11: Complete Troubleshooting Steps

Having trouble connecting your laptop to WiFi on Windows 11 can be frustrating. Often, the issue is simple and can be fixed with a few easy steps. This guide will walk you through basic to advanced troubleshooting methods to get your WiFi working again.

Each step is explained in detail to ensure even beginners can follow along without confusion. By the end, you should have a clear understanding of what might be causing the problem and how to fix it.

Whether your WiFi suddenly stopped working or has been a recurring issue, these instructions cover common causes and solutions. Let’s begin with some quick checks before diving deeper.

Read through the steps carefully and try them one by one. You don’t need any special technical skills or tools.

Quick Note Before You Start

  • Check your WiFi router: Make sure it’s turned on and working properly. Other devices using the same WiFi network should be able to connect.
  • Airplane mode: Ensure your laptop is not in Airplane mode. This mode disables all wireless connections.
  • WiFi toggle: Confirm that the WiFi is turned on in your laptop settings.
  • Distance from router: Being too far from the router or having physical obstacles may weaken the signal.

Step 1: Restart Your Laptop and Router

Sometimes, the simplest solution is the most effective. Restarting your devices can clear temporary glitches causing connectivity problems.

  1. Turn off your laptop completely.
  2. Unplug your WiFi router from power for about 30 seconds.
  3. Plug the router back in and wait for it to fully restart (usually indicated by stable lights).
  4. Turn on your laptop and try connecting to the WiFi again.

Why this helps: Restarting resets network devices and clears temporary errors that might block WiFi connections.

Step 2: Make Sure WiFi is Enabled on Your Laptop

Windows 11 allows you to easily toggle WiFi on or off. Sometimes it may have been accidentally turned off.

  1. Click the network icon on the taskbar (usually looks like a WiFi symbol).
  2. Check if the WiFi button is highlighted or turned on. If not, click it to enable WiFi.
  3. Alternatively, press Windows + A to open the Quick Settings panel and check the WiFi toggle there.

Why this matters: WiFi being off means your computer won’t be able to detect or connect to any wireless networks.

Step 3: Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes a built-in tool that can automatically detect and fix common network issues.

  1. Click the Start button and select Settings.
  2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
  3. Find Network Adapter in the list and click Run.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.

Why use the troubleshooter: It can fix misconfigured settings, detect driver problems, and reset network adapters automatically.

Step 4: Update or Reinstall Your WiFi Driver

WiFi drivers are software that help your laptop communicate with wireless hardware. Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause connection issues.

How to update your WiFi driver:

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Network adapters section.
  3. Right-click your wireless adapter (it usually has “Wireless” or “WiFi” in its name) and select Update driver.
  4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
  5. Follow prompts to install if an update is found.

How to reinstall your WiFi driver:

  1. In Device Manager, right-click your WiFi adapter and choose Uninstall device.
  2. Confirm any warnings and restart your laptop.
  3. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically upon reboot.

Why this helps: Drivers act as translators between hardware and software. Fixing or updating them ensures proper communication and functionality.

Step 5: Check Your Network Settings

Sometimes incorrect settings can prevent WiFi from working properly.

Forget and reconnect to your WiFi network:

  1. Click the WiFi icon on the taskbar.
  2. Right-click your WiFi network and select Forget.
  3. Restart your laptop.
  4. Click the WiFi icon again and reconnect by entering your password.

Reset network settings:

  1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings.
  2. Click on Network reset.
  3. Click Reset now and confirm.
  4. Your PC will restart and reset all network adapters and settings to default.

Be aware: Network reset will remove all saved WiFi networks and passwords, so you will need to reconnect manually.

Step 6: Disable Power Saving for WiFi Adapter

Windows sometimes turns off WiFi adapters to save power, which may cause connectivity issues.

  1. Open Device Manager and expand Network adapters.
  2. Right-click your WiFi adapter and select Properties.
  3. Go to the Power Management tab.
  4. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
  5. Click OK and restart your laptop.

Why do this: Prevents Windows from disabling your WiFi adapter to improve connection stability.

Step 7: Use Command Prompt to Reset Network Components

If the above steps don’t work, resetting network settings via command line can help fix deeper issues.

  1. Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
  2. Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

After running these commands, restart your laptop and try connecting to WiFi again.

What this does: Resets network protocols and clears cached DNS data that could block connections.

FAQs

Why does my laptop say “No Internet, secured”?

This means your laptop is connected to the router but can’t access the internet. It could be due to router issues, ISP problems, or incorrect network settings.

How do I know if my WiFi adapter is faulty?

If all troubleshooting fails and other devices connect fine, your WiFi adapter might be damaged. You can check Device Manager for error icons or try using a USB WiFi adapter as a test.

Can antivirus or firewall block WiFi?

Yes, sometimes security software blocks network connections. Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall to see if it resolves the issue.

How do I update Windows 11?

Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Installing updates can fix bugs that affect WiFi.

Is it safe to reset network settings?

Yes, it restores all network configurations to default but removes saved WiFi passwords and VPN settings. It’s a useful step when other fixes fail.

When Nothing Works

If you have tried all the above steps and your WiFi still isn’t working, consider the following options:

  • Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP): There may be outages or service restrictions affecting your connection.
  • Use Windows Support: Visit the official Microsoft Network Troubleshooting page for more tools and help.
  • Consult a technician: Hardware issues like a broken WiFi card may need professional repair or replacement.

Conclusion

Fixing WiFi issues on Windows 11 usually starts with simple checks and gradually moves to more advanced steps. Restarting devices, enabling WiFi, running troubleshooters, and updating drivers often resolve the problem.

Remember to reset network settings and use command prompt commands if the issue persists. Always ensure your router and ISP are functioning correctly before assuming your laptop is at fault.

Following this guide carefully will help you restore your WiFi connection and get you back online quickly and easily.

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