Unidentified network error in Windows 10 and 11 occurs when users attempt to access the internet on their operating systems, even if they have a stable internet connection.
Our technical team dug deep into this issue and discovered that it can be caused by a number of reasons including incorrect IP configuration or network settings, generic corruption error, corrupt or outdated network card driver, and a problematic router. Regardless of what might be causing the issue, we will walk you through all the methods that did the trick for the users.
We recommend that you go through each method first, identify what might be causing the problem in your case, and then proceed with the method that fits your situation the best.
Run the Network Troubleshooter
It’s always a good idea to start with the built-in troubleshooters to fix the Unidentified network error. Microsoft equips Windows with a bunch of these utilities and in this method, we will be using the Network troubleshooter.
This troubleshooter is designed to scan the system for any network-related issues that might be preventing you from connecting to a network and then recommend fixes accordingly. In most cases, Windows is aware of the issues that users are facing and it launches fixes for these issues via relevant troubleshooting utilities.
Here is how you can run the Network troubleshooter:
- Press Windows + I key together to launch Windows Settings.
- Inside the Settings window, click on System from the left pane and click on Troubleshooter on the right side of the window.
Click on Troubleshoot under System - In the next window, click on Other troubleshooters.
Go to Other Troubleshooters - Locate the Network Adapter troubleshooter and click on the Run button associated with it.
Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter - Now, wait for the troubleshooter to scan the system, if any problems are identified, the troubleshooter will recommend fixes. In that case, click on Apply this fix.
- Once done, check if you still encounter the network issue. If you do, repeat steps 1-4, and this time, run the Internet connection troubleshooter.
Hopefully, this will fix the Unidentified network error.
Reset Network Configuration
Another fix that helped users resolve the error at hand was resetting the network configuration on their computers. This will reset all the stored internet/wifi-related data on your system, restoring it back to its default state.
Follow these steps to reset the Network configuration in Windows:
- Press Win + R keys together to open a Run dialog.
- Inside the text field of the dialog, type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter together to launch Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
- Inside the Command Prompt window, type the commands mentioned below one by one and hit Enter to execute them.
netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns
- Once done, close the Command Prompt window and restart your PC.
- Upon restart, check if the Unidentified network error is resolved.
Update Network Card Driver
There is also a chance that your Network Card driver is corrupt or outdated, resulting in the issue at hand. If this scenario is applicable, follow these steps to update the driver:
- Type Device Manager in the search area of the taskbar and hit Enter.
- Inside the Device Manager window, expand the Network adapter section and right-click on the targeted adapter.
- Select Properties from the context menu.
Click Properties under Network Adapters - In the Properties dialog, note down the driver version of the Network Card driver.
Take Note of the Driver Version - Then, head over to the Ethernet Adapters or Wifi Adaptor OEM website, navigate to the drivers section, and check if an updated version of your driver is available.
- If it is, install it. However, we recommend that you create a restore point on your system first so that you can undo the changes if something goes wrong during the process of installation.
Change DNS Servers
The custom DNS servers offered by ISPs are often slow and have a reputation for being problematic. If you are using a custom server, try switching to a Google Public DNS or Cloudflare DNS and see if that fixes the Unidentified network error.
Follow these steps to do so:
- Right-click on the Windows icon on your taskbar and select Network Connections from the context menu.
Select Network Connections - Then, choose Properties as shown below.
Select Properties - Choose Ethernet and click on the Edit button associated with DNS server assignment.
- Enable the toggle for Internet Protocol Version 4.
Turn Toggle On - Now, select Manual from the dropdown menu in the same dialog set the value of the Preferred DNS server to 8.8.8.8.
Value for Preferred DNS Server - Set the value of the Alternate DNS server to 8.8.4.4.
Set Value for Alternate DNS Server - Hit Save and check if that fixes the Unidentified network error.
Replace Your Router
Finally, if none of the methods above have worked for you, then you might be dealing with a faulty router. If this scenario applies to you, then you might want to consider replacing the router.
If you think it is not a hardware-related issue, then we encourage you to reach out to your network provider and report the Unidentified network error to them.
