If you see The network security key isn’t correct error message while trying to connect to a wireless connection on Windows 11, then this post will help you.
The network security key isn’t correct. Please try again.
While the error message clearly indicates that the error is triggered due to an incorrect network security key/password, several users have reported that they keep getting this error even when they enter the right WiFi password. The error could be caused due to an out-of-date network driver. Or, if the network driver is corrupted or faulty, you are likely to face this error.
Now, if you are experiencing The network security key isn’t correct error, this post will interest you. Here, we will be discussing several proven fixes to this error. So, use these fixes and get rid of the error.
The network security key isn’t correct in Windows 11
If you keep getting the “The network security key isn’t correct” error message while setting up a wireless connection, make sure the password you have entered is correct. In case you still experience the same error message, you can use the following methods to fix it:
- Update or reinstall the network adapter driver.
- Generate a new password for your WiFi.
- Disable and then enable your network device.
- Use the Network Reset feature.
- Set up a new network connection.
1] Update or reinstall the network adapter driver
One of the common reasons for this error message is an outdated or faulty network adapter driver. Hence, if the scenario is applicable, you can fix the error by updating your network drivers.
The easiest method to install updates for your network driver is using the Windows Settings app. First, press Win+I to open the Settings app and go to the Windows Update tab. Next, tap on the Advanced options > Optional Updates option. If there are device driver updates available, you will be able to see them in this section. You can download and install network driver updates from here. There are other methods to update Network drivers on Windows 11/10.
If the error is not fixed by updating the driver, you might be dealing with a corrupted installation of your network driver. In that case, you can uninstall and then reinstall the network driver using Device Manager. Here’s how:
- First, press Win+X and then select Device Manager.
- Now, locate the Network adapters category and expand it.
- Next, right-click on your active network device, press the Uninstall device option from the context menu, and follow the prompted instructions to complete the process.
- When the device is uninstalled, click on the Scan for hardware changes button to let it reinstall the missing drivers.
- Once done, reboot your computer and check if the error is fixed or not.
If the error still appears, you can move on to the next solution to fix it.
Read: Fix Enter network credentials error on Windows.
2] Generate a new password for your WiFi
The next thing you can do to fix the issue is to create a new password for your WiFi. And then, enter the newly created password to set up your WiFi on Windows 11/10. Here’s how you can do that:
Firstly, start a web browser and open your router settings. You can enter one of the following IP addresses to access the router settings page:
192.168.0.1 192.168.1.1
After that, you need to sign in with your username and password for your router to access its main settings. So, do that and navigate to the Wireless Security section.
Next, enter a new password in the respective field and then press the Save button to save changes.
Now, try entering the newly generated password as the security key for your WiFi and see if the “The network security key isn’t correct” error is resolved or not.
See: Windows can’t get the Network Settings from the router.
3] Disable and then enable your network device
You can try disabling and then re-enabling your network device, and then see if the error is fixed. There might be some glitch with your networking device. In that case, this workaround has been proven to be effective. So, apply it and check if it helps. Here are the steps to do that:
- First, open the Settings app using the Win+I hotkey.
- Now, move to the Network & internet tab and click on the Advanced network settings option.
- Next, click on More network adapter options.
- After that, right-click on your WiFi connection and select the Disable option from the context menu.
- Then, wait for some time and again right-click on your network connection.
- Now, from the context menu, choose the Enable option.
You should now be able to set up your wireless connection.
Read: The Sign-in method you’re trying to use isn’t allowed.
4] Use Network Reset
Use the Network Reset feature and see if it helps.
5] Set up a new network connection
If the above solutions didn’t work, you can try creating a new network connection manually and see if the error is fixed. Open Settings and go to the Network & internet tab. Now, click on WiFi and tap on Add network. After that, enter the network name, select a security type, customize other options, and press the Save button. Once the network is added, try connecting to it and check if The network security key isn’t correct error is gone.
Why isn’t my network security key correct?
The password of a network connection is the network security key that is used to set up and connect to a WiFi network on a device. It is case-sensitive. So, make sure you have entered the exact password for your WiFi with uppercase, lowercase, numeric, and special characters. Else, the network security key will be incorrect and you won’t be able to connect to a wireless network connection.
How do I reset my network key?
To reset your network key, open the router settings in a web browser and sign in with your login credentials. After that, go to the Wireless Security settings section and you can then change the password to reset your network key.
Now read: Fix Network Security Key Mismatch error on Windows.
