The main cause is a bad or unstable Wi‑Fi adapter, with other causes including old or clashing drivers and conflicts from third‑party Wi‑Fi apps. Hidden hardware problems such as loose internal Wi‑Fi cards or badly placed USB dongles can also cause this error.
1. Tweak Wireless Network Adapter Drivers
Sometimes the cause of this error is in how Windows talks to the network adapter, and old or damaged drivers can break that link. Updating, rolling back, or reinstalling the Wi‑Fi adapter driver can bring back proper working, making sure the hardware and operating system share connection data without breaks.
2. Power Cycle your Router or Modem
A quick restart of the router or modem can fix temporary software bugs, refresh the network’s IP address, and restore a stable connection between the device and Windows.
3. Run the Windows Troubleshooter
Built into Windows, the network troubleshooter can automatically find and fix common connection problems by resetting network parts, fixing wrong settings, and making needed fixes in the background.
4. Change Network Key (Security/Encryption) from WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK to WPA2-PSK with TKIP/AES for your Wireless Adapter
Changing the network security mode to WPA2-PSK with TKIP/AES can fix matching problems between the router and the Wi-Fi adapter, making sure the encryption matches what the adapter can handle during connection. If it shows WEP or WPA (TKIP), change your router’s Wi‑Fi security to WPA2‑Personal (AES). If you’re not comfortable doing this, ask your internet provider to help. Advanced users can log in to the router, open the Wireless Security settings, and switch from WEP or mixed WPA/WPA2 modes to WPA2‑PSK (AES). The simplest way to access the router is to find your Default Gateway IP and enter it into your browser’s address bar. To get the IP, click Start -> type cmd, open Command Prompt, and type ipconfig /all. Go through the list until you see the Default Gateway IP.
5. Forgetting Network
Removing the saved network profile makes Windows throw away old connection settings, like wrong security keys or settings, and make a new profile the next time you connect.
6. Network Reset
Doing a network reset reinstalls all network adapters and brings back default network settings, clearing broken settings or clashing rules that may block connections.
7. Changing Transmission Mode
Some routers/adapters have issues when certain wireless modes are enabled. As a test, you can disable 802.11n on your adapter:
8. Re-Enabling Wireless Adapter
In some cases, the issue is simply fixed by disabling the network adapter and enabling it again. This refreshes the adapter and clears minor glitches.
9. Changing Network Name
For some users, simply changing the Wi‑Fi network name (SSID) from the router fixed the issue. Log in to your router’s web page, go to the Wireless or Wi‑Fi settings, change the network name, save/apply, then reconnect from Windows. This varies by router/ISP—check your router manual for exact steps.
10. Network Reset
You can also reset the Windows network stack (TCP/IP, DNS, and Winsock) using Command Prompt: Note: Also try rebooting the router by unplugging it from power and plugging it back in after about 30 seconds. In addition, disconnect any unnecessary USB peripherals (for example, USB hubs, external drives, wireless dongles) temporarily and check if that helps, as they can sometimes interfere with wireless adapters.
