WINDOWS

Can’t Connect to This Network in Windows 10 {Solved}

A common problem encountered by Windows 10 users, like those of other systems, is the network connection error. Often we try to access online content, but fail to do so. Instead, we see the following message on screen – Windows 10 can’t connect to this network. An internet connection error can occur due to various factors, including problems with device drivers or update issues. Whatever be the cause, a connection problem can be frustrating for any user.

This article is about the different ways to fix the issue of Windows 10 being unable to connect to a network. This article mainly deals with connection problems in a wireless network. However, the problem may occur in different scenarios, and the solutions have been mentioned accordingly.

How to Fix Can’t Connect to A Wireless Network Windows 10

If your computer is unable to connect to a WiFi network, try the following methods.

Solution 1: Updating your Network Adapter Drivers

The connection problem may be due to outdated drivers of the network adapter. Thus, updating the drivers may fix the problem. Proceed as per the following steps to update the network adapter drivers:

Step 1: Open Device Manager as in the previous method

Step 2: Select and expand Network Adapter

Step 3: Double-click the adapter for your wireless network, and select Update Drivers

Step 4: Next, select the option “Search automatically for updated driver software.” Windows will then browse online or the computer for driver updates. If it succeeds, follow the displayed instructions for installation, and check if the error is fixed.

If Windows is unable to search for any driver update, you can update the drivers manually. For this, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Log into another PC which has functional internet. Search the manufacturer’s website for driver updates. Note down the model name and number of your affected PC, and search for compatible driver update.

Step 2: Download the executable file of the driver update software, and copy it to a USB flash drive.

Step 3: Connect the USB drive to the affected computer, and save the update file in it.

Step 4: Go to Device Manager → Network adapters, and double-click your wireless network adapter, and select Update Driver.

Step 5: Chose the “Browse my PC for driver software” option. Then navigate to the update file you transferred from the USB, select it, and click OK.

Step 6: Follow subsequent instructions displayed to complete the update installation. Then restart your computer and check if the error is solved.

The manual process of updating drivers is not only lengthy but risky. Any mistake while selecting a suitable driver update to download can lead to severe problems. Thus, it is better to use a Driver Update Tool. The correct drivers will be automatically installed. You can install a suitable Driver Update tool for free online.

Solution 2: Uninstalling Your Network Adapter

The network connection problem may be due to some issues with the network adapter. In such a case, uninstalling and then reinstalling it may help fix the problem. Following are the steps in this method:

Step 1: Open Device Manager by searching it in the Windows search bar, or by pressing Windows + X and selecting it from the menu

Step 2: Locate the network adapter option in the list of devices, then double-click it to expand it

Step 3: Under “network adapters,” find the adapter of your wireless network and right-click it, then select Uninstall

Step 4: In the small window that will open, check the option “Delete the driver software for this device,” and click Uninstall

Step 5: Restart the computer, and wait for the adapter to get reinstalled automatically. Now check if the Can’t connect to this network problem is resolved.

Solution 3: Changing Channel Width for Your Network Adapter

The connection error may be taking place due to an incorrect setting of the channel width. Changing the network adapter’s channel width may thus solve the issue. Follow the steps below to make this change:

Step 1: Open Control Panel.

Step 2: Select “Network and Internet,” after “Network and Sharing Center“.

Step 3: Click the option “Change adapter settings.”

Step 4: Right-click your wireless adapter, and select Properties.

Step 5: In the Properties window, click the Configure button.

Step 6: In the new window, go to the Advanced tab.

Step 7: Select the channel width 802.11 and change its value. Setting 20MHz as the new value is reportedly more convenient. Click OK after the changes.

Solution 4: Disabling IPv6 on Your Computer and Router

Disabling IPv6 for your wireless network may help solve the Can’t connect to this network error. Following are the steps of this method:

Step 1: Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center as in the previous process.

Step 2: Click your WiFi network and select Properties. Alternatively, go to “Change adapter settings” and right-click your WiFi network and choose Properties.

Step 3: In the items list, find the “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” option and uncheck the box next to it. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 4: Restart the computer and check if the problem has been rectified.

In case this method does not yield results, you may have to change the IPv6 on your WiFi router. However, It is a complex procedure and may vary depending on the router’s manufacturer and model. Follow the instructions of its manual, or seek the help of your operator.

Solution 5: Make Sure Your Adapter and Router Are Using the Same Security Type

WiFi routers use security features to safeguard the user’s data. Such features come under various types, such as WPA-PSK (AES) or WPA2-PSK (AES). The network connection can occur if the computer and router have different security types. Follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Manage wireless networks

Step 2: Right-click your wireless network, and select Properties

Step 3: Enter the Security tab, and check if the security type matches that of the router. You may have to conduct a trial and error to identify the correct type. Once you have set the compatible security type, click OK.

Solution 6: Adding the Connection Manually

Manually adding your wireless network to the computer may rectify the problem. To do so, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Go to Control panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.

Step 2: Select the option “Set up a new connection or network.”

Step 3: Click “Manually connect to a wireless network,” then click Next.

Step 4: Enter the details of the wireless network, such as network name, security type, and anything else requested. Finally, click Next.

Solution 7: Changing the Wireless Network Mode

The connection error may because due to different network modes of the network adapter and the router. To rectify this issue, the network mode of both must be set to the same one. To change the network mode of the router, follow the device manually. However, the router’s network mode need not be changed normally. To change the network mode for the adapter, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.

Step 2: Right-click your wireless network and select Properties.

Step 3: In the Properties window, click Configure.

Step 4: In the new window, enter the Advanced tab, and select Wireless Mode in the items list

Step 5: Change the value to match with that of the router. Usually, selecting 802.11b or 802.11g yields results. In case they don’t work, try other available values on a trial and error basis until one works.

Solution 8: Forget the Wireless Connection

Choosing to “forget” the WiFi network and then reconnecting to it may rectify the connection error. To do so, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Open Settings in the Start menu or by pressing Windows + I.

Step 2: Select “Network and Internet“.

Step 3: Select “WiFi” in the left panel, and in the WiFi section, click the option “Manage known networks.”

Step 4: Select your WiFi network, and choose to Forget.

Step 5: Reconnect to the WiFi afresh, and see if the Can’t connect to this network is solved.

Solution 9: Disabling and Enable Your Wireless Connection

Another simple hack that may fix the problem is to disable the WiFi connection, followed by enabling it again. To do so, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.

Step 2: Right-click your WiFi network and select Disable.

Step 3: Next, right-click it again and select Enable.

Solution 10: Install the Driver Manually

Often, the connection problem is due to a faulty driver, which needs to be updated manually. For this, you need to have updated versions of driver software stored on your computer. If you do, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Go to Device Manager → Network adapters, and double-click your wireless network adapter, and select Update Driver.

Step 2: Select the option “Browse my PC for driver software.”

Step 3: Next, select the option “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.”

Step 4: If the option “Show compatible hardware” is checked, uncheck it.

Step 5: Locate and select your network adapter’s manufacturer and model, and click Next. Then choose the driver you want to install.

Step 6: Once the installation is complete, restart the system and check if the issue is resolved.

Ideally, updating drivers manually is not a recommended step, as any mistake can lead to further complications. However, if no other solution works, then faulty drivers may very well be the cause of the problem, and they need to be changed.

Solution 11: Use IPConfig/Release Command

The connection error can be fixed by running Command Prompt to reconfigure the IP address. For this purpose, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as an administrator, by searching “cmd” in the Windows search bar and then selecting the “Run as administrator” option below the search result

Step 2: In Command Prompt, type the following commands and press Enter:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Execute the commands, and check whether the error is solved.

Solution 12: Change your Network Adapter

The problem may be caused due to incompatibility between the network adapter and Windows OS. This is particularly the case regarding many USB adapters of WiFi. In such case, replacing the adapter with another one may help solve the issue.

How to Fix Can’t Connect to This Network After Upgrade in Windows 10

In case the connection error occurs after a recent upgrade, there are certain solutions that may work, which are discussed below.

Solution 1: Use Command Prompt

Running certain commands may fix the error in the given scenario. Proceed as follows:

Step 1: Firstly, open Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2: Secondly, enter the following two commands and press Enter after each one:

reg delete HKCRCLSID{988248f3-a1ad-49bf-9170-676cbbc36ba3} /va /f

netcfg -v -u dni_dne

Step 3: Lastly, restart the computer and check whether the error is rectified.

Solution 2: Uninstall Antivirus Software

The connection error, like many other problems, are often caused by the antivirus or antimalware software. Temporarily disable or uninstall the antivirus and check if the error persists. The way to disable any or all features of your antivirus depends on which antivirus you are using. To completely uninstall it, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Enter the Apps section, and select your antivirus, then click Uninstall.

If the problem persists after disabling or uninstalling the antivirus, it wasn’t the cause. In such a case, restore the antivirus. If the problem gets solved, the antivirus was indeed the cause, in which case seek help on the manufacturer’s website, or install a new antivirus. In either case, do not leave your computer without antivirus for long.

Solution 3: Check If IPv4 and IPv6 Protocols Are Enabled

Often, the IPv4 and IPv6 protocols may get turned off after an upgrade, thus causing the connection error. To ensure this is not the case, and rectify it if it is, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.

Step 2: Right-click on your network and select Properties

Step 3: In the Properties window, check whether the IPv4 and IPv6 options are enabled. If not, enable them, and click OK.

Step 4: If the problem is still not resolved, go through these steps again and enable all the options in the Properties window.

How to Fix Can’t Connect to This Network, Enter an APN and Try Again

The following solution is applicable in the case of mobile phones using Windows 10. The Access Point Name (APN) of a mobile phone is crucial to its internet connection, and it is normally set automatically. However, in case of a connection problem on your phone, entering the APN may fix the problem. For this, you may have to contact your mobile’s manufacturer or check online on another device to obtain your APN information.

Solution 1: Enter new Internet APN

Following are the steps to add APN to your phone:

Step 1: Firstly, go to Mobile networks → SIM settings.

Step 2: Secondly, select the “Add Internet APN” option.

Step 3: Lastly, enter the APN information you obtained and click Save.

How to Fix Can’t Connect to This Network After Waking From Sleep Mode in Windows 10

Try the following solutions in case the connection error occurs after the computer wakes from sleep mode.

Solution 1: Disable IPv6/Change Power Management Settings

Disabling the IPv6 protocol may help fix the error, and the way to do so has been discussed in solution 4 under the wireless network category. Also, changing the Power Management settings may help. Proceed as follows to implement this method:

Step 1: Open Device Manager and locate the Network Adapters option, then double-click it to expand it

Step 2: Right-click your wireless adapter and select Properties.

Step 3: In the Properties window, go to the Power Management tab.

Step 4: Uncheck the box next to the option “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power,” and click OK.

In case you are using a USB network adapter, implement these steps for all the USB devices.

Solution 2: Change Power Options

Step 1: Firstly, open Control Panel, and enter the “Hardware and Sound” section.

Step 2: Secondly, select Power Options.

Step 3: Find the power plan currently in use, and click the “Change plan settings” option next to it.

Step 4: In the next window, select the option “Change advanced power settings.”

Step 5: In the Advanced Settings window, scroll down the list and choose Wireless Adapter Settings. Expand it and select Power Saving Mode.

Step 6: At last, set it to Maximum Performance, then click Apply and OK.

This method should help fix the problem. In case it does not yield results, you can set the power plan to High Performance. To do this, go to the Power Options section and select the High-Performance power plan.

Solution 3: Turn off Connect to WiFi Hotspots

Reportedly, turning off the “Connect to WiFi Hotspots” feature helps fix the connection error after the computer wakes from sleep mode.  To disable Hotspots connection, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Open Settings and enter Network and Internet section.

Step 2: Select “WiFi” in the left panel.

Step 3: In the WiFi section, ensure that the options “Connect to WiFi Hotspots” and “Send information about WiFi connections to help discover nearby WiFi” are disabled.

Solution 4: Disable and Enable your Network Connection/Turn On and Off Airplane Mode

A simple hack that often solves a connection error is to turn off the network connection and then turn it back on. An easy way to do this is to enable Airplane mode, as it disables all connections. Turn on Airplane mode, then turn it off after a short moment. It may fix the error.

How to Fix Can’t Connect to This Network After Password Change in Windows 10

Solution 1: Forget your Network, Delete your Network from Preferred Networks List, Check Your Security Type

In case the connection error is taking place after a recent change to the WiFi password, one option is to “forget” the network. Another option is to check the security type and change it. Both of these techniques have been discussed above.

Yet another option is to remove the network from the Preferred Networks list. To do this, proceed as follows:

Step 1: Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.

Step 2: Right-click on your wireless network and select Properties

Step 3: In the Properties window click Configure

Step 4: Enter the Wireless Networks tab, and remove the network from the Preferred Networks list, and click OK.

How to Fix Windows 10 Can’t Connect to This Network and WEP Problems

WEP is not the best or safest security type. It is best to shift to a safer alternative like WPA2, but then it has to be changed for the router as well, which is a complicated process. Thus, the following solution is given in case your network has WEP security type.

Solution 1: Create Connection By Yourself

As described in solution 6 under the wireless network category, connect to your network manually. In the section where network details have to be entered, enter the security type as WEP. This should fix the connection error.

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Conclusion

Lastly, several techniques have been discussed to rectify the “Windows 10 cannot connect to this network” error. Depending on the exact cause of the problem, any one of the given solutions should yield a positive result.

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