As a windows OS user, there are times where you will be faced with the unidentified network error. The Error appears sometimes when you try to connect to a network, using your windows machine. There is no actual method of solving this problem, as this Error may be caused by a lot of things. In this article on how to fix unidentified network access on windows, we shall explore a list of troubleshooting steps you should follow when trying to fix this error on your windows machine. This these steps are listed below.
1. Turn Off Airplane Mode
The first step in the troubleshooting process is to disable Airplane mode. As you might already know, Airplane mode when activated, disable all network access, this means you will not be able to access any network on your windows machine. In turn, this may result in the unidentified network no network access error on your windows machine. To turn off the airplane on your windows machine, please follow the steps listed below:
- Press Windows key + A. This opens the ‘Action Center’.
- Toggle off the airplane mode button.
2. Update Network Card Drivers
Outdated network card drivers could also facilitate the unidentified network error in windows operating system. If you already toggled off the Airplane mode switch, and you are still experiencing the problem, you are advised to update your network card drivers. Steps to update your network card drivers are listed below.
- Press Windows + X or right-click on the Start button.
- Click on Device Manager to open it.
- Look for ‘Network Adapters’ and click on the forward pointing arrow to expand the list. Right click on all the Network drivers and update them one by one.
3. Disable the Security software temporarily
In the quest to giving your computer absolute protection, security software may disable your internet connectivity. This is common with Anti-virus software or Firewall software. In solving the unidentified network error, you also advised troubleshooting your security software, by temporarily disabling it, to see if the problems stop. To disable your security software, you are to right click on the Anti-virus icon located in your system tray icon section. Once you have disabled it, you are to try connecting to a network to see if it worked. If it didn’t, you can continue with the next step in troubleshooting
4. Switch off the Fast Startup feature
Microsoft has been able to make booting on the Windows operating system faster, using the fast startup feature. The fast startup feature is found on a recent version of the Windows operating system. The fast startup features is another facilitator of the unidentified network access error. Having tried the steps listed above, with no positive results, you are advised to turn off the fast startup feature on a windows machine., using the steps listed below:
- Search for ‘Power Options’ in the Windows search bar. Open the Power Options window and among the tabs on the left, click on choose what the power button does.
- Click on ‘Change settings that are currently unavailable’.
- Uncheck ‘Turn on fast startup’. Shut down the system and reboot after 30 seconds.
5. Change your DNS servers
Your current DNS server may just be the reason your windows machine is plagued with the unidentified network access error. To change your DNS servers, follow the steps listed below:
- Press Windows + X or right-click on the start button.
- Click on ‘Network Connections’.
- Right-click on your network connection (Ethernet or Wifi) and click on properties. It might prompt for administrator credentials.
- Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4.
Select ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’ and set but the preferred and alternate DNS server address as follows to use Google Public DNS:
- Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
- Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
6. Use Command Prompt
Already tried the steps listed above, and nothing seems to be changing, there are some commands you can run in command prompt, to salvage the situation. You are required to try the commands listed below, one by one, one at a time. Once you have successfully ran all the commands, you are to restart your windows machine.
- ipconfig /release
- ipconfig /renew
- netsh winsock reset
- netsh int ip reset
- ipconfig /flushdns
- ipconfig /registerdns
- netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled
- netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
- netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
- netsh int tcp show global
7. Diagnose The Network
The network Diagnose feature, is another handy tool, that helps troubleshoot the problem of your network. You can diagnose the network using the features listed below:
- Press Windows + X or right-click on the start button.
- Click on ‘Network Connections’.
- Right-click on your network connection (Ethernet or Wifi) and click on ‘Diagnose‘. It will start an automatic troubleshooter.
8. Change the Ethernet cable
Tried troubleshooting with the steps already listed above, and nothing seems to be changing? Your Ethernet cable may just be faulty. You are also advised to troubleshoot your ethernet cable. Try using another one. If the problem persists, you can proceed to the next step.
9. Set a static IP address
- Press Windows + X or right-click on the start button.
- Click on ‘Network Connections’.
- Right-click on your network connection (Ethernet or Wifi) and click on properties. It might prompt for administrator credentials.
- Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4.
- Select the radio button at ‘Use the following IP address’.
- Check the IP address settings for others using the same network as yours and change your settings to the same.
- Click OK to save the settings and exit.r
10. Use an external Network Adapter
Your Network chip may just be the facilitator of the problem. Having a faulty network chip on your windows machine can crumble your internet connection, you are advised to troubleshoot your network chip, using an external network adapter.
11. Restart your modem and router
- Switch off both your modem and router keeping them physically connected.
- Start the modem. Wait for 30 seconds after all the lights turn green.
- Start the router.
- This is called power-cycling.
12. Upgrade the router firmware
Having an outdated router firmware can also crumble your network connection, leading to the unidentified network error on your windows machine. You are advised to update the firmware on your router and try connecting again.
13. Disable Virtual Network Adapters
- Launch Device manager on your windows machine
- Navigate to Network Adapters and expand it
- Right-click and disable them
14. Run the built-in troubleshooters
Having exhausted the troubleshooting steps listed above, and nothing seems to change, running the built-in troubleshooters on your windows machine, may just be the answer to your problem. Here are the steps to running the built-in troubleshooters on your windows machine. To activate the run box on your windows machine, simply hold windows key and R together i.e windows key + R.
In the run box, you are to run each of the commands independently.
msdt.exe -id NetworkDiagnosticsWeb
To open the Incoming Connections Troubleshooter
msdt.exe -id NetworkDiagnosticsInbound
To open the Network Adapter Troubleshooter:
msdt.exe -id NetworkDiagnosticsNetworkAdapter
Conclusion: Upon troubleshooting your device, with the steps listed in this article on how to fix unidentified network access on windows , there is a high chance you might solve the unidentified error on your windows machine. If the problem persists, you are advised to contact windows support theme or visit a technician.