Many users have reported facing a Wi-Fi connectivity issue after upgrading to Windows 11. This article gives you all the possible ways you can fix the problem and not regret shifting to the new OS. It may be possible that your Wi-Fi adapter keeps reconnecting to the router every 10-15 mins. Some users have reported that their network adapter is not recognizing any wireless SSIDs nearby, or not being able to connect to one even after entering the correct credentials. There can be a bunch of reasons why your Wi-Fi is acting out after an upgrade. Let us continue to see how we can resolve this issue.
Fix Wi-Fi Disconnection Issue in Windows 11
Restart Wi-Fi network adapter
The network adapters also maintain their cache, which can result in any old data which is stored not being updated, hence the Wi-Fi keeps from connecting to an SSID. We can try and resolve the issue by restarting the Wi-Fi network adapter. The network adapter has now been restarted, without rebooting the computer. Check to see if the issue has been resolved. If not, continue to perform the mitigation methods below from a less aggressive approach towards a more aggressive approach.
Enable Connect Automatically
The next thing you want to do is make sure the Connect Automatically is enabled for the SSID when in range of your Wi-Fi adapter since that might be the reason why your Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting. Here is how to do so:
Run the network troubleshooter
Windows 11 comes with a nifty utility to troubleshoot its different features and components. It can also be used to troubleshoot any problems automatically with your Wi-Fi. This should fix any known misconfigurations with the Wi-Fi adapter. If you do not find any ambiguity with it, move on to the next step.
Run Dependency Services
The visibility of Wi-Fi networks in the vicinity depends upon several services in which the operating system is running. We need to ensure that they are up and running on your device so that the network adapter can operate as it is supposed to. Once done, check to see if the issue has been resolved.
Uninstall Outdated VPNs
This step is only for those who have any old and outdated VPNs configured on their machines, as it might be a reason why the Wi-Fi won’t display any available networks. First, you need to check if you have any such VPN configurations. Note: We suggest you create a system restore point before proceeding forward as this method involves editing of Windows Registry, which can corrupt your OS if not done correctly. If the problem was caused by VPN software, you should now be able to see and connect to any Wi-Fi network within your vicinity.
Install Pending Windows Updates
Often outstanding Windows updates can cause the Wi-Fi adapter to behave abnormally. Therefore, we suggest that you check whether there are any pending updates or not. If there are, install them. To check for Windows updates, do the following: When you return, check if the problem still persists.
Reset Network Using Settings App
You should also try to reset your network adapter. Microsoft has provided a button in the Settings app that will reset all network adapters and their configurations for you. If this does not resolve your issue, you can also try resetting the TCP/IP stack from the guide below.
Reset TCP/IP Stack
The netsh command can be used to view or configure the network settings in a Windows environment by providing the right parameters. Note: This process will erase all current configurations of all the networking ports and adapters on your device, which also includes all inactive ones, as well as the virtual network adapters. Hence, they will need to be reconfigured once the process is complete. If you want to automate the process, simply copy-paste the above-mentioned command in a text document, and save it with any name of your choice ending with .bat file extension. This will create a batch file, which will execute all commands inside when you double-click it. If your device’s Wi-Fi is still disconnecting frequently or is not displaying on any nearby networks, continue to perform the techniques discussed below.
Update Wi-Fi Adapter Driver
Drivers are what run the hardware through the operating system and let the two communicate with one another. There is a chance that the Wi-Fi driver may have been corrupted, or is simply not compatible with the update that you have recently installed on your Windows 11. First, you need to check what adapter your computer is hosting to download the right driver. Now check if the disconnection issue persists. If it does, we still have a few tricks up our sleeve to mitigate it.
Change Power Mode to Maximum Performance
By default, the power mode for the network adapters is set to “Medium Power Saving” in the case of a laptop in Windows 11. This needs to be changed to Maximum Performance to rule out the cause of disconnection being a power concern. Here is how to do it:
Disallow Computer to Turn Off Wireless Adapter
If you notice that you face a disconnectivity issue when the computer is powered on or wakes up from Sleep mode, you should perform the following to disallow your device from switching off the wireless adapter. Once the PC reboots, check if the issue has been resolved.
Set Network Profile to Private (Using PowerShell)
Windows gives users the option to select a network type when a new network is connected to the computer. Windows will set Windows Firewall rules according to the network type selected, which means stricter rules can impact your Wi-Fi’s connectivity and reliability. Therefore, try setting your network profile to “Private” for the most lenient firewall policies. Once the device reboots, check to see if the problem has been resolved.
