Restart Devices and Router
This might seem like a no-brainer, but honestly, sometimes the fix is just to restart everything. If you’re getting the dreaded “Can’t Connect to This Network” error on Windows 11, try turning off your device first. Wait a few seconds—just enough time for stuff to settle—and then do the same for your Wi-Fi router. I’ve found that waiting a full 10-15 seconds before powering the router back on helps; it’s like giving it a good reset. On some models, pressing and holding the reset button for about 10 seconds can clear out naughty cache and settings, which might be the root of the problem. The key thing is to let everything fully reboot—sometimes these devices just need a fresh start to clear minor glitches that mess up Wi-Fi connection attempts.
Forget and Reconnect to the Network
If rebooting didn’t do the trick, next step is to “forget” the network and then reconnect. Sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly powerful because it resets all those stored credentials on your device, which can get corrupted or tangled over time. On Windows 11, just hit the Windows key, then I to open Settings. Go to Network & Internet, click on Wi-Fi, and then select “Manage Known Networks”. Find your Wi-Fi network there, and click the “Forget” icon—it’s like deleting a contact that’s gone haywire. Once done, scan for available networks again, select your Wi-Fi, and reconnect by entering your password.
This process forces your device to establish a fresh, clean connection which fixes a ton of pesky network issues—probably because it wipes out any weird settings or cached credentials that got messed up.
Use the Built-in Network Troubleshooter
If you’re still stuck, Windows’ troubleshooter can be a lifesaver. Honestly, I don’t use it enough, but it’s surprisingly capable. To run it, press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to System and scroll down to Troubleshoot. Click on Other Troubleshooters, and you’ll see “Network & Internet” listed there. Hitting Run starts the process.
Windows will scan and report issues that could be messing with your connection—things like DNS problems, IP conflicts, or adapter issues. Often, it can fix problems entirely on its own, which saves the headache of digging through detailed settings.
Check for Windows Updates
If nothing else works, maybe your Windows 11 is just a little behind on updates—that’s a common cause for networking bugs. Check for updates by hitting Windows + S and typing “Windows update.” Hit Enter, then see if any updates are waiting. Install any available updates, reboot, and see if that does the trick.
Keeping Windows updated isn’t just about security; it often patches bugs that can interfere with networking. Some Wi-Fi issues are fixed in these updates, so it’s always worth a shot.
Final Wrap-up
Honestly, these steps—rebooting everything, forgetting and reconnecting to your Wi-Fi, running the troubleshooter, and updating Windows—are usually enough to fix that “Can’t connect to this network” blues on Windows 11. It’s not always glamorous, and sometimes it takes a little trial and error, but most of the time, just trying these will get you back online. If not, it might be deeper hardware or driver trouble, but these basics are where to start.
Hope this helped — it took way longer than it should’ve to get to this point. Anyway, hope this saves someone else a weekend.