Fix: Windows Can’t Communicate With The Device Or Resource In Windows 10 & 11

Experiencing network issues can be frustrating, and sometimes not even the Windows Troubleshoot tool can help resolve them.

One of the more common errors users encounter when they cannot connect to the internet is the one showing the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” message.

If you’ve recently encountered this problem and are looking for a way to solve it, keep reading, as this guide covers the issue and all known fixes in detail.

Let’s get into it.

The Problem Explained

There are numerous network issues you may encounter on Windows 10, one of which displays the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” message upon occurring.

Usually, users introduced to this problem experience the inability to connect to the internet, so they run the built-in troubleshooting tool, and the result is seeing this error.

Although it may appear alarming at first glance, this problem is not too demanding to fix.

We’ve prepared some methods that worked for many users, so look at the following sections for more information on overcoming the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” problem.

Method 1: Enable And Disable Airplane Mode

This simple fix should help you overcome the problem without spending too much time troubleshooting.

It only includes enabling and then disabling airplane mode on Windows.

To accomplish that, follow the steps below:

1. Click the network icon located in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar.
2. Enable airplane mode (flight mode) by clicking on it once with your mouse.
   
3. Wait for a few seconds.
4. Disable airplane mode by clicking it again with your mouse.

Now, the problem should no longer occur, as this method worked for many users and should help you fix the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” issue.

Please note that this method is only relevant for a computer connected to the internet with a wireless connection. If you have a desktop PC with a wired connection, you won’t see the Wi-Fi options or the flight mode feature.

Method 2: Re-Enable Your Current Internet Adapter

This method is another simple one that could fix the issue without taking much of your time.

It requires deactivating and then activating your existing internet adapter, but if you are unsure about how to do it, follow the instructions below to complete the process effortlessly.

1. Right-click on the network icon in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, then click Open Network & Internet Settings.
   
2. Click on Network and Sharing Centre in the currently-open panel, as shown in the image below.
   
3. Click on the name of the currently-active network connection.
   
4. Click the Disable button.
   
5. Restart your PC.
6. Open the Network and Sharing Centre again as you did during step #2.
7. Click Change adapter settings from the menu on the left side.
8. Right-click the adapter you previously disabled and choose Enable from the list of options. It should be first on the list.
9. Wait until the connection is back up, and then run the troubleshooting tool to see if the error persists.

If you prefer seeing a video of the steps instead, here’s a helpful tutorial that should guide you through the process.

That’s all there’s to it! You should now be able to use your internet connection like the error never existed.   

Method 3: Reset Your Connection Settings And Clear DNS Cache

If the previous two methods didn’t help, there are other things to try. You can reset your connection and clear the DNS cache by following the steps below.

These are some of the most common methods for fixing connection issues, so here’s what you should do:

1. Press Windows + S to open the search box, type in Command Prompt, and simultaneously press Control + Shift + Enter to run it in Administrator mode.
2. Within Command Prompt, type in the following commands one by one and press Enter after typing each one:
3. ipconfig /flushdns
4. ipconfig /registerdns
5. ipconfig /release
6. ipconfig /renew
7. netsh winsock reset
8. Close the Command Prompt panel and reboot your PC.

After the PC reboots, open your browser and see if the commands you executed made the problem disappear. This method helped many users overcome the problem and should work for you too.

Method 4: Change Your DNS Settings

Last but not least, you can change the DNS settings, which is a method that can solve many connection-related issues, and has a high success rate for the problem you’re currently facing.

We suggest using Google’s DNS because it offers security and performance advantages.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Click the search icon on Windows located in the bottom-left corner of your taskbar.
   
2. In the search field, type “Settings” and press “Enter” on your keyboard. In the panel that appears, click on the “Network & Internet” category, as shown in the image below.
   
3. Click on the first setting under the “Advanced network settings” category, which says “Change adapter options.”
   
4. You will now see a list of network connections. Right-click the one you’re currently using and select “Properties” in the menu that appears.
   
5. Select “Internet Protocol Version 4” from the list of options, then click “Properties” in the bottom-right corner.
   
6. Select the “Use the following DNS server addresses” option in the panel currently on your screen. Type the numbers in the field as shown in the image below.
   

Note: If you are unable to load/see the last image, here are the values shown in text form:

• Preferred DNS Server: 8*8*8*8
• Alternate DNS Server 8*8*4*4

Complete the process by clicking the OK button at the bottom.

Now, you should be able to access the internet without encountering the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error.

Conclusion

That concludes all methods known to be helpful with the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error that users report.

I hope using them helped you solve the issue and bring back internet access.