When Wi‑Fi stops working in Windows 10, first determine whether the problem is the PC, the wireless adapter, the router, or the internet service. Check Wi‑Fi and airplane mode, reconnect to the network, test another device, then repair Windows networking and the adapter driver. The steps below move from the safest checks to more disruptive repairs.
What “Wi‑Fi not working” means
Several different failures can look identical in Windows 10. The correct fix depends on the symptom and on whether other devices can use the same wireless network.
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| Symptom | Most likely area to check first |
|---|---|
| No Wi‑Fi networks are listed | Wi‑Fi or airplane-mode status, wireless adapter, driver, or unsupported band |
| Your network is listed but will not connect | Saved password, stale profile, router authentication, or adapter driver |
| Windows says Connected, no internet | Router/ISP service, IP address, DNS, Winsock, or TCP/IP configuration |
| Every device loses access | Modem, router, wireless coverage, or internet service provider |
| Only this Windows 10 PC fails | Windows network settings, the wireless adapter, or its driver |
| The failure began after an update | Driver compatibility or a changed adapter setting |
Do not assume that a missing internet connection means the wireless radio is broken. A computer can be connected to the router while the router itself has lost its internet connection, and Windows can show no networks when the adapter is disabled or unable to use the router’s band.
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- Select the network icon on the Windows taskbar.
- Confirm that Wi‑Fi is turned on and that the intended network is shown as Connected or is available to select.
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane mode and make sure airplane mode is off.
- If Wi‑Fi is missing from the quick panel, open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi and turn it on there.
- Move within normal range of the router and try the network again.
If the Wi‑Fi switch is absent or immediately turns itself off, continue to Device Manager checks later in this guide. A hardware switch or keyboard key can also disable wireless on some laptops; use the manufacturer’s documented wireless key if your model has one.
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2. Forget the network and connect again
A damaged or outdated saved profile can prevent authentication even when the password and router are working.
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi > Manage known networks.
- Select the affected network and choose Forget.
- Return to the Wi‑Fi list, select the network, and enter its password again.
- Type the password carefully, including capitalization, and wait for Windows to report the connection result.
For a network that uses a sign-in page, such as a public hotspot, open a browser after connecting and complete the provider’s sign-in. Forgetting the profile removes the stored credentials for that network; it does not change the router’s password.
3. Find out whether the router or ISP is the real fault
Restart the modem and router in order
- Unplug power from the modem and wireless router.
- Wait at least about 30 seconds.
- Restore power to the modem first and wait for its status lights to settle.
- Restore power to the router and wait for it to finish starting.
- Try the Windows 10 connection again.
Test another device
Connect a phone or another computer to the same Wi‑Fi. If that device also cannot connect or has no internet, investigate the router, its coverage, or the ISP rather than changing Windows. If other devices work normally and only this PC fails, continue with the PC-side steps.
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When several devices fail, check the router’s status lights and service-status information from your ISP. A router replacement is worth considering only after basic restarts and band testing point to a router or coverage problem; do not replace a router solely because one Windows computer cannot connect.
4. Try the other Wi‑Fi band
Many consumer routers broadcast separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. A Windows 10 adapter may support only one band, or its driver may be configured to filter out the band your router is using.
- Look for a second network name from the same router, often identifying 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.
- Try connecting to that other network.
- If only one band appears, inspect the adapter’s wireless mode or band preference in Device Manager.
To inspect the setting, right-click the Start button, open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click the wireless adapter, and choose Properties. On the Advanced tab, look for a setting named Wireless Mode, Preferred Band, or similar. Available names and values vary by adapter and driver. Do not select a mode that your router or adapter does not support; if you are unsure, restore the original value and test again.
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Use this sequence when Windows connects to Wi‑Fi but reports no internet, or when address and name-resolution settings may be corrupted. The commands reset the Winsock catalog and TCP/IP stack, release and renew the local IP address, and clear the DNS resolver cache.
- Open Start and type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Run each command separately, in this order:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns- Restart Windows when the commands finish, then reconnect to Wi‑Fi.
- Open a browser and test more than one site.
netsh winsock reset rebuilds the Windows network interface used by applications. netsh int ip reset resets TCP/IP parameters. The release and renew commands request a fresh address from the router, while ipconfig /flushdns removes cached DNS answers so Windows can ask again.
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If a command returns an error, note the exact message instead of repeatedly running the sequence. Security software, VPN clients, and virtual networking components can add their own network filters; disconnect a VPN temporarily while testing, but do not remove business security software without your administrator’s guidance.
6. Check, repair, or replace the wireless adapter driver
Confirm that Windows can see the adapter
- Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
- Expand Network adapters.
- Look for a wireless, Wi‑Fi, WLAN, or 802.11 device.
If the adapter has a downward-arrow icon, right-click it and choose Enable device. If it has a warning icon, open Properties and read the device status on the General tab. The error code and text help identify whether Windows is missing a driver or cannot start the hardware.
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Compare the installed driver with the manufacturer’s release
In the adapter’s Properties, open the Driver tab and record the Driver Date and Driver Version. Compare them with the current Windows 10 driver listed by the PC manufacturer for your exact model. Use the manufacturer’s model and operating-system selection rather than a driver intended for a different computer.
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If this PC cannot get online, download the driver on another computer, copy it to a USB drive, and transfer it to the affected PC. Keep the backup driver available before uninstalling anything.
Reinstall after an update-related failure
- In Device Manager, right-click the wireless adapter and choose Uninstall device.
- Confirm the removal. If Windows offers to delete the driver package, select that option only when you have a known-good replacement driver ready.
- Restart the PC.
- Windows may detect the hardware and reinstall a driver automatically. If it does not, run the manufacturer’s driver installer from the USB drive.
If Wi‑Fi stopped immediately after a driver update and the Roll Back Driver button is available, rolling back can test whether the earlier driver restores connectivity. A rollback is not available for every adapter or every update.
When no adapter appears
If no wireless adapter appears under Network adapters, choose View > Show hidden devices in Device Manager and check again. A disabled or failed internal device may not be usable until its driver is installed or the hardware is repaired. A compatible USB Wi‑Fi adapter is a practical way to restore connectivity long enough to download drivers or complete other troubleshooting, but it does not repair a defective internal adapter.
7. Use Windows Network reset only as a last resort
Microsoft describes Network reset as the last step to try because it removes installed network adapters and their settings, then reinstalls the adapters after a restart. It can also require VPN software or Hyper‑V virtual-switch configuration to be set up again, and known networks may be changed to a public profile.
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
- Select Network reset.
- Choose Reset now and confirm.
- Allow Windows to restart, then reconnect to Wi‑Fi and reconfigure any VPN or virtual networking that no longer works.
Before using this option, record special adapter settings, VPN details, and any virtual-machine networking configuration. Network reset is appropriate when the adapter is present, ordinary command repairs have not helped, and the cost of rebuilding those settings is acceptable. It is not the first response to a router outage or a single mistyped Wi‑Fi password.
Choose the next step from the evidence
| What you observe | Best next action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Other devices also fail on this Wi‑Fi | Restart and inspect the modem/router; contact the ISP if service remains unavailable | The fault is probably outside Windows |
| Only this PC fails, and the network is saved | Forget the network and reconnect | Removes stale credentials and profile data |
| No networks appear, but the adapter is listed | Enable the adapter, inspect wireless mode/band, and verify the driver | Windows may be filtering bands or using a damaged driver |
| The adapter is absent from Device Manager | Install the PC manufacturer’s driver or use a compatible USB adapter temporarily | Windows must detect a functioning wireless adapter |
| Wi‑Fi connects but internet access fails | Restart the router, then run the Winsock/IP/DNS command sequence | Separates upstream outages from local network-state problems |
| The problem began after an update | Compare driver versions and try Roll Back Driver or a manufacturer driver | Tests for an update-related compatibility change |
| All ordinary repairs fail | Use Network reset after recording VPN and virtual-switch settings | It removes adapter configuration and has wider side effects |
Windows 10 support status
Microsoft’s support material states that free Windows 10 updates, technical assistance, and security fixes through Windows Update ended after October 14, 2025. The troubleshooting steps above can still restore Wi‑Fi on an existing installation, but an unsupported operating system does not receive the same ongoing security maintenance as a supported Windows release. Check your PC’s upgrade eligibility and software requirements before making a long-term support decision.
Quick Recap
Final checks after Wi‑Fi returns
- Reconnect after a restart to confirm the saved profile works.
- Test both a local network action, such as opening the router’s management page if you use one, and several internet sites.
- Check that VPN software, printers, file shares, and virtual machines still use the intended adapter.
- Write down the working driver version and adapter settings before making further changes.
- If the same failure returns, note whether it follows sleep, a restart, a Windows update, a particular location, or one Wi‑Fi band; that pattern is more useful than repeating every step.
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