Wi-Fi Not Working on Your Laptop? How to Fix It on Windows 11 and 10

When Wi-Fi stops working on a laptop, the cause is often simple: airplane mode is on, a wireless switch is off, or Windows is holding on to bad network settings. Start by checking airplane mode and the Wi-Fi toggle, then work down the list below.

These steps apply to Windows 11 and Windows 10. Where the menus differ, both paths are given. Test your connection after each fix.

What causes laptop Wi-Fi to stop working

• Airplane mode or Wi-Fi turned off, either in Windows or with a physical wireless switch.
• A saved network profile that no longer matches the router, for example after a password change.
• Router or modem problems, which affect every device on the network.
• Corrupted network settings in Windows (IP address, DNS cache, Winsock).
• Wi-Fi adapter driver problems, often after an update.
• Power saving turning the adapter off.
• A failed Wi-Fi adapter, which is rare but does happen.

How to fix Wi-Fi not working on a laptop

Fix	When it helps
1. Airplane mode, Wi-Fi toggle, wireless switch	Wi-Fi is off or the tile won’t change
2. Network troubleshooter	You don’t know where to start
3. Forget the network	The router password or settings changed
4. Restart modem and router	Every device has trouble
5. Other band, other device	You need to know if it’s the laptop or the router
6. netsh and ipconfig resets	Connected but no internet, IP or DNS problems
7. Ping the router	You need to know if the laptop reaches the router
8. Update or roll back the driver	Wi-Fi broke after an update
9. Reinstall the driver	The adapter shows errors in Device Manager
10. Power management	Wi-Fi drops after sleep or idle time
11. Windows updates	Fixes and drivers are pending
12. Network reset	Nothing else worked (last resort)

Fix 1: Check airplane mode, the Wi-Fi toggle and any wireless switch

1. Select the Network, Sound or Battery icons on the taskbar to open quick settings.
2. Make sure Wi-Fi is on and Airplane mode is off.
3. Check Settings > Network & internet > Airplane mode to confirm it’s off.

Airplane mode turns off every wireless radio at once (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and others). Turning it off doesn’t always turn Wi-Fi back on, so switch Wi-Fi on separately if needed.

Some laptops also have a physical wireless switch. Dell notes that a hardware switch overrides the software controls and must be in the on position. If the Wi-Fi tile won’t change color when you click it, look for a switch on the side or front of the laptop, or check your laptop’s manual for a wireless key.

Fix 2: Run the network troubleshooter

On Windows 11, open the Get Help app, search for connect to network and internet, and select Run network diagnostics. Follow the prompts. The same Get Help troubleshooter is available on Windows 10.

Fix 3: Forget the network and reconnect

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
2. Select your network and choose Forget.
3. Connect again and type the Wi-Fi password.

This clears a saved profile that may have the wrong password or settings.

Fix 4: Restart your modem and router

1. Unplug the router, then the modem.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds. If the modem has a backup battery and its lights stay on, remove the battery too.
3. Plug the modem back in and wait until its lights stop blinking.
4. Plug the router back in and wait a few minutes.
5. Reconnect from your laptop.

If you have a combined modem/router, you only need to restart that one box.

Fix 5: Try the other band and test another device

If you see both a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz network from your router, try connecting to the other one.

Then connect a phone or another laptop to the same network. If the other device connects, the problem is your laptop. If nothing connects, the problem is the router, the modem or your internet provider.

Fix 6: Reset the network stack with commands

Important: These commands need an elevated Command Prompt. Search for command prompt, select Run as administrator, then Yes. See our guide to the elevated command prompt if you need help.

Run these one at a time, in this order:

netsh winsock reset

netsh int ip reset

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

The first two reset Windows networking settings, /release and /renew ask the router for a fresh IP address, and /flushdns clears the DNS cache. Restart the laptop afterward and try Wi-Fi again.

Fix 7: Check whether the laptop can reach the router

1. In Command Prompt, run:

ipconfig

2. Note the Default gateway address under your Wi-Fi adapter.
3. Run ping followed by that address, for example:

ping 192.168.1.1

Use your own gateway address, not the example. If you get replies, the laptop reaches the router and the problem is likely the modem or your provider. If you get no replies, the router side is the likelier culprit. Plugging in an Ethernet cable is a good extra test.

Fix 8: Update or roll back the Wi-Fi driver

1. Open Device Manager from taskbar search and expand Network adapters.
2. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
3. If Wi-Fi stopped right after an update, open the adapter’s Properties, go to the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver instead. This needs administrator rights.

Microsoft recommends Windows Update as the best way to get drivers. You can also compare the Driver Version and Driver Date on the Driver tab with what your laptop maker’s website offers.

Fix 9: Reinstall the Wi-Fi adapter driver

Important: Without Wi-Fi you can’t download a driver after uninstalling the old one. First download the latest Wi-Fi driver from your laptop maker’s website, using another PC or an Ethernet connection, and save it to a USB drive.

1. In Device Manager, expand Network adapters.
2. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Uninstall device.
3. Check Attempt to remove the driver for this device and select Uninstall.
4. Select Start > Power > Restart.

Windows should reinstall the driver automatically. If it doesn’t, install the driver you saved.

Fix 10: Stop Windows turning the adapter off to save power

1. In Device Manager > Network adapters, right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties.
2. On the Power Management tab, clear the option that lets the computer turn off the device to save power.
3. Select OK.

Fix 11: Install updates and restart

Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates and install anything available, then restart. On Windows 10, the path is Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Use Ethernet or a phone hotspot if Wi-Fi is completely down.

Fix 12: Run a network reset (last resort)

Important: Network reset removes and reinstalls all network adapters and returns networking settings to their defaults. You’ll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords, and you may have to reinstall VPN or virtual switch software.

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

Select Reset now, then Yes, and let the laptop restart.

If it still doesn’t work

• The adapter itself may have failed. If the Wi-Fi adapter disappears from Device Manager, keeps failing after a clean driver reinstall and network reset, and other devices connect fine, a repair shop can test or replace it. Another option is a USB Wi-Fi adapter, which gives the laptop a separate wireless adapter through a USB port: Check USB Wi-Fi adapters on Amazon. Make sure the one you pick lists support for your version of Windows.
• Several devices fail to connect. Call your internet provider or check the router maker’s support site.
• Wi-Fi connects but a work app still can’t get online. Company networks often use automatic proxy settings. Our guide to the WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service explains the service and how to check the proxy with netsh winhttp.
• More help. See our computer repair tips, or if your laptop also feels sluggish, read why is my computer so slow. Browse every fix in PC repairs.