Blue Screen when connecting to WiFi or Ethernet cable

If you encounter a Blue Screen error when connecting to WiFi or Ethernet in Windows 11/10, the solutions provided in this article will help you. This issue is frustrating, as you are unable to use the internet due to the Blue Screen error.

Blue Screen when connecting to WiFi or Ethernet

Use the following fixes if you encounter a Blue Screen error when connecting to WiFi or Ethernet on your Windows computer.

Run Network and Internet Troubleshooter
Reinstall the network card driver
Install another available version of the network card driver
Troubleshoot in a Clean Boot state
Repair system image files
Temporarily uninstall your antivirus
Update BIOS and chipset driver
Reset BIOS
Reset Network
Perform System Restore
Reset your PC
Hardware fault

All these fixes are explained in detail below.

1] Run Network and Internet Troubleshooter

The first step is to run the Network and Internet troubleshooter. Open Windows 11 Settings and go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Click Run next to the Network and Internet.

2] Reinstall the network card driver

A corrupt driver is one of the possible causes of a Blue Screen error on a Windows computer. Your network card driver might have been corrupted. Reinstalling it can fix this issue.

Follow the steps provided below:

Open the Device Manager.
Expand the Network adapters branch.
Right-click on your network card driver and select Uninstall device.
Close the Device Manager and restart your computer. Windows will automatically install the missing driver on restart.

If the issue persists, install the latest version of the Network card driver. Visit the official website of your computer manufacturer and download the latest version of the network card driver. Run the installer file to install the driver.

3] Install another available version of the network card driver

You can also install another version of the network card driver. Before proceeding, create a system restore point. Follow these steps:

Open the Device Manager.
Expand the Network adapters branch.
Right-click on the network card driver and select Properties.
Select the Driver tab and click Update driver.
Click Browse my computer for drivers.
Click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
Select the Show compatible hardware checkbox.
Now, select any previous version of the driver and click Next.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver.

If this does not work, install another available version.

4] Troubleshoot in a Clean Boot state

A third-party background service might be triggering this error. To check this, enter the Clean Boot state and see if the BSOD occurs there. If your system does not crash after connecting to the internet in the Clean Boot state, the next step is to find the culprit third-party service.

Be careful while entering the Clean Boot state, as disabling all the services will make your system unstable and put you in trouble.

5] Repair system image files

The corrupt system image files can also trigger the BSOD error. This might be the case with you. Run the System File Checker and DISM tools to repair the corrupt system image files.

6] Temporarily uninstall your antivirus

Your antivirus might be triggering the Blue Screen error whenever you try to connect to the internet. To check this, disable your antivirus and connect to the internet. Sometimes, merely disabling the antivirus does not work. In such cases, you need to uninstall the antivirus. Before uninstalling your antivirus, ensure that you have its product key, as it will be required to reactivate your antivirus license.

If uninstalling the antivirus resolves this problem, contact the antivirus customer support team for further assistance. If you use a free antivirus, you can switch to another one.

7] Update BIOS and chipset driver

Installing the latest BIOS update improves the system stability and hardware compatibility. First, check the currently installed version of BIOS via the System Information on Windows 11. Now, visit the official website of your computer manufacturer and check the BIOS version available there. If a new version is available, download and install it to update the BIOS. During a BIOS update, the power supply should not be interrupted. If so, it can break your motherboard.

We also suggest you update the chipset driver.

8] Reset BIOS

You can also try resetting the BIOS to the factory default settings. Before you proceed, note down the current BIOS settings, so you can reapply them after resetting the BIOS.

9] Reset Network

If the problem persists, reset your network. This action resets the networking components to default and reinstalls the network adapter. Before proceeding, save your pending work, as your system will restart automatically.

10] Perform System Restore

System Restore is a useful tool in Windows 11 that takes the system to the previous working state. Use this tool to restore your system. While performing this action, select the right restore point.

11] Reset your PC

The last resort is to reset your PC to the factory default settings. This will not delete your data if you select the Keep my files option. However, before proceeding, we recommend that you back up all important files.

12] Hardware fault

If none of these fixes work, there might be a hardware fault in your system. Take your system to the professional computer repair shop for further assistance.

Why does my PC Blue Screen when connecting to WiFi?

The most common cause of this problem is the network card driver. Roll back the WiFi card driver to the previous version and see if it helps. If this does not work, try updating or reinstalling the driver. There can also be a hardware fault.

Is Ethernet faster than WiFi?

Usually, an Ethernet connection is faster than WiFi. Ethernet is a wired connection; hence, it offers direct data transfer between your device and the router. A wired connection also has less packet loss than a wireless connection.