A stable internet connection is crucial for your daily activities on a Windows 11 PC. Encountering the "WiFi Doesn't Have a Valid IP Configuration" error can disrupt your workflow and prevent you from accessing the internet. This error typically appears when running the network troubleshooter or after restarting your system. In this guide, we'll explore several methods to resolve this issue and restore your internet connectivity.

1. Reset the TCP/IP Stack

Resetting the TCP/IP stack can often fix network configuration issues by restoring default settings.

  1. Open the Terminal with administrative privileges. Press Windows + X and select Terminal (Admin). Confirm any prompts that appear.
  1. If Command Prompt isn't the default profile, open it by clicking the down arrow at the top of the Terminal window and selecting Command Prompt. Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + 2.
  1. In the Command Prompt window, enter the following commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log
netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log
  1. Restart your computer and check whether the error persists.

2. Release and Renew IP Address

Refreshing your IP address can resolve conflicts and clear any issues with your current configuration.

  1. Open the Windows Terminal. Press Windows + X and select Windows Terminal.
  2. Open a Command Prompt tab if it's not already open.
  1. Type the following command and press Enter:
ipconfig /release
  1. After the command executes, type the following command and press Enter:
ipconfig /renew
  1. Close the Terminal and check your internet connection.

3. Fix Driver Issues

Problems with your network driver can cause connectivity errors. Updating, rolling back, or reinstalling the driver may help.

Re-enable the Driver

  1. Open Device Manager. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
  1. Expand Network adapters and find your Wi-Fi adapter.
  1. Right-click the adapter and select Disable device. Confirm if prompted.
  1. Wait a moment, then right-click the adapter again and select Enable device.

Update the Driver

  1. In Device Manager, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Update driver.
  1. Select Search automatically for drivers.
  1. If no updates are found, visit the manufacturer's website to download and install the latest driver manually.

Roll Back the Driver

  1. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter in Device Manager and select Properties.
  1. Go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver. If this option is greyed out, a previous driver version isn't available.

Reinstall the Driver

  1. In Device Manager, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and choose Uninstall device.
  1. Check Attempt to remove the driver for this device and click Uninstall.
  1. Restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

4. Perform Basic Checks

Before proceeding further, ensure that the issue isn't due to external factors.

  • Test Other Devices: Connect another device to your Wi-Fi network. If it also can't connect, the problem may be with your router or ISP.
  • Restart Your Router: Power off your router, wait for a minute, then turn it back on. This can resolve temporary glitches.
  • Check Physical Connections: Ensure that all cables are securely connected and hardware isn't damaged.

If the issue persists on your Windows 11 PC only, continue with the following methods.

5. Restore Default Windows Firewall Settings

Incorrect firewall settings can block your internet connection. Resetting them to default may help.

  1. Press Windows + R, type firewall.cpl, and press Enter.
  1. In the left pane, click Restore defaults.
  1. Click Restore defaults again and confirm any prompts.
  1. Restart your computer and check your connection.

6. Manually Set the IP Address

Assigning a static IP address can resolve configuration issues.

  1. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
  1. Right-click your Wi-Fi connection and select Properties.
  1. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
  1. Choose Use the following IP address and enter:
    • IP address: 192.168.1.X (replace X with a number between 2 and 254)
    • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
    • Default gateway: 192.168.1.1
  2. Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:
    • Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
    • Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
  3. Check Validate settings upon exit and click OK.
  1. Restart your computer and test your internet connection.

7. Run a Malware Scan

Malware can disrupt network settings. Performing a full system scan can detect and remove threats.

  1. Open Windows Security. Press Windows and search for Windows Security, then open it.
  1. Click Virus & threat protection.
  1. Select Scan options.
  1. Choose Full scan and click Scan now.
  1. Follow any instructions if threats are detected.

8. Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus Software

An antivirus program may interfere with network settings. Uninstalling it can help determine if it's causing the issue.

  1. Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter.
  1. Find your antivirus software in the list, select it, and click Uninstall.
  1. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation, then restart your computer.

9. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot can help identify if background services or applications are causing conflicts.

  1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
  1. In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and click Disable all.
  2. Navigate to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
  1. In Task Manager, disable all startup items by selecting them and clicking Disable.
  1. Close Task Manager and click OK in System Configuration.
  2. Restart your computer.
  1. Check your internet connection. If it works, re-enable services and startup items one by one to identify the culprit.

By following these methods, you should be able to fix the "WiFi Doesn't Have a Valid IP Configuration" error on your Windows 11 PC. Restoring your internet connection will allow you to resume your activities without further interruptions.