Laptop won't connect to wifi.

Because other devices connect successfully, troubleshoot the Windows 10 laptop first by forgetting and re-adding the network, then reset its network stack and Wi-Fi driver if necessary.^1^

1. Forget and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network

1. Open Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi.
2. Select Manage known networks.
3. Select your Wi-Fi network, then Forget.
4. Return to the available network list, select the network, and enter its password again.

If both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz versions of your network appear, try the other one. A laptop may support or work reliably with one band but not the other.^1^

2. Run the Windows 10 troubleshooter

Go to Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Network troubleshooter, and complete the prompts. Note any specific message it reports, such as an adapter, IP address, or gateway error.^1^

3. Reset the Windows network stack

Search for Command Prompt, select Run as administrator, and run these commands in order:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

Restart the laptop afterward, then reconnect. These commands reset Winsock and TCP/IP, request a fresh address from the router, and clear the DNS cache.^1^

4. Install the laptop manufacturer’s Wi-Fi driver

If the connection still fails:

1. On another connected device, open the laptop manufacturer’s support site.
2. Search using the laptop’s exact model.
3. Download the latest Wireless LAN/Wi-Fi driver for Windows 10 and copy it to a USB drive.
4. On the laptop, press Win+X → Device Manager.
5. Expand Network adapters, right-click the wireless adapter, and select Uninstall device.
6. Restart Windows. It should reinstall the adapter automatically.
7. If it does not, install the manufacturer’s driver from the USB drive.

Download the replacement driver before uninstalling, so it remains available if Windows cannot reinstall the adapter automatically. Microsoft also recommends this driver-reinstallation path when connectivity stopped after an update.^1^ A closely matching Windows 10 case also recommends installing the manufacturer’s current Bluetooth driver first and then its Wireless LAN driver, where both are offered.^2^

If the symptom is different

• Wi-Fi option is completely missing: In Device Manager → Network adapters, right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and select Enable device. Then press Win+R, enter services.msc, and restart WLAN AutoConfig.^1^
• Connected, but showing “No Internet”: Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy and disable any manual proxy that you did not intentionally configure. Run ipconfig; an address beginning with 169.254 means Windows did not receive an IP address from the router.^1^
• The laptop connects to a phone hotspot but not this router: Test the router’s other frequency band. If that also fails, check the router configuration for disabled bands, incompatible channel settings, or MAC-address filtering.^3^
• A VPN is installed: Temporarily disable or uninstall it and test again.^2^

References

1. [Windows 10](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/experience/connectivity-networking/fix-wi-fi-connection-issues-in-windows#general-troubleshooting)
2. Issue Connecting PC to Wi-Fi - Microsoft Q&A
3. Sky broadband will not connect to my laptop running on windows 10 - Microsoft Q&A