12 Fixes for “Windows Can’t Connect To This Network” Error

Internet access is crucial in today’s world for people, especially those whose livelihood depends on it. Often when you try to connect to a network, Windows might pop a “Windows can’t connect to this network” error.

However, there are no details as to why the error occurred or a possible solution. The error can occur for many reasons, and you can try out various solutions with varying difficulty levels.

Many of us use the internet to work from home, play online video games, relax, entertain, or spend family time watching shows. Thus, it is important that the “Windows can’t connect to this network” error be resolved quickly.

In this guide, we will assist you in every way to deal with network issues. We will provide step-by-step troubleshooting information to guide it through the process.

How Can I Resolve Windows Can’t Connect To A Wireless Network?

There are various methods to help you modify incorrect network configurations and connect to wireless networks using your wireless router. Here is how we will help you fix your network problems.

1. Modify Network Adapter Settings
2. Modify Internet Properties Settings
3. Manage Wireless Network Connections
4. Use Command Prompt
5. Uninstall The Antivirus Software
6. Check If The Ipv4 And Ipv6 Protocols Are Enabled
7. Change Power Management Settings
8. Modify Power Options
9. Turn Off The Connect To WiFi Hotspots Option
10. Windows 10 Can’t Connect To This Network, Please Enter APN And Try Again
11.  Windows 10 Can’t Connect To This Network, WEP Related Problems
12. Windows 10 Can’t Connect To Network After A Password Update

1. Modify Network Adapter Settings

While facing Windows can’t connect to this network issue, the first thing you can do is modify the network adapters settings. Here’s how:

Modify Channel Width

Step 1. Please simultaneously press the Windows key and X key.

Step 2. Choose Settings from the open menu to open the Settings app.

Step 3. Navigate to Network & Internet settings and click on Change adapter options.

Step 4. Search for your wireless adapter in the available connections and right-click on it.

Step 5. Please click on Properties and then click on Configure button in the WiFi Network Properties box.

Step 6. Navigate to the Advanced tab and choose 802.11d from the Property list. Ensure that its value is Enabled.

Step 7. Click the OK button to save wireless network changes.

Update Network Adapter Driver (Manually)

Step 1. Download the latest network adapters driver from the network adapter manufacturer’s website.

Step 2. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and X key to open the menu. Open Device Manager.

Step 3. Navigate to the network adapters drop-down and look for wireless adapters from the available list. The name of the adapter will depend on your system configuration.

Step 4. Right-click on the network adapter driver and choose the Update Driver software option.

Step 5. In the next window, click on Browser my computer for the driver software option.

Step 6. Browse the location where you had downloaded the driver software in step 1 and click on Let me pick from the list of network device drivers on my computer option.

Step 7. Uncheck the Show compatible hardware checkbox.

Step 8. Choose the device driver you want to install and restart your computer to apply the changes.

Check Security Type For Network Adapters And Router

Wireless connections have security protocols such as WPA2-PSK (AES) or WPA-PSK (AES) to protect the data. These security protocols should be the same for both router and adapter to connect to the internet smoothly.

To check or modify the security type or protocol for the router, you can check its security manual or contact the service provider who provided the router.

Once the security protocol has been defined for the router, you need to set a similar network configuration for the computer.

Step 1. Please navigate to the taskbar and right-click on the network icon. Now choose the Open Network & Internet settings option.

Step 2. Please navigate to the Network and Sharing Center and click on the connection link in the open window.

Step 3. In the WiFi Status window, click on the Wireless Properties button.

Step 4. Navigate to the Security tab and choose the correct security type and click OK.

Uninstall Network Adapters

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and X key to open the menu. Choose Device manager.

Step 2. Navigate to the network adapter driver drop-down and look for a wireless adapter from the available list. The name of the network adapter driver will depend on your system configuration.

Step 3. Right-click on the network adapter driver and choose the Uninstall option. (Accept Delete the Network Adapter driver software for this device and click OK.)

Step 4. Once the driver is uninstalled, automatically restart Windows 10 to install the most compatible and latest driver.

If you are unable to follow the above, there is an easy way out. You can download driver update software such as DriverFix and Driver Easy which can help you keep the drivers updated.

Change The Network Adapter

If modifying the adapter settings doesn’t work, you should change the adapter. It is possible that your USB adapter isn’t compatible with Windows 10 and needs to be replaced.

2. Modify Internet Properties Settings

Network protocol settings need to be changed to fix the “Windows can’t connect to this network” error. You can do this by changing the wireless mode or disabling the IPv6 on the computer and router.

Change the wireless network mode

Your router and the wireless network adapter must have the same wireless mode. You are allowed to change the wireless mode of your wireless adapter and router.

Step 1. Please navigate to the taskbar and right-click on the network icon. Now choose the Open Network & Internet settings option.

Step 2. Navigate to the Network and Sharing Center.

Step 3. Tap the Change adapter settings option and locate your wireless network adapter. Right-click on it and choose Properties.

Step 4. In the WiFi Network Properties window, click on Configure button under the Network tab.

Step 5. Navigate to the Advanced tab and select the Wireless mode appropriate for your computer from Property drop-down and value drop-down. In general, the value IEEE 802.11b/g is selected. However, you can choose the network value that suits you.

Step 6. Press OK.

Once you have changed the wireless network mode of the adapter, you should choose the same network mode on your router. You can refer to the router instruction manual to do so.

Disable IPv6 on your computer and router

Disabling IPv6 on your computer might help you fix the network issue. It is a complicated process and is different for every router. Before beginning with the below steps, make sure to check the router’s instruction manual.

Step 1. Please navigate to the taskbar and right-click on the network icon. Now choose the Open Network & Internet settings option.

Step 2. Navigate to the Network and Sharing Center.

Step 3. Navigate to your current connection and click it to open the connection status window.

Step 4. Click on the Properties button. You must have admin privileges to make the changes.

Step 5. Scroll to locate the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP /IPv6) checkbox and uncheck it.

Step 6. Click the OK button to save the network changes and restart your computer.

If disabling the router does not fix the “Windows can’t connect to this network” error, you can try other fixes available in the guide.

3. Manage Wireless Network Connections

It is possible that you are getting the Windows 10 cannot connect to this network error due to issues with your wireless connection.

Disable and enable your wireless connection

Step 1. Press the Windows icon and type Settings in the search box.

Step 2. Once the Settings app opens, click on the Network & Internet tab.

Step 3. Navigate to the Change adapter options and look for your wireless connection.

Step 4. Right-click on it and click the Disable option.

Step 5. Once disabled, right-click on the same connection and choose the Enable option.

Forget the wireless connection

Step 1. Press the Windows icon and type Settings in the search box.

Step 2. Once the Settings app opens, click on the Network & Internet tab.

Step 3. Click on the WiFi section and click the Manage known networks option.

Step 4. Look for your wireless network and click the Forget button.

Step 5. Now reconnect to the same wireless network, and hopefully, the network error will be fixed.

Add the connection manually

Step 1. Please navigate to the taskbar and right-click on the network connection icon. Now choose the Open Network & Internet settings option.

Step 2. Navigate to the Network and Sharing Center.

Step 3. Navigate to the Set up a new connection or network menu.

Step 4. Now select manually connect to a wireless network and click the Next button.

Step 5. Enter the requested information on pages such as network name, security type, and security key in the open window.

Step 6. Press the Next button and finish the process. You will be able to use the newly added connection.

Use ipconfig /release command

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows and X keys and choose Command prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) from the list.

Step 2. In the open command prompt window, enter the below commands and press enter after each command:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Step 3. Please close the command prompt window and reconnect to the network.

If command prompt commands do not fix the “Windows can’t connect to this network” error, you can try other fixes available in the guide.

4. Use Command Prompt

You can use the command prompt to fix the “Windows 10 can’t connect to network after this upgrade” error.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows and X keys and choose Command prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) from the list.

Step 2. In the open command prompt window, type the following command and press enter:

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

Step 3. After the previous command stops executing, type the following command line and press enter:

netcfg -v -u dni_dne

Step 4. Once the execution stops, close the command prompt or PowerShell window and restart your computer.

Try reconnecting to your network and check if the “Windows 10 cannot connect to this network after this upgrade” error is resolved. If not, you could try uninstalling the antivirus.

5. Uninstall The Antivirus Software

Antivirus software in your computer interferes with the network sometimes and prevents Windows from connecting to it.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and X key.

Step 2. Choose Apps and features from the open menu.

Step 3. Navigate to your antivirus software and click Uninstall.

Step 4. Once the uninstallation is complete, please restart your computer.

Once you are reconnected to the same wireless network, you can reinstall the antivirus software after making sure that the software allows an internet connection.

Try reconnecting to your network and check if the “Windows 10 can’t connect to this network after this upgrade” error is resolved. If not, you could try enabling theIPv4 and IPv6 protocols.

6. Check If IPV4 And IPV6 Protocols Are Enabled

For establishing a connection to the internet, make sure that the IPv4 and IPv6 protocols on your computer are enabled.

Step 1. Please navigate to the taskbar and right-click on the internet connection icon. Now choose the Open Network & Internet settings option.

Step 2. Navigate to the Network and Sharing Center.

Step 3. Navigate and click on the Change adapter options menu.

Step 4. In the open window, locate your adapter and right-click on it. In the open context menu, click on Properties.

Step 5. In the WiFi Properties window, ensure that the boxes for Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) are checked.

Step 6. Click OK and close the window.

Try reconnecting to your network and check if the “Windows 10 cannot connect to this network after this upgrade” error is resolved.

7. Change Power Management Settings

In addition to making changes for IPv6, you can change the power management settings for your adapter to fix the “Windows 10 can’t connect to the network after waking from sleep mode” error.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and X key and open Device Manager from the open menu.

Step 2. Look for the Network Adapters section and expand network adapters.

Step 3. Select your wireless adapter and right-click on it.

Step 4. Choose Properties from the context menu to open the adapter’s properties.

Step 5. Please go to the Power Management tab and uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” check box.

Step 6. Click OK to save the changes.

Instead of wireless adapters, you can follow the above steps for all your USB adapters using Device manager if you use USB adapters.

Try reconnecting to your network and check if the “Windows 10 cannot connect to the network after waking from sleep mode” error is resolved.

8. Modify Power Options

Modifying power options to provide maximum performance is an excellent way to fix the “Windows 10 can’t connect to the network after waking from sleep mode” error.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and S key to search. Type Power in the search box.

Step 2. Choose Power & Sleep Options from the open menu.

Step 3. In the Related settings section, go to the Addition power settings link.

Step 4. Choose the power plan (Balanced) you want in the Choose or customize a power plan window and then click the Change plan settings option.

Step 5. In the Edit Plan Settings window, go to Change advanced power settings

Step 6. In the advanced settings power options window, scroll the list to locate Wireless Adapter Settings and expand it.

Step 7. Next, expand Power Saving Mode and set the setting to Maximum Performance.

Step 8. Please Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

As an alternative, instead of choosing the Balanced plan in step 4, you can choose High Performance. Follow steps 1-3 given above. In the open Power Options window, choose a High-performance power plan.

Try reconnecting to your network and check if the “Windows 10 can’t connect to the network after waking from sleep mode” error is resolved.

9. Turn Off The Connect To WiFi Network Hotspots Option

Few users report that turning off the connected WiFi network hotspot option helps fix the internet connectivity issue.

Step 1. Simultaneously press the Windows icon key and X key to open the Settings app.

Step 2. Locate the Network & Internet section in the available settings.

Step 3. Navigate to the WiFi option and click on the Manage WiFi Settings section.

Step 4. Turn off the Send information about WiFi connections to help discover nearby WiFi and Connect to WiFi hotspots options.

You can fix the Windows 10 can’t connect to this network error by disabling and enabling your internet connection.

To do this, put your internet connection on airplane mode and then turn the airplane mode off to reconnect to available networks. It is a simple yet effective fix.

10. Windows 10 Can’t Connect To This Network, Enter APN And Try Again

While connecting Windows 10 to a cellular network, you can face the enter APN error, which prevents you from accessing any data or network.

To eliminate any such possibilities for network issues, you can follow the below-given steps:

Step 1. Connect your computer to a stable WiFi network or ethernet network.

Step 2. Open any web browser and check if the web page or website you want to visit is loading.

Step 3. If you have an internet connection, contact the mobile Internet Service Provider (ISP) and ask for APN credentials.

Step 4. Use these credentials and sign in to the mobile network to continue your work.

If the above steps prove useless to connect your computer to the WiFi network or ethernet, you can assume that your PC is not set up properly.

11. Windows 10 Can’t Connect To This Network And WEP Problems

Some networks use WEP security to connect you to the internet. Generally, the safest and most common network security type is WPA2, and thus if you are using a connection with the WEP security type, you should consider changing it.

As we saw previously, we can establish a connection to a wireless network manually. However, if you want to connect to a network that uses WEP security, you need to set the security type for the new connection to WEP.

Step 1. Please navigate to the taskbar and right-click on the internet connection icon. Now choose the Open Network & Internet settings option.

Step 2. Navigate to the Network and Sharing Center.

Step 3. In the View your basic network information and set up connection page, click on the link for your internet connection.

Step 4. In the WiFi Status window, click on the Wireless Properties button.

Step 5. Navigate to the security tab in the open properties window and set the network security type to WEP.

Step 6. Click OK to save the changes.

Now, restart your computer and verify if you are able to connect to the internet. The internet connection problem related to WEP should be resolved.

12. Windows 10 Can’t Connect To Network After A Password Change

After changing the password to your wireless network, your computer requires a re-authentication to connect to the network. It is possibly the reason that you are unable to connect to the network.

Windows 10 offers you an option to Forget the connection and then re-enter the changed password to create a new connection to the wireless network.

Step 1. Please navigate to the taskbar and right-click on the network connection icon.

Step 2. Right-click on the wireless connection you are currently using and choose the Forget option.

Step 3. Now click on the connection again and connect to it.

Step 4. Windows will ask for the password. Enter the updated password and hit enter.

Windows will now be connected to the network and won’t give the “Windows 10 can’t connect to the network after a password change” error.

Alternatively, you can go to the WiFi settings and turn off the toggle for Connect automatically when in range. It will allow you to enter the new password.

After entering the new password, you should check whether the security type on your computer matches the router’s security type and network configuration.

We hope that by now, you are able to connect successfully to the network and are able to complete the work that has long been due.

What Can I Do To Prevent These Network Issues From Occurring Again?

We have provided you with methods on how you can fix the network connection error after it has occurred. But how about if you can prevent it from happening again in the future?

Here are a few methods that can help you prevent a network connection error in the future.

1. Update the drivers constantly

The device manager allows you to update all the drivers on your system and make sure that the OS runs smoothly. It is important that you keep all these drivers updated

You can either regularly check the drivers in the driver manager or use third-party automatic and specialized driver software such as DriverFix and Driver Easy.

2. Constantly check the updates for the Operating System

Microsoft keeps releasing updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 to protect the system from external factors and patch up known bugs and features.

Downloading and installing these updates can help you fix the network connection issue if it is related to Windows.

The updates help you protect your data while you go online and come with many new features, although we might not understand them all.

3. The network login credentials should be handy.

Sometimes we forget the network login credentials and get stressed when we are unable to connect to the internet. 

Although losing these credentials isn’t a big deal, you should keep them handy to protect yourself from unnecessary stress.

If you have the credentials handy and have tested the network connection but are still unable to connect to it, you should contact your ISP for any other issues.