Fix Wi-Fi on Windows

Windows Wi-Fi trouble — can’t connect, no internet after connecting, or constant drops — often traces back to the network adapter or a stale saved network.

Work through these steps in order; they go from quickest to most thorough.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Run the built-in troubleshooter: Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network adapters → Run the troubleshooter.
2. Turn Wi-Fi off and back on from the quick-settings tile or the Wi-Fi switch on your laptop.
3. Forget the network (Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks → Forget), then reconnect with the password.
4. Restart Windows — a full restart clears temporary network glitches.
5. Reset the network stack: open Command Prompt as administrator and run `netsh winsock reset` and `netsh int ip reset`, then restart.
6. Update or reinstall the Wi-Fi adapter driver: Device Manager → Network adapters → your Wi-Fi adapter → Update driver, or Uninstall device and restart so Windows reinstalls it.

Helpful tips

• Airplane mode being silently on (or a function key disabling the Wi-Fi radio) is more common than you’d think — check it first.
• If Wi-Fi works elsewhere but not at home, “forget” the network on Windows and re-add it.
• After a driver update or reset, give Windows a reboot before judging whether it helped.