Fixes / Windows · Checked September 30, 2026

Windows "Can't connect to this network": causes and fixes

Short answer

"Can't connect to this network" means Windows found the Wi-Fi network but could not finish joining it. Usually the saved password or security settings no longer match the router, or the router or Wi-Fi adapter is stuck. The most likely fix: go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, click Forget on that network, restart the router, then reconnect and type the password again.

What this message means

Windows shows this message after you pick a Wi-Fi network (or it tries to reconnect on its own) and the join fails. Your PC can see the network, so the radio works. The failure happens during sign-in: checking the password and security type, getting an IP address from the router, or the adapter driver finishing the connection. Windows does not say which step failed, so the message looks the same whether the cause is an old saved password, a router that needs a restart, or a broken driver. If other devices can join the same network, the problem is on the PC. If none can, it is the router.

Common causes

Cause	How to tell
The saved Wi-Fi profile is out of date (password or security type changed on the router)	The network worked before, and the router's password or security mode (for example WPA2 to WPA3) was recently changed. Windows goes straight to the error without asking for a password.
The router or modem is stuck or has run out of addresses to hand out	Other phones or laptops also can't join, or new devices fail while ones already connected keep working. Restarting the router fixes it for a while.
Wi-Fi adapter driver is faulty or was replaced by a Windows Update	The error started right after a Windows or driver update, happens on every network (including a phone hotspot), or Device Manager shows a yellow warning on the Wi-Fi adapter.
Corrupted network settings (TCP/IP stack, Winsock, leftover VPN or proxy settings)	Every network fails, including ones that worked before. Often happens after installing or removing VPN, antivirus or firewall software.
The router blocks the PC (MAC address filtering, device limit, or random hardware addresses)	Only this PC fails on this one network, other networks work fine, and the router has MAC filtering or an access list turned on. Random hardware addresses may be on in Windows Wi-Fi settings.
Weak signal or a band the adapter handles badly	The network shows one or two signal bars, the connection works when you move closer to the router, or it works on the 2.4 GHz network name but not on the 5 GHz one (or the reverse).

How to fix it

1. Turn Wi-Fi off and on, and check Airplane mode

Click the network icon at the right end of the taskbar.
Make sure Airplane mode is off.
Turn Wi-Fi off, wait 5 seconds, then turn it back on.
Choose the network again and click Connect.
If a laptop has a physical Wi-Fi switch or an Fn key with a Wi-Fi symbol, check that it is on.

2. Forget the network and reconnect

Windows 10 and Windows 11 (same path)

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Go to Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
Select the network that fails and click Forget.
Click the network icon on the taskbar, choose the network, and click Connect.
Type the password exactly as it is set on the router (it is case-sensitive). Check the label on the router if you never changed it.

3. Restart the modem and router

Unplug the power cable from the modem and the router (and remove the backup battery if the modem has one).
Wait at least 30 seconds.
Plug the modem back in and wait until its lights stop blinking.
Plug the router back in and wait a few minutes for it to fully start.
Try connecting again. If the router offers separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, try the other one.

4. Reset TCP/IP, Winsock and the IP address

Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
Run these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each: netsh winsock reset, netsh int ip reset, ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew, ipconfig /flushdns
Restart the PC.
Try connecting to the network again.

5. Roll back or reinstall the Wi-Fi driver

Right-click Start and choose Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters and find your Wi-Fi adapter (its name usually contains Wireless, Wi-Fi or 802.11).
If the problem started after an update: right-click it, choose Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver (only available if an older driver is saved).
Otherwise: right-click the adapter, choose Uninstall device, tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device, and click Uninstall.
Restart the PC. Windows reinstalls the driver automatically. If it does not, download the latest driver from the PC or adapter maker's website on another device.
Optional: in the adapter's Properties > Power Management tab, untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

6. Run Network reset

Windows 11: Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. Windows 10: Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.

Write down any Wi-Fi passwords you will need, and have VPN settings on hand. The reset removes all saved networks and reinstalls every network adapter.
Open Settings and go to Network reset (path depends on your version, see above).
Click Reset now, then Yes to confirm.
Let the PC restart (it does so automatically after about 5 minutes).
Reconnect to the Wi-Fi network and type the password again. Reinstall or reconfigure VPN software if you use it.

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Still not fixed?

Check whether a phone can join the same network. If the phone fails too, the problem is the router: log in to its admin page (address is usually on the router label), check for MAC filtering or a device limit, update the firmware, or call your internet provider. If only this PC fails, try its phone hotspot. If the hotspot also fails, the adapter may be faulty. A USB Wi-Fi adapter is a cheap way to confirm, and the PC maker's support can check for a hardware fault. On a work or school PC, contact IT, since company Wi-Fi often needs a certificate or account they manage.

Questions people ask

Why does my laptop say "Can't connect to this network" when other devices connect fine?

The problem is on the laptop: usually an old saved Wi-Fi profile, a bad driver, or damaged network settings. Forget the network and reconnect first, then reinstall the Wi-Fi driver if that does not help.

I'm sure the password is correct. Why does Windows still say it can't connect?

Windows may be using an old saved profile that no longer matches the router's security type, for example after the router switched to WPA3. Forget the network under Manage known networks so Windows builds a fresh profile, and update the Wi-Fi driver if the adapter is old.

Does Network reset delete my files?

No. It only removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, VPN and virtual adapter settings, and reinstalls your network adapters. Your files and apps are not touched.

The error started after a Windows update. What should I do?

Roll back the Wi-Fi driver in Device Manager (adapter Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver), or uninstall the device and restart. If that fails, check Windows Update for a newer fix, or use System Restore to go back to before the update.

Will turning off IPv6 fix it?

Occasionally, with some older routers, but it is not a common fix and Microsoft does not recommend turning off IPv6. Try forgetting the network, the router restart, and the driver steps first.

Sources

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