Nothing is more frustrating than not having an internet connection when you really need it. One of the most annoying indicators is the Windows “Problem with the wireless adapter or access point” error message, mainly because it doesn’t provide users with a clear place to start troubleshooting.
While there are a variety of specific causes for this connection error that you must work through your system's elimination process, they are usually related to issues with the operating system interacting with the access point or access issues to the point-to-point client device (such as your Windows device) provides the network.
Most problems originate from the desktop Windows side of the connection, either because the software has misunderstood the connection in some way, or because hardware such as wireless cards have not been activated correctly.
There are fewer issues with access points due to their relative simplicity compared to desktop devices, but glitches can still occur, such as the network not broadcasting properly.
There are a ton of connection issues that can cause this error, but here are some of the most common reasons you might encounter and how to fix them.
Make sure your wireless adapter is turned on. Checking to see if your wireless adapter is turned off, or if Airplane Mode is enabled, is a quick and easy first step in troubleshooting. Not only is it a good thing to rule out this possibility early on, but you'd be surprised how much this possibility ends up being the source of the problem.
Disconnect and reconnect to the wireless network. Sometimes your device just needs to try connecting to the network again. This is especially common when the network to which you are connected to an access point has a login page that requires the user to log in, as the portal page can easily get lost or fail to load properly. Starting over gives it a new opportunity to provide a landing page so you can log in and move forward.
Check the configuration of the wireless network connection. The access point might expect your device to handle the connection one way, but your device configures the connection differently. For example, your device's network connection profile might specify the wrong security encryption.
Forget about wireless networks and reconnect from scratch. This is useful especially if your network has been around for a long time, but it has since changed its network encryption or some other properties.
Restart your access point. Your Windows 10 device might be working fine, but the router or access point hosting your network went into a failed state at some point. The best way to resolve this issue is to reboot the router to give your access point the best chance of starting over and re-establishing its correct working configuration.
Make sure all your drivers are updated. Wireless interface drivers continually receive updates to add functionality or fix existing functionality. If you miss these updates, Windows 10 may not be able to function properly with your device's network interface and communicate with the access point's network hardware.
Update your IP address. Refreshing the IP address resets the underlying IP connection, which can resolve common IP-related issues.
Disable antivirus software. If you run an antivirus program, it may interfere with your connection.
Reset your router. Restoring network devices to default settings can resolve router configuration issues.
Consider purchasing a new modem. Maybe it's time to upgrade your network equipment. Check with your ISP first to make sure the service you're getting is compatible with theirs.
Unplug the router and modem, wait 15-20 seconds, then plug them back in to re-establish the Wi-Fi connection. If you're still having trouble connecting, you may need to reset your Wi-Fi adapter.
If your wireless printer is offline, restart the printer, check the network connection status, and make sure the printer is set as the default printer. If you still have problems, delete any open print jobs and reinstall the printer.
If your modem keeps resetting, check the power and cable connections, make sure the modem is not overheating, then update the firmware and reset the modem. If the problem persists, contact your ISP and ask them to check your connection.
