Top 8 Ways to Fix Windows 10 Network Connection Issues

Top 8 Ways to Fix Windows 10 Network Connection Issues

Internet connection is crucial when working from home or enjoying web content. Sometimes, you might notice a brief delay or not get any internet error even when connected to Wi-Fi. If you encounter this often on your Windows 10 computer and laptop, you definitely need to fix this problem to take advantage uninterrupted work and entertainment.


Windows 10 network connection problem

First, you can check if you are having network connectivity issues with your LAN or router, or if you receive a message about network issues. Once you confirm that network connectivity is not the issue, you should resolve the issue.

We have compiled some helpful troubleshooting tips below to help you troubleshoot Windows 10 network connection issues.

1. Check the electrical connection

The first thing to inspect is the reliability of the power adapters that come with the routers and modems. While most are reliable, you never know when these adapters consistently stop working. The only way to test this is to use it with another compatible option or to have the power lines tested.


Check the power

And whenever there is a power failure, your modem and router will stop working. This means the Wi-Fi signal is lost and you may need to manually turn them on after power is restored.

2. Restart your modem and router

Just like you restart your computer, you can do the same with your modem and router. Restarting these devices purges the old cache and DNS data. Go ahead and restart your computer, modem, and router. If the modem or router has a problem, it will not work properly after restarting and this is how you can identify if something is wrong with it.

Did you install a new firmware update on your router or modem and not restart it? Well, you need to restart these devices to apply the new firmware update changes.

Step 1: Press and hold the power button on your router for 30 seconds.

2nd step: When it turns off completely, unplug all cables and wait at least 30 seconds.

Step 3: Reconnect the power cord and Ethernet cables. Start the router and the modem.

Once you get started, if you have another computer or phone, try signing in on that device. If it is connected to the internet then all is well, but if it is not, it is probably a problem with your equipment or your ISP.

Are you still facing network connection issues? You can continue to narrow down the problem with the troubleshooting options below.

3. Check the physical connections

Does your network problem persist even after restarting your devices? Before you start delving into settings and testing, you can check if the Ethernet cables are properly connected to the modem and router.

If you are using an Ethernet cable to connect to your router, be sure to unplug it and check it carefully for any damage. If your laptop has a wireless switch (function + wireless symbol key), you can use it multiple times to successfully activate the wireless connection.


Physical connection

Once you have verified a correct connection, check the modem and adapter. Are the green lights on your router or modem flashing? If no light flashes after restarting, the device may have difficulty operating normally. And in that case, you may need to get a replacement or a new one.

4. Forget the Wi-Fi network

When you forget a network (the one you connected) and then add the same one again, Windows 10 treats it as a completely new network.

If network name conflicts make it difficult for your Windows 10 PC to connect to the internet, manually forcing your device to forget a few may resolve the issue and get you online.

When you forget a network connection, it removes the Wi-Fi network profile from your PC. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Select the Wi-Fi network icon on the right side of the taskbar.

2nd step: Click on Network and Internet settings.

Step 3: Select Wi-Fi, and then select Manage known networks.


Forget the wifi network

Step 4: Select the network you want to forget, and then select Forget.

Then select the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and try to reconnect it.

5. Run the network troubleshooter

If you can no longer connect to the network, you can use the troubleshooter to diagnose and eliminate some common connectivity issues.

To use the Network Troubleshooter in Windows 10, follow these steps.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Windows 10 device.

2nd step: Go to Update & Security> Troubleshoot.


Run the troubleshooter

Step 3: Go to Additional Troubleshooters> Incoming Connections and run the troubleshooter.

6. Disable the firewall

As absurd as it may sound, the default Windows Firewall can prevent your computer from connecting to the Internet. You can temporarily turn off Windows Firewall. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Press the Windows button.

2nd step: Find Windows Security and click Firewall and Network Protection.

Step 3: Click on the private network.

Step 4: Turn off the Microsoft Defender Firewall toggle switch.


Disable the firewall

Step 5: Open a browser and see if you can connect to the internet. Try to load different web pages to confirm whether the issue is resolved or not.

To re-enable the firewall, you can use the same affirmative steps, make sure the firewall state is enabled.

7. Update the network card drivers

If you see the error message that you cannot connect to the network while trying to establish a network connection, the drivers for your network adapter are probably out of date. So you can check the network driver used by your Windows operating system.

Step 1: Right click on the Start button and select Device Manager from the menu that appears.

2nd step: From the Device Manager application, navigate to Network Adapters.

Step 3: Select the Ethernet network connection and right click on it to choose Properties.


Update network adapters

Step 4: In the General tab, you can find the name of the driver and the company that provided it. So download it from the respective driver manufacturer like Intel using another computer or you can do it using your phone with mobile data.

Step 5: Once you transfer this driver to your computer. Repeat steps 1 to 3 and instead of clicking Properties, you should select Update Driver.

After that you can go to the location where you stored the Ethernet driver (unarchived form) and install it.

8. Disable third-party antivirus software

Antivirus or third-party malware could also cause Windows 10 network connection problems. You can temporarily disable this antivirus program to check if this is the cause of the problem.

If none of these solutions help you reconnect, there may be a network outage in your area. You can contact your ISP customer service and file a support ticket.

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Last updated Jan 7, 2021

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