On Windows 11, Wi-Fi connectivity is one of the most common problems. You always come across user reports complaining about slow Wi-Fi speeds and error messages like “Limited access,” “Unidentified Network,” or no internet access, especially after upgrading to a new release of the operating system, such as Windows 11 24H2 or 23H2.
Problems typically occur due to a bug with the feature update, adapter driver compatibility, or unwanted changes to the wireless settings. For example, during an upgrade, the Wi-Fi driver can get corrupted. The wireless adapter driver could be incompatible as you leap to the new version. Or it could also be a configuration issue.
Regardless of the issue, if you cannot connect to a network, the laptop randomly disconnects from the Wi-Fi access point, or you notice low speeds, Windows 11 offers some troubleshooting tools to fix most Wi-Fi issues.
For example, you can use the “Get Help” app to troubleshoot the issue automatically. Also, Windows 11 has a feature to reset Wi-Fi and Ethernet network adapters to fix the most common connectivity problems, even slow Wi-Fi speeds on Surface and other computers.
The reset feature will remove the existing configurations, restore the factory networking settings, and reinstall all the network adapter drivers. You cannot pick a specific Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter. This feature will automatically remove and reinstall all of them. After you complete the process, you may need to reinstall or reconfigure other networking software, such as VPN client software.
You can also update the network adapter driver, or if you recently upgraded the device, you can roll back to the previous version when everything worked correctly until there’s a solution for the problem.
In this guide, I will teach you the steps to resolve issues with network adapters on Windows 11.
Warning: These steps will reset your wireless credentials, which means you will need to know the Wi-Fi password before proceeding so that you can reconnect to the network. Also, while this guide focuses on version 24H2, you can also refer to these instructions for older releases of Windows 11, such as version 23H2 and 22H2.
Fix Wi-Fi using Get Help
To resolve Wi-Fi issues after installing version 24H2 automatically, use these steps:
Open Start on Windows 11.
Search for Get Help and click the top result to open the app.
Search for Network Troubleshooter and click the “Launch the network troubleshooter” option.
Quick note: If you don’t have network connectivity, the app will open directly on the help page to resolve the networking issue.
Use the recommendations to fix the wireless problem on Windows 11 24H2, including enabling Wi-Fi, turning off airplane mode, restarting the computer, and resetting the network adapter.
Once you review each recommendation, the device should be able to connect to the wireless network.
Fix Wi-Fi using Network reset
As the Get Help app recommends, you can use the network reset feature to remove and reinstall the network adapters. This will usually resolve most wireless problems, including slow speeds or other issues when trying to connect to the internet.
To reset the wireless adapter to fix connectivity issues on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Settings.
Click on Network & internet.
Click the Advanced network settings page.
Click the Network Reset setting under the “More settings” section.
Click the Reset now button to fix the Wi-Fi problems on Windows 11.
Note: This feature automatically removes and reinstalls all your network adapters (Wi-Fi and Ethernet). After you complete the process, you may need to reinstall or reconfigure other networking software, such as VPN client software.
Click Yes to confirm.
Click the Close button.
Restart your computer.
After you complete the steps, you may need to reinstall some networking software as necessary. Also, you will need to reconnect to the wireless network manually.
If you have connectivity again, you are all done. If the problem persists, try the method below.
In addition to resetting the network adapters, consider many factors that can cause networking problems. For instance, it could be a driver issue, misconfiguration, router or access point problem, and many others.
Fix Wi-Fi updating network adapter driver
The reason why the Wi-Fi adapter isn’t working correctly could be because the device is using an outdated version of the driver. You can resolve this by installing the latest driver from the manufacturer’s support website.
Alternatively, you could also use an older adapter driver version, which might mitigate the problem until a permanent resolution becomes available.
Quick tip: If you cannot find a new update for the network adapter, check for a beta version of the driver. Sometimes, it might work with a new version of Windows 11. Using the manufacturer’s instructions to install the driver package is also recommended. If you can’t find the instructions, the steps below will help you to complete the task.
To update the wireless adapter driver on Windows 11, use these steps:
Open Start.
Search for Device Manager, and click the top result to open the app.
Expand the Network adapters branch.
Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and select the Update driver option.
Click the “Browse my computer for driver software” option.
Click the Browse option to locate the adapter driver.
Check the Include subfolders option.
Click the Next button.
Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11 23H2 should connect to the access point and internet.
Fix Wi-Fi using roll back feature
If you have tried everything and the problem persists, it could be a bug with version 24H2. In that case, you will need to wait until the next system or driver update.
Alternatively, you can roll back to the previous version of Windows 11 until the Wi-Fi problem is resolved using the “Go back” option in the “Recovery” settings. You can only use this option during the first 10 days after an upgrade. After ten days, the system will delete the previous version to free up space on the computer.
In addition, it’s recommended that you open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings, Wi-Fi adapter, click the “Edit” button to open the network adapter properties, and confirm that the settings haven’t been modified.
Finally, it’s a good idea to restart the router and access point to confirm these devices are not the problem.