Network Connections Folder Empty on Windows 11? Try These Solutions!

The Network Connections folder is a crucial part of the Windows OS that allows you to view, configure and manage various network connections on your device including wired Ethernet connections, wireless Wi-Fi connections, and virtual private network (VPN) connections.

To access the Network Connections folder on Windows, navigate to Control Panel> Network and Sharing center> Change Adapter Settings. Inside this folder, you can view the status of each network connection, disconnect or connect to a network, change network properties, and perform other network-related tasks.

But is the network connections folder empty on your device? Unable to view any active connections on Windows 11? Sounds strange, isn’t it? If your device is unable to establish a connection with the network adapter then you may see the “This folder is empty” message on the screen. In this post, we have listed a variety of solutions that you can use for resolving this glitch.

Let’s get started.

Why Is The Network Connections Folder Empty?

So, are you wondering why is the network connections folder empty on Windows? Here are a few possible causes:

• Misconfigured network settings.
• No active connections.
• Outdated or corrupt network drivers.
• Incorrect or restricted folder permissions.
• Presence of virus or malware.

Also read: Wi-Fi Network Not Showing Up On Windows 11/10, What To Do

Network Connections Folder Empty? Try These Fixes!

Solution 1: Edit the Registry

Step 1: Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type “Regedit” and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Step 3: In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following folder location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network

Step 4: Once you tap on the Network folder, find the “Config” file on the right side of the window.

Step 5: Select this file and press the “Delete” button.

Step 6: After deleting the Config key from Registry Editor, exit all windows, and re-open the Network Connections folder to check if the issue was resolved.

Solution 2: Run the Network Troubleshooter

Step 1: Open the Windows Settings app and switch to the “System” tab from the left menu pane. Step 2: Scroll down and select “Troubleshoot”.

Step 3: Tap on “Other Troubleshooters”.

Step 4: Scroll through the list of Windows built-in troubleshooters and look for the “Network Adapter” troubleshooter.

Step 5: Hit the “Run” button placed next to it.

Step 6: Windows will now get to work and will scan and diagnose potential problems.

Solution 3: Update the Network Drivers

Step 1: Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type “Devmgmt.msc” in the textbox and hit Enter.

Step 3: In the Device Manager window, select “Network Adapters”.

Step 4: Right-click on the network driver and select the “Update Driver” option.

Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade the network drivers on your Windows PC.

Also read: How To Fix Windows Could Not Find a Driver for Network Adapter

Solution 4: Use the System Restore Feature

If a recent update is causing the “Network connections folder empty” issue then restoring your PC to a previous state can be a possible solution. Here’s how you can use the system restore feature on Windows 11:

Step 1: Tap on the search icon placed on the Taskbar and type “Create a Restore Point”. Hit Enter.

Step 2: In the System Properties window, tap on the “System Restore” button.

Step 3: Pick the most recently created restore point from the list. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system.

Solution 5: Disable VPN

If the VPN service installed on your device is interfering with the active network connections then here’s something you can try.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and switch to the “Network and Internet” section from the left menu pane.

Step 2: Tap on “VPN”. Now, hit on the “Disconnect” button to disable a VPN connection.

Step 3: After disabling the VPN service, open the Network Connections folder and check if the issue still persists.

Solution 6: Reset Network Settings

Tried the above-listed solutions and are unable to resolve the issue? Well, resetting the network settings might help!

Step 1: Open the Settings app, and switch to the “Network and Internet” section from the left menu pane.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on “Advanced Network Settings”.

Step 3: Hit on the “Reset Now” button to restore the network adapter settings.

Step 4: After the network reset, Windows will restore the network settings to their default state, including the network adapters, IP addresses, DNS servers, and other network configurations.

Also read: Windows Could Not Detect Network Proxy Settings Error Automatically? Here’s The Fix

Conclusion

Here are a few simple solutions to fix the “Network Connections folder empty” issue on Windows 11. The Network Connections folder on Windows lets you view the status of the active connections, configure and manage network connections, and more. You can use any of the above-listed troubleshooting hacks to resolve this glitch.

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