How to Fix Wi-Fi and Network Problems in Windows 10

To fix Wi-Fi and network problems in Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status and select Network troubleshooter. If that doesn’t fix it, make sure Wi-Fi is on and Airplane mode is off, restart your modem and router, and then try the reset commands and driver steps below.

Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 27, 2026.

Try the steps in order and check your connection after each one.

First: is it your PC or the network?

A quick check saves time. Try another device, such as your phone, on the same Wi-Fi:

• Other devices work too: the problem is on this PC. Work through the fixes below.
• Nothing works: the problem is the router or your internet provider. Start with step 4, restarting the modem and router, and check your provider’s outage page from your phone’s mobile data.
• The PC works with an Ethernet cable or your phone’s hotspot: Windows and the adapter are fine, so focus on the router’s Wi-Fi settings and signal.

1. Run the Network troubleshooter

1. Select Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
2. Select Troubleshoot, or scroll down and select Network troubleshooter.
3. Follow the steps on screen.

2. Check Wi-Fi and Airplane mode

• Select the network icon on the taskbar and make sure Wi-Fi is on. See how to turn on Wi-Fi in Windows 10.
• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane mode and make sure it’s off.
• Some laptops have a Wi-Fi switch or key. Make sure it’s on.

3. Forget the network and connect again

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
2. Select your network and select Forget.
3. Select the network icon on the taskbar, pick your network, and connect again.

4. Restart your modem and router

1. Unplug the router, then the modem.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds.
3. Plug in the modem and wait for its lights to stop blinking. Then plug in the router.
4. Wait a few minutes and try again.

If your router shows two networks, such as a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz one, try the other one. If other devices can’t connect either, the problem is likely your router or internet service.

5. Run the network reset commands

1. Select Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator. Select Yes.
2. Type each command and press Enter after each one: netsh winsock reset, netsh int ip reset, ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew, and ipconfig /flushdns.
3. Restart your PC.

6. Reinstall the network adapter driver

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters. If your Wi-Fi adapter is missing or has an arrow on it, right-click it and select Enable device.
3. To reinstall it, right-click the adapter and select Uninstall device. If you see a box to delete the driver software, check it. Then select Uninstall.
4. Restart your PC. Windows reinstalls the driver.

Before you uninstall, it’s a good idea to download the latest network driver from your PC maker’s website on another device, in case Windows can’t find one.

7. Stop Windows from turning off the adapter

1. In Device Manager, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties.
2. On the Power Management tab, clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
3. Select OK.

8. Reset the network

If nothing else works, a network reset reinstalls your network adapters and sets networking back to its defaults. See how to reset network settings in Windows 10.

9. Change your DNS server

If you’re connected but websites won’t load, the DNS server that turns names into addresses may be slow or down. To use a public one instead:

1. Open Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
2. Right-click Wi-Fi and select Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then Properties.
4. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses. Enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google), then select OK.

To undo it, return to the same screen and choose Obtain DNS server address automatically.

10. Turn off VPN and proxy settings

A VPN app or a leftover proxy setting can block all traffic when it stops working. Disconnect or quit any VPN app. Then open Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy, make sure Automatically detect settings is on, and turn off Use a proxy server under Manual proxy setup unless your workplace requires it.

Frequently asked questions

Why doesn’t my Wi-Fi network show up?

Check that Wi-Fi and the router are on, and that you’re close enough. If no networks show at all, check the adapter in step 6.

It says “No internet, secured.” What does that mean?

Your PC is connected to the router, but the router can’t reach the internet. Restart the modem and router, and check with your internet provider.

Is Windows 10 still supported?

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. It still connects to networks, but newer Wi-Fi adapters may not get Windows 10 drivers, and security updates need the Extended Security Updates program. If network problems keep coming back on an older PC, upgrading or replacing the Wi-Fi adapter may be the longer-term fix.

How do I see my IP address?

See how to find your IP address in Windows 10.

For more help if Airplane mode is stuck on, see how to turn off Airplane mode in Windows 10.

If one app can’t connect but others can, check which ports it uses. See how to find port numbers in Windows 10.

If Windows shows your network as “Network 2” and you want a clearer name, see how to change the network name in Windows 10.

To test whether your PC can reach a website or your router, see how to check ping in Windows 10.

If Windows keeps using the wrong connection, see how to set network priority in Windows 10.

If Ethernet works but seems slow, see how to get gigabit Ethernet speed in Windows 10.

Microsoft’s guide is Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.

Related: install a USB Wi-Fi adapter on Windows 10.

Related: install a Wi-Fi driver in Windows 10.

Related: how to disable a proxy server in Windows 10.