To connect a Windows 11 PC to Wi-Fi, open the network list from the taskbar, select your network, and enter its password. The whole process takes under a minute if the network is in range and you know the password. The steps below follow Microsoft’s current support instructions for Windows 11, and they also cover what to do when the network is missing or the connection fails.
Step 1: Open the Wi-Fi list
Windows 11 keeps Wi-Fi in Quick Settings, which is the panel that opens when you select the group of icons (Network, Sound, or Battery) at the right end of the taskbar. You can reach the same panel with the keyboard by pressing Windows key + A.
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- Select the Network, Sound, or Battery icons in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar, or press Windows key + A.
- In the Quick Settings panel, find the Wi-Fi tile. Select the arrow beside it, or select Manage Wi-Fi connections, to open the list of available networks.
The list shows the networks within range. If the Wi-Fi tile is missing or greyed out, the adapter may be turned off; see the troubleshooting section below.
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Step 2: Choose your network
- In the list, select the network name you want. Check the exact name against the label on your router or the network details you were given, because nearby networks often have similar names.
- Select Connect. Windows opens a password prompt if the network is secured.
If your network does not appear, select the refresh control at the top of the network list to scan again. Routers can take several seconds to broadcast after a restart, so a second scan after a short wait often finds a network that the first one missed.
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Step 3: Enter the password and confirm
- Type the network password, which Microsoft’s instructions call the network security key, into the box.
- Select Next. Windows connects and shows the network as connected in Quick Settings.
Passwords are case-sensitive. If Windows reports that the password is incorrect, retype it carefully, paying attention to capital letters and similar characters such as 0 and O.
Connecting without typing the password: Wi-Fi QR codes
If the network owner has created a Wi-Fi QR code, a Windows device with a camera can join without you typing anything. Open the Camera app, switch to barcode mode, and point the camera at the code. Select the link that appears, then confirm the network in the Settings window that opens. This method needs a working camera on the PC, so it is not available on every device.
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Forgot the password? Check a device that is already connected
If a Windows PC is already connected to the network, you can read the saved password from it. Open Settings, go to Network & internet, and select the connected network’s Properties page. You can also open Manage known networks to find the saved network and view its password. Anyone with administrator access to that PC can see the same information, so use this only on a device you control.
If the network is missing or Windows will not connect
Work through these checks in order before you try anything advanced.
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- Confirm Wi-Fi is on. Open Quick Settings and make sure the Wi-Fi tile is turned on. Airplane mode, which Microsoft’s network settings guide covers, switches Wi-Fi off as well.
- Refresh the list. Scan again from the network list, as described in Step 2.
- Check the network you selected. If your router broadcasts separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks with different names, make sure you chose the right one. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance also suggests trying the other listed band if one fails.
- Test another device. If a phone or another laptop can join the same network, the problem is more likely on the PC. If no device can join, restart the router and check the internet connection.
- Run the Network and Internet troubleshooter. Open Get Help from the Start menu, search for the Network and Internet troubleshooter, and follow its prompts. This is Microsoft’s first automated diagnostic for Windows 11.
If these checks fail, Microsoft’s Wi-Fi troubleshooting page covers network-adapter driver updates, including getting a driver from the PC manufacturer’s support site. If the PC has no Wi-Fi control at all, that points to a driver or hardware issue rather than a connection problem. Microsoft’s guidance describes a separate computer and a USB flash drive as a way to transfer a driver to a PC that cannot get online.
Network reset is a last resort. Microsoft lists it as a final step because it removes and reinstalls network adapters and resets their settings. Afterward you may need to reinstall networking software such as VPN clients or virtual switches. Try the other steps first.
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Choose Public or Private for the network
When you first join a network, Windows 11 asks you to choose whether it is a trusted private network. By default, Windows 11 classifies new networks as Public, and Microsoft recommends Public for most situations. A Public network makes your PC undiscoverable to other devices. A Private network allows discovery and file and printer sharing, so select Private only for a home or office network whose people and devices you trust.
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You can change the setting later in Settings > Network & internet, by selecting the network’s Properties page and choosing the profile you want.
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What the steps do not cover
These three steps assume a PC with working Wi-Fi hardware and a network you have permission to join. Joining a network that is not yours, or one that requires a web login page, such as some hotel or airport networks, follows different steps that depend on that network’s own sign-in page.
Source: Microsoft Support, Connect to a Wi-Fi network in Windows. Taskbar and Quick Settings details come from Microsoft Support, Customize the Taskbar in Windows. Troubleshooting steps come from Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows, and profile behavior comes from Essential Network Settings and Tasks in Windows. Microsoft’s support pages do not show a publication date in the versions we reviewed, so menu labels may change in future Windows 11 updates.
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