Windows 8 cannot connect to wireless internet

If Windows doesn't automatically install a driver, try to install the backup driver you saved before uninstalling. Check if your network adapter is compatible with the latest Windows Update. If you lost your network connection immediately after upgrading to or updating Windows 11, it's possible that the current driver for your network adapter was designed for a previous version of Windows.

To check, try temporarily uninstalling the recent Windows Update:. Select the Start button, then enter settings. If uninstalling the most recent update restores your network connection, check to see if an updated driver is available:. To learn how to hide updates, see Hide Windows Updates or driver updates. If you could successfully install updated drivers for your network adapter, then reinstall the latest updates.

To do this, select the Start button, then enter settings. Using network reset should be the last step you try. This can help solve connection problems you might have after upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows It can also help to fix the problem where you can connect to the internet, but can't connect to shared network drives.

Network reset removes any network adapters you have installed and the settings for them. After your PC restarts, any network adapters are reinstalled, and the settings for them are set to the defaults. Network reset might set each one of your known network connections to a public network profile. In a public network profile, your PC is not discoverable to other PCs and devices on the network, which can help make your PC more secure.

Under Network profile type , select Private. Wi-Fi adapter manufacturers might have different advanced settings you can change based on your network environment or connection preferences. In Device Manager, select Network adapters , and then double-click the network adapter name.

Select the Advanced tab and look for a Wireless Mode setting. Windows uses the Wi-Fi profile to save the settings that are needed to connect to a Wi-Fi network. These settings include the network security type, key, network name SSID , and so on. To fix this, remove or "forget" the network connection, then reconnect to the network. When you forget a network connection, it removes the Wi-Fi network profile from your PC. Select Wi-Fi , then select Manage known networks. Afterwards, select the Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar and try to reconnect to the network to renew the network connection.

For more info, see Wi-Fi problems and your home layout. There may be additional troubleshooting steps you can try, depending on which symptoms you're having. To view these steps, check out Wi-Fi connection icons and what they mean. Setting up a wireless network. How to find your wireless network password.

Analyze the wireless network report. Wi-Fi tools and apps. Make a Wi-Fi network public or private in Windows. Afterwards, see if a Wi-Fi network you recognize and trust appears in the list of networks.

Under Change your network settings , select Network troubleshooter. In the search box on the taskbar, type Command prompt. In the search box on the taskbar, type Device Manager , and then select Device Manager from the list of results.

If you lost your network connection immediately after upgrading or updating Windows 10, it's possible that the current driver for your network adapter was designed for a previous version of Windows.

This can help solve connection problems you might have after upgrading from a previous version of Windows to Windows Under Network profile , select Private. Afterwards, select the Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar and try to reconnect to the desired network to renew the network connection.

Check for additional symptoms for the "No internet connection" icon. Make a Wi-Fi network public or private in Windows Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, select Settings , then select the Network icon.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then select Settings. Select the Network icon, and then select Hidden network. The network will be added to your list of networks and will be available to connect to when your computer is in range of the network. To connect to the network, follow these steps:. Open Connect to a Network by selecting the network icon in the notification area. Select Unnamed Network , select Connect , and then type the network information.

The network will be added to your list of networks and will be available to connect to in the future when your computer is in range of the network..

Let Windows try to help you fix the problem. Try running the Network troubleshooter to see if it can diagnose and fix the problem. Select the Start button, start typing Network problems , and then select Identify and repair network problems in the list. The Network Troubleshooter mentioned above can help diagnose and fix common connection problems.

After using that, try running the network commands below because the combination of doing these two things can help you get connected. Select the Start button, start typing cmd , right-click Command Prompt in the list, select Run as Administrator , and then select Yes. At the command prompt, run the following commands in the listed order and then check to see if that fixes your connection problem:. This helps create a new connection to your Internet service provider ISP. So if you unplug the modem and lights stay on, remove the battery from the modem.

If it is, contact your ISP. At the command prompt, type ipconfig. Look for the IP address listed next to Default gateway. For example, The result should be something like this: Reply from Try using the Network Adapter troubleshooter to automatically find and fix some problems.

This troubleshooter will disable and re-enable the adapter, and try some other common repairs. Select the Start button, start typing Troubleshooting , and then select Troubleshooting in the list. Update the network adapter driver. An outdated or incompatible network adapter driver can cause connection problems. Check to see if an updated driver is available. Select the Start button, start typing Device Manager , and then select it in the list.

In Device Manager, select Network adapters , right-click your adapter, and then select Properties. Select the Driver tab, and then select Update Driver. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

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This wikiHow teaches you how to connect your Windows 8 computer to a wireless Internet network. Make sure your computer supports Wi-Fi. Most laptops have built-in wireless cards that allow you to connect to Wi-Fi, but many desktop computers don't come with these cards installed.

If your desktop doesn't support Wi-Fi, you'll need to install a wireless card first. The Charms bar will pop out from the right side of the screen. On a mobile device running Windows 8, you can swipe in from the right side of the screen. It resembles a series of ascending bars in the upper-left side of the Settings menu. Clicking this icon opens a list of currently available networks.

Select a network. Click a network that you want to connect to. This will expand the network's name into a card with the network's information. It's in the bottom-right corner of the network card. Doing so will open the network. If you want to connect to the network automatically whenever you're in range, check the "Connect automatically" box first. Type in the network's password. Do so in the "Enter the network security key" field. If the network you're trying to connect to isn't password-protected, skip this step.

You may need to look up your password if you forgot it. Click Next. It's in the bottom-left side of the network's card. Click either No, don't turn on sharing or connect to devices or Yes, turn on sharing and connect to devices. If you're using a mobile hotspot, turning on Download over metered connections might just do the trick.

You are also suggested to check out all the cables of the wireless router whether these are properly seated or not. If the "limited WiFi" issue doesn't resolve with any of the above solutions, try connecting through the same Wi-Fi using a different device.

In case, the Wi-Fi router doesn't facilitate any device, contact the manufacturer for support. Keep following our other posts to get free Wi-Fi access anywhere anytime. Windows Password Key 4WinKey.