9 Fixes for “Can’t Connect to This Network” Error on Windows 11
When you encounter the “Can’t Connect to This Network” error on Windows 11, it can be quite frustrating. To help resolve this issue, here are nine fixes you can try:
1. Restart Your Computer and Networking Devices: Sometimes, a simple restart can fix connectivity issues. Power off your computer, router, and modem, wait for a few minutes, and then turn them back on.
2. Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter: Navigate to Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Click on the ‘Network troubleshooter’ button and follow the prompts to allow Windows to diagnose and fix the problem.
3. Forget the Wireless Network: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Click on ‘Manage known networks,’ select the problematic network, and click ‘Forget.’ Afterward, reconnect by entering the network credentials again.
4. Update Your Network Drivers: Outdated or corrupt drivers might cause connectivity issues. Go to Device Manager > Network adapters, right-click your adapter, select ‘Update driver’, and then choose “Search automatically for updated driver software.”
5. Check Your Antivirus or Firewall Settings: Sometimes these can interfere with your network connections. Temporarily disable them to see if that solves the issue.
6. Disable IPv6: In some cases, disabling IPv6 can resolve connection problems. Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right-click your network connection, choose ‘Properties’ and uncheck ‘Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)’ before clicking OK.
7. Reset Network Components: You can reset components such as Winsock by opening Command Prompt as an admin and typing `netsh winsock reset` followed by pressing Enter.
8. Use Network Reset: This reverts network settings to their default state. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status, scroll down and select ‘Network reset.’ Click ‘Reset now’ and confirm.
9. Reinstall Your Network Adapter: In Device Manager under Network adapters, right-click your adapter and select ‘Uninstall device.’ Restart your computer so Windows will automatically reinstall it.
Trying these fixes will likely resolve the “Can’t Connect to This Network” error in Windows 11 and get you back online smoothly.