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Fix Windows 10 Wi-Fi Can’t Connect Error

Are you struggling with a Windows 10 Wi-Fi connection error? Let’s explore some solutions to fix this issue.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check Wi-Fi Connection:

If you’re experiencing a Windows 10 Wi-Fi “Can’t Connect” error, start by checking your Wi-Fi connection. Ensure that your Wi-Fi is turned on and that you’re within range of your wireless router.

2. Restart Your Computer and Router:

Restart your computer and wireless router to refresh the connection. Sometimes, simply restarting these devices can resolve the issue.

3. Forget and Reconnect:

If restarting doesn’t work, forget the Wi-Fi network on your computer and then reconnect by entering the password again. This can help to establish a new connection.

4. Update Wi-Fi Driver:

Check if your Wi-Fi driver is up to date. Go to Device Manager, find your network adapter, and then update the driver if necessary.

5. Disable Airplane Mode:

Make sure that Airplane Mode is disabled on your computer. This can prevent your computer from connecting to Wi-Fi.

6. Run Network Troubleshooter:

Use the built-in Network Troubleshooter tool in Windows 10 to diagnose and repair network issues.

7. Check for Windows Updates:

Ensure that your Windows 10 is up to date with the latest updates. Sometimes, a system update can resolve connectivity issues.

Restart Your Computer

Wait for your computer to shut down and then turn it back on.

Once your computer has restarted, try connecting to your Wi-Fi network again to see if the issue has been resolved.

If the problem persists, you may need to troubleshoot further or seek assistance from a professional.

Forget and Reconnect to Wi-Fi

1. Right-click on the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar.
2. Select “Open Network & Internet settings” from the context menu.
3. Click on “Wi-Fi” in the left-hand menu.
4. Under “Known networks,” select the Wi-Fi network you want to forget.
5. Click “Forget” to remove the network from your computer’s memory.

To reconnect to Wi-Fi:

1. Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar.
2. Select the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to.
3. Enter the password if required.

Toggle Airplane Mode On and Off

If you are still experiencing issues with Wi-Fi connectivity after toggling Airplane Mode, you may need to troubleshoot further or contact your Internet service provider for assistance.

Utilize the Network Troubleshooter

– First, go to the Start menu and type “Network Troubleshooter” in the search bar.
Click on the Network Troubleshooter from the search results to open it.
– The Network Troubleshooter will automatically start scanning for any issues with your network connection.
Follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose and fix the Wi-Fi connection problem.

If the Network Troubleshooter is unable to resolve the issue, you can also try resetting your network settings by following these steps:

– Go to the Start menu and type “Network Reset” in the search bar.
Click on Network Reset from the search results.
– Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your network settings and restart your computer.

If you are still experiencing issues with your Wi-Fi connection after using the Network Troubleshooter and resetting your network settings, you may need to contact your Internet service provider or seek further technical assistance.

By utilizing the Network Troubleshooter and resetting your network settings, you can effectively troubleshoot and fix the Windows 10 Wi-Fi Can’t Connect error.

Choose IP and DNS Settings Automatically

1. Right-click on the network icon in the taskbar and select Open Network & Internet settings.

2. In the Settings window, click on Change adapter options.

3. Right-click on your Wi-Fi network and select Properties.

4. In the Wi-Fi Properties window, scroll down and select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then click on Properties.

5. In the Properties window, make sure that Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically are selected.

6. Click OK to save the changes and close all the windows.

Perform a Network Socket Reset

1. First, open the “Command Prompt” as an administrator by searching for it in the Windows search bar, right-clicking on it, and selecting “Run as administrator.”

2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: netsh winsock reset

3. After the command has been executed, restart your computer to apply the changes.

4. Once your computer has restarted, try to connect to the Wi-Fi network again to see if the issue has been resolved.

If you’re still experiencing the “Windows 10 Wi-Fi Can’t Connect” error after performing the network socket reset, you may need to try other troubleshooting steps or seek further assistance.

Update Network Adapter Driver

To update your network adapter driver, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu and select “Device Manager” from the context menu.

Step 2: In the Device Manager window, expand the “Network adapters” category.

Step 3: Right-click on your network adapter and select “Update driver” from the context menu.

Step 4: Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software” and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.

Updating your network adapter driver can often resolve issues with Wi-Fi connectivity. If you’re still experiencing problems after updating the driver, you may need to troubleshoot further or seek additional support.

Reinstall the Network Adapter Driver

If the automatic reinstallation doesn’t work, you can manually download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website. Once downloaded, open the Device Manager again, right-click on the network adapter, and select Update driver. Choose to Browse my computer for driver software and then select the downloaded driver file to install it.

After reinstalling the network adapter driver, try connecting to your Wi-Fi network again to see if the issue has been resolved. If not, you may need to troubleshoot further or seek additional assistance.

Flush DNS Cache

To fix the Windows 10 Wi-Fi Can’t Connect error, you can try flushing the DNS cache. This can help resolve any network connection issues you may be experiencing. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt by searching for it in the Windows search bar and selecting “Run as administrator.”

Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: ipconfig /flushdns

Step 3: Once the command has been successfully executed, you should see a message confirming that the DNS Resolver Cache has been flushed.

By flushing the DNS cache, you are essentially clearing out any outdated or incorrect information that may be causing connection problems. After completing these steps, try reconnecting to your Wi-Fi network to see if the issue has been resolved.

If you continue to experience problems, you may need to troubleshoot further or seek assistance from a professional.

Reset Network Settings

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter to open the Network Connections window.
3. Right-click on your Wi-Fi network and select Disable.
4. Wait a few seconds, then right-click on the Wi-Fi network again and select Enable.

This will reset the network settings for your Wi-Fi connection and may resolve the “Can’t Connect” error you are experiencing. If the issue persists, you may need to troubleshoot further or seek additional assistance.

Disable IPv6 on Your Adapter

Locate your Wi-Fi adapter, right-click on it, and select “Properties.” In the list of items, find “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” and uncheck the box next to it.

After unchecking the box, click “OK” to save the changes. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Disabling IPv6 on your adapter can help resolve the “Windows 10 Wi-Fi Can’t Connect Error” by ensuring that your device is only using IPv4 for its network connections.

Enable 802.11d Compliance Mode

1. First, open the Control Panel on your computer.

2. Next, click on Network and Sharing Center.

3. From there, select Change adapter settings from the menu on the left.

4. Right-click on your Wi-Fi network and choose Properties.

5. Click on the Networking tab and then select Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

6. Click the Properties button and then click on the Advanced button.

7. In the Advanced TCP/IP Settings window, go to the DNS tab.

8. Check the box that says Register this connection’s addresses in DNS.

9. Finally, click OK to save the changes.

By enabling 802.11d compliance mode, you may be able to resolve the “Windows 10 Wi-Fi Can’t Connect” error and improve your network connectivity.

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