Windows 11 Wi-Fi keeps asking for password: what to fix first

Windows 11 usually keeps asking for the Wi‑Fi password because the saved network profile is corrupted, the router’s password has changed, or the Wi‑Fi adapter is failing to authenticate cleanly. Start by forgetting the network and rejoining it, then confirm the prompt is for the router and not a Microsoft account or hotspot login. If it still happens after a reboot, restart the router and check the Wi‑Fi adapter driver next.

What you may see

The PC connects to Wi‑Fi, then asks for the password again after sleep, after a restart, or during a normal reconnect. In some cases, it only happens on one network; in others, every Wi‑Fi network triggers the same prompt.

If it happens on one network only, the saved profile or the router is the first place to look. If it happens on every Wi‑Fi network, the adapter driver or a broader Windows issue becomes more likely.

Before you start

• Make sure the prompt is for the Wi‑Fi router, not for a Microsoft account, a workplace sign-in, or a hotspot captive portal.
• Check whether the problem affects one network or every Wi‑Fi network you try.
• If you can still reach the desktop, you can safely try the profile reset first because it is reversible.
• If the password was changed on the router, use the current one when you reconnect; Windows may still be holding the old saved password.

Remove the saved network profile and join again

1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi‑Fi.
2. Select Manage known networks.
3. Find the Wi‑Fi network that keeps asking for the password and choose Forget.
4. Reconnect to that network from the Wi‑Fi list.
5. Enter the router’s Wi‑Fi password again and save it.

This forces Windows to rebuild the saved Wi‑Fi profile from scratch. If the profile was corrupted, the repeated prompt usually stops. If the prompt comes back right away, the problem is more likely the router, the password you entered, or the Wi‑Fi adapter driver.

Restart the router and the PC

1. Restart the router and wait until it finishes coming back online.
2. Restart the PC.
3. Reconnect to the same Wi‑Fi network and see whether Windows keeps the connection.

This is the next safe check because it clears a stuck authentication state on either side. If the network stays connected after both restarts, the problem was probably temporary. If the prompt returns after a reboot, move on to the adapter driver check.

Check the Wi‑Fi adapter driver if the prompt returns

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Find your Wi‑Fi adapter.
4. Try the driver update option first.
5. If the issue started after a driver change, or updating does not help, uninstall the adapter and restart the PC so Windows can reinstall it.

After the restart, run Windows Update and install any pending network or system updates. If the prompt happens on every Wi‑Fi network, this step matters more. If it only happens on one network, a bad saved profile or a router setting is still the more likely cause.

How to confirm it is fixed

Reconnect to the same network, then reboot the PC and wake it from sleep a few times. The fix is holding if Windows connects without asking for the password again.

If the problem only showed up on one network, test that same network again after the restart. If it still appears on multiple networks, the adapter or its driver may still be the main issue.

When to look beyond these steps

If the password keeps changing, the router may be using a different Wi‑Fi key than the one you expect. That can happen after a router reset or a settings change, so compare the current router settings with what you are typing.

If this is a work network, the prompt may be tied to certificates, sign-in policies, or a managed profile rather than a simple saved password. If every Windows 11 device in the house has the same problem, or the router keeps forcing reconnects even after a restart, the router itself may be failing.

Conclusion

If the prompt still returns after you forget the network, restart both devices, and reinstall or update the adapter driver, check the router’s current Wi‑Fi password and its admin settings next.