Wi-Fi not working on your laptop? Then you've come to the right place.
There are quite a few reasons when a laptop cannot connect to a Wi-Fi network. This article will provide an algorithm for solving this problem, taking into account the frequency of possible causes.
Step 1: Diagnose the source of the problem
If the connection to the wireless network is unsuccessful, the problem may not be in the client device (netbook, ultrabook, etc.), but in the router settings.
To do this, you need to try to connect to the wireless network using any other device equipped with a Wi-Fi module - another laptop, netbook, tablet, smartphone, etc.
If you were able to connect to the wireless network, the problem is with your computer. If the connection fails, the problem is in .
Step 2. Hardware enable the Wi-Fi module of the laptop
So, based on the diagnostics that we carried out in the previous step, it was determined that the connection problem occurred on one of the client devices of the wireless network.
As a rule, all laptops are equipped with light indicators for the operation of the wireless module and have a specific key combination to turn it on.
Note! A glowing indicator indicates that the adapter is turned on. Lack of backlight indicates switched off Wi-Fi adapter e.
Most manufacturers place indicator lights on the front or one of the sides of the computer.
Less common is the location of indicators near the touchpad or on the monitor body.
On some HP models, a module status light may be built into the power button on the keyboard.
To turn on the Wi-Fi module, use a key combination, which consists of a special Fn key and one of system keys from F1 to F12.
Look carefully at the system (function) keys and find the Wi-Fi connection icon on one of them.
On some older models, in particular from the company, you can find a solution for turning on the Wi-Fi module in the form of a two-position switch.
Such a switch is usually located on one of the sides of the laptop or on its front side.
Below is a list of keys that can be used to enable/disable the Wi-Fi module on the most popular brands of laptops.
Acer: Fn+F3 
Asus: Fn + F2
Dell: Fn+F2
Fujitsu: Fn+F5
Gigabyte: Fn + F2
HP: Fn+F12
After the adapter is turned on in hardware, connect to the wireless network. If the connection fails, move on to the next step.
Step 3. Software enable the laptop's Wi-Fi module
In addition to hardware enablement wireless adapter, which we dealt with in the previous paragraph, there is also software activation, which is performed directly in the operating system installed on the laptop.
To enable the wireless connection adapter in Windows 7, you must complete the following steps: on the notification panel (near the clock), select the Internet connection status icon “Network and Sharing Center”.
In the left column, select “Change adapter settings.”
In the list of connections, you need to pay attention to the indication of the “Wireless network connection” item. If the adapter is disabled, it will not be highlighted.
To turn it on, click on the icon right click mouse, select enable.
The icon color should change.
Now you need to pay attention to the notification panel area. In the first case, the laptop's Wi-Fi adapter is turned on, but there is no network to connect to (usually this is a problem with the router).
In the second option, the adapter is turned on and you need to find your network in the list of connections and connect.
After software enabling the adapter, we try to connect to . If the connection fails, move on to the next step.
Step 4. Installing/reinstalling drivers for the Wi-Fi module
To check whether the driver is installed, you need to right-click on the “My Computer” shortcut, which can be found either in the Start menu or on the Desktop, in context menu select “Properties”, in the left column of the window that opens, select the “Device Manager” menu.
In the window that opens, you need to find the menu “ Network adapters" and find the name of the wireless adapter containing part of the name "... Wireless Network Adapter" or "Wireless network adapter ...", where instead of "..." there should be the name of your wireless adapter, for example, Atheros, Realtek, Qualcomm.
In our case, this is Atheros Wireless Network Adapter. Right-click on it and select “Properties”. In the menu that opens, you need to make sure that “The device is working normally.”
Important! If you do not find the name in the “Network Adapters” menu, you need to install drivers. Drivers can be found on the disk that came with the laptop, or by searching the Internet.
Step 5. Fix connection problems in the router
In the first step of our article, we looked at how to high degree probabilities to determine possible reason, due to which it is impossible to establish a Wi-Fi connection.
Since there are quite a lot of routers, and even more firmware for them, in this paragraph we will give general recommendations for troubleshooting the problem.
1. Try to reduce the distance between and the router. Try to ensure that there is direct visibility between the devices and as little interference as possible (walls, partitions, ceilings, microwave ovens, radiotelephone bases, etc.).
What to do if Wi-Fi does not work on your laptop
Why doesn't Wi-Fi work on my laptop? You can find out by running system diagnostics. You will learn how to do this in the video presented.
Hello, dear friends. As you probably already understood from the title, today I decided to touch on a very serious and painful topic, and try to figure out what to do when Wi-Fi on a laptop or netbook does not work and how to still connect a laptop to a Wi-Fi router. By the way, this can be not only a laptop or netbook, it can also be an ordinary desktop computer with Wi-Fi receiver. A lot of similar questions have been popping up lately, mostly related to the article.
Now we will try to figure out step by step what and why problems may arise when connecting a laptop to wireless wifi networks. We will also try to find a solution to this very popular and unpleasant problem with a Wi-Fi connection, or rather an unsuccessful connection.
Most often, problems arise when it is not possible to turn on the Wi-Fi module itself on the laptop. And when Wi-Fi turns on, everything available networks The laptop finds it, but when I try to connect it says . You need to check whether the drivers are installed on the Wi-Fi adapter, whether Wi-Fi is turned on on the laptop, etc. Now we will do this.
I noticed that most often problems with connecting to Wi-Fi occur in Windows 7. It is on this OS that the network without Internet access error very often appears; I wrote how to solve this problem in the article linked above. In fact, as practice shows, there can be many reasons for this problem. And if there are many reasons, then there are many ways in which you can force a laptop to connect to a Wi-Fi router.
But it’s not always the laptop, netbook, etc. that is to blame. There may also be a problem with the access point, that is, with the Wi-Fi router. And the first thing we need to do when a problem arises with connecting to Wi-Fi is to determine what the reason is, in the laptop, or in the Wi-Fi router. Now I will consider the problem with connecting to my own router. Because if you can’t establish a connection with someone else’s Wi-Fi, then all the complaints are against your neighbor, it’s most likely his problem :).
Who is to blame, the laptop or the Wi-Fi router?
As I wrote above, you first need to find the culprit. Before you make any settings on your laptop or Wi-Fi router, you need to understand what the problem is, which is why you can’t connect your laptop to Wi-Fi. You can just set it up in such a way that then you have to do it and set everything up again. Most The best way To determine which device the problem is hiding in, try connecting another device to the router, for example another laptop, tablet, or phone. If you have a laptop that has problems connecting to Wi-Fi, you should try connecting it to a different wireless network.
I think that you understood my point. If there are other devices connected to your router (best with a similar operating system) will connect without problems, then the problem is in the laptop. Read this article further, now let’s try to solve it.
Well, if problems connecting to your network also occur on other devices, and the “problematic” laptop connects to other networks without problems, then the problem is in the configuration Wi-Fi router. See the article on, it might come in handy.
I will show the example of a laptop that runs on Windows 7. This is currently the most popular operating system.
I advise you to immediately pay attention to the icon that displays the status of your Internet connection. It's located in the notification panel.
If the Internet connection status looks like this:
First you need to check whether the drivers for Wi-Fi are installed and whether the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on.
Right click on "My computer" and select “Properties”. On the left select "Device Manager".
Open a tab in a new window "Network adapters" and see if there is a device like Wireless Network Adapter (You may have a different name for it). If you have such a device, then right-click on it and select “Properties”. Another window will open, make sure it says “The device is working normally.”
If everything is approximately the same as mine above in the screenshot, then everything is fine, the driver is installed. And if there is no Wireless Network Adapter device and you have unidentified devices, go to the website of your laptop manufacturer, download and install the Wireless Network Adapter driver for your model.
Learn more about installing and updating the driver for the wireless adapter.
We sorted out the drivers.
Checking whether Wi-Fi is turned on on the laptop
If the driver is installed, but the Wi-Fi module is disabled, the connection status will be the same:
Usually the wireless adapter on your laptop is turned on, but it doesn't hurt to check. Wi-Fi on laptops (netbooks) is usually turned on and off using a keyboard shortcut. On my ASUS K56cm, these are the keys FN+F2. But although when I press these keys I get a message that the wireless adapters are enabled/disabled, nothing happens. Look for the key on your laptop FN and a key with a picture of a wireless network. Press them at the same time.
Some laptops may have a special switch on the case that can be used to enable or disable Wi-Fi. For example on Toshiba Satellite L300 it looks like this:
Enable or disable the Wi-Fi wireless adapter in Windows 7
But the best way to check whether the wireless network adapter is working or not is to go to the network control center and take a look.
So, on the notification panel, right-click on the Internet connection status icon and select “Network and Sharing Center”.
Then select on the left.
Among the connections we are looking for “Wireless network connection”. If everything is fine and the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on, then it should look like this:
If the adapter is disabled, it will look like the screenshot below. Right-click on it and select “Enable”.
Using the methods described above, we must make sure that the status of the Internet connection in the notification panel is like this:
This status means “No connection – There are connections available”- this means that the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on and there are available wireless networks to connect to.
If the connection status is like this:
This means that Wi-Fi is turned on, but the laptop simply does not see the networks available for connection.
Error “Windows could not connect to...”
We have sorted out the problem when the wireless network module is disabled or does not work at all. Now consider the case when the laptop finds available Wi-Fi networks, but when I try to connect to Wi-Fi it says: “Windows was unable to connect to...”, where instead of dots is the name of the network you want to connect to.
If your network connection status is the same as in the screenshot above (via one, network with yellow icon), then click on it and you will see a list of networks available for connection.
Select the necessary network, click on it, then click the “Connect” button.
If the set is password protected, Windows will ask you to provide the password. Enter your network password and click “Ok”.
And if everything is fine, then your laptop should connect to the Internet via a wireless connection. And the Internet connection status should look like this:
But it is at the moment of connection that the error “Windows could not connect to...” very often appears. She looks like this:
Unfortunately, friends, there is no definite solution to this problem. But I can download that very often the problem with such an error appears due to the settings of the Wi-Fi router. It may be through the type of security and encryption that is installed on the Wi-Fi router, read more about this in the article. There may also be a problem with the distribution of IP addresses.
If you notice that in the window with the error “Windows was unable to connect to...” you can run “Troubleshooting”, it would be a sin not to take advantage. Try running it, I heard somewhere that there are cases in which it helps :). But seriously, sometimes it really helps. Windows will check the readiness of the wireless adapter, check the settings, etc. And if it can, it will fix the problem that is preventing you from connecting to Wi-Fi.
Just reboot your router and then your laptop. Very often this helps.
Update
I noticed that in Windows this error appears when the settings that are saved on the computer for your network do not match the current network settings. I'll explain now.
For example, your laptop was connected to Wi-Fi, it automatically connected to the network. But you went and changed the password, or the type of network encryption. Now the laptop is trying to connect to the network, but the parameters no longer match, and that’s the error.
It is enough to simply delete the network on your computer and re-establish the connection. I wrote about this in an article
Conclusion
It’s a great article, and I hope it’s useful. I wrote it for half a day, with interruptions of course, there were still problems with adding screenshots to the site, but I seemed to have solved it.
I tried to collect all the necessary information that should help you solve the problem that arises when connecting a laptop or netbook to Wi-Fi. If I forgot to write something, I will definitely add to the article in the future, and I will also be very grateful if you share in the comments the information that helped you solve the problem with connecting to a wireless network.
If you have any questions, ask them in the comments, we will try to figure it out. Best wishes!
Hello, friends. If you have problems with Wi-Fi operation router, or setting up Wi-Fi and you have already looked at the article, which by the way is the most popular on this site, then you probably noticed that the article has collected a lot of comments, or rather questions about various problems about setting up and operating a Wi-Fi network.
The questions there are of course very different, we have already dealt with some of them, and I have written separate articles about their solution, for example. And I still can’t give a concrete answer to some questions. But after analyzing the comments a little, I noticed that there are a lot of questions of this type: the laptop and other devices have stopped connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi, or the Internet via Wi-Fi often breaks out, and you have to reboot the router.
In fact, there can be a lot of reasons that lead to such problems and almost always, and they are different for everyone. For example, I’m on my router TP-Link TL-WR841N I have never noticed a Wi-Fi network interruption, and judging by the comments, this happens to others very often.
An even more interesting case, which I also came across in the comments, is when the Internet works, and at one point the Wi-Fi network stops working. Devices either do not connect at all, or connect but operate with the network status without Internet access, or limited access. Phones and tablets connect to Wi-Fi, but do not open websites.
What to do if the Internet via Wi-Fi stops working?
Problems with Wi-Fi Internet:
- Internet connection via Wi-Fi stopped working
- Wi-Fi network drops frequently
- Internet via Wi-Fi began to work very slowly
- Devices connect to the router once.
- The device connects to Wi-Fi, but the sites do not work (the sites do not open).
If you have one of the above problems, or a similar problem, then I have one piece of advice that may help solve it. Friends, I don’t guarantee anything, but it’s worth a try, in many cases it helps.
Each Wi-Fi network operates on a dedicated channel. When setting up a router, the default is "Auto", and everyone advises, including me, to install the Channel (Channel:) on "Auto". This means that the router itself will look for a more suitable channel and use it. The thing is that there may be interference from a neighboring Wi-Fi router and then a variety of problems with Wi-Fi may appear. Refusal to connect to the network, network without Internet access, and frequent interruptions.
You should try changing the value of the Channel parameter to any number from the list, or if you have specific value, then try changing it to “Auto”.
How to change the Channel on a Wi-Fi router?
Everything is simple here, so you shouldn't have any problems. You need to go into the router settings, well, I hope you already know how to do this, I’ve written about this many times already. Apparently we will have to do it again, very briefly :). Connect the router to the computer via network cable(at the time of setup) and enter in address bar browser address of the router is 192.168.1.1. Enter your username and password and click “Submit”, log in, or whatever you have, it doesn’t matter.
I will show an example on, but even if you have a different model, or even a company, I think that the process of changing the Wi-Fi channel is not much different.
Go to the “Wireless” tab and find the “Channel” item on the left.
Next to it there is a drop-down menu in which you can select a channel. I advise you to try several channels, at your discretion, after each change of channel, do not forget save changes by clicking the “Save” button and reboot the router. If you already have a certain number set next to “Channel”, then try setting the value to “Auto”.
There is a program that you can use to see which channel is already occupied by neighboring Wi-Fi and which is not, it’s called inSSlDer. But I won’t describe it here, because it is more suitable for setting up a Wi-Fi network for more stable operation. And this is a topic for another article. Although if your devices find a lot of neighboring networks, you can try this program.
Try the method I described above, it definitely won’t get any worse. And judging by the reviews on this site, changing the Wi-Fi channel on the router really helps solve the problem with unstable Wi-Fi, or in general, solve the problem when no device wants to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi, or connects, but the network does not have Internet access. Good luck.
Wi-Fi is a technology wireless communication V local network. It's built into modern smartphones and tablets, however, sometimes Wi-Fi does not turn on on Android. Why do they arise? different types problems? There are three categories of reasons:
- Incorrect phone settings;
- Inappropriate Wi-Fi network settings;
- Problems with the equipment that creates the access point.
By understanding the components of a network, it is easier to determine what needs to be done first. In most cases, neither a smartphone or tablet, nor a router or anything that performs its function needs repair. Where to start?
- Check to see if Airplane mode is on.
- Make sure the date and time are set correctly on your phone. You can set automatic time (“Settings” – “Date and time” – “Time zone” (specify it) - check the “Network time zone” box).
- Reboot your device.
- Remove the network profile from your mobile phone. Connect again.
- Check your Wi-Fi router settings and reboot it.
What else can be done? Clean RAM. Close programs running in background. Approximate path: “Settings” – “Applications” – “Running”. Stop running applications.
Restart your phone (this is not done like a normal reboot). Activate Airplane mode and turn off the device. Make sure it is not charging and remove the battery. Let the smartphone be without it for 5-15 minutes. Press and hold the power button for a minute. Insert the battery. Turn on your phone. Turn off airplane mode. Try turning on WiFi. If the battery is not removable, hold down the power button for 10-20 seconds.
Turn off power saving mode. On some devices it is enabled by default. Sign in engineering menu. Open the dialer. On Samsung phones the code will be *#0011#. It may vary on all models. “Menu” - “WiFi” – turn off the energy saving mode.
There is a connection point, but the device does not detect it? A Wi-Fi network is created using a router, computer or phone. Their network settings are slightly different, but work on the same principle.
The network created by the phone. In the Android OS, all parameters are already predefined for them. All you have to do is reconnect in case the password has been changed. You can also follow general tips in case of problems, such as rebooting devices, re-creating the network, updating firmware, resetting device parameters.
WiFi router. Change your router settings. Connect to WiFi from your computer. Open your browser. Write the IP in the address bar. Most likely, the numbers are on the router sticker or in its instructions. To find out the router’s IP on a PC, open the console (Win + R, enter “cmd” without quotes). Write "ipconfig". Next to “Default Gateway” there will be an IP. Let's go back to the address bar. After entering the IP, press the “Enter” button. Then enter your router details (usually both “admin”). We went into the router parameters. We follow approximately this path: “Advanced settings” – “WiFi” – “ General settings" – check the box "Enable wireless connection" Check if the problem is resolved. No? Change the connection mode to “Auto” or to “802.11 BGNmixed” (devices with different standard Wi-Fi will be supported). There should be no checkmark next to “Hide access point”. What to do if it doesn't work? “WiFi” – “MAC filter” – turn it off. Not possible? Then remove your address from the “Deny” list or add it to the “Allow” section.
On PC. Go to the Network and Sharing Center by right-clicking in the lower right corner of the screen. "Change Extra options public access" – allow general access to files and printers - disable network access with password protection.
Wi-Fi won't turn on
Android won't connect to wifi? Try following the tips below.
Install the Wi-Fi Fixer app to troubleshoot this technology. Don't change the parameters, just install the program - everything will happen automatically.
The connection button does not turn on? Are you sure that Airplane mode is not enabled on your smartphone? The cause could be malicious software. Check your device for viruses. Good android antiviruses are Anti AVL, Norton Security& Antivirus, Sophos Antivirus & Security, Bitdefender Mobile Security& Antivirus. Can't install them from your phone? Download the apk file to your computer - you can also access it from Play Market.
Make sure apps don't interfere. To do this, log into safe mode(turn off the smartphone - turn it on - when the manufacturer's name appears, hold down the volume up or down button (depending on the model) and hold it until it turns on completely). Did Wi-Fi work after this? This means the problem is in the application. See which application is most active when a problem occurs. Disable it or stop all unnecessary processes.
Have you changed the Android version to an unofficial one? Restore factory firmware through the recovery menu. You do not have an archive with backup copy on the memory card? Look for it online or ask other users. Check the file for viruses. Go to the recovery menu – “wipe data/facroty reset” – “ wipe cache partition" - "installzipfromsdcard" - specify the path - confirm the decision.
Nothing worked? The radio module may be broken. You need to take the device to service center for repairs (which is preferable if you have a valid warranty card) or to an experienced, trusted technician.
I can connect, but the page does not open
Android users sometimes say: “I can connect from my phone, but there is no Internet.” The simplest thing is to try restarting your smartphone or tablet. This will help if there is a small software glitch.
It's probably an issue with the access point. Make sure your internet bills are paid - your provider may have suspended services due to non-payment. Check your router settings. It should not include a limit on Internet traffic or prohibit visits to sites that you need. Most often this problem occurs while using public networks. There is a possibility that the problem is on the provider's side. If nothing from the article helps, it makes sense to turn to him or official sources for information.
Forget network like this:
- Open “Settings” – “WiFi”.
- Long-press the network name until a menu appears.
- Click "Delete".
- Turn off WiFi. Wait a few seconds.
- Turn it on again. Wait until the network is discovered.
- Enter the password (if set) and connect to the access point.
Did not work? The proxy must be disabled.
- Go to “Settings” – “WiFi”.
- Long-press the network name and click “Advanced settings” (or “Advanced”).
- The "Proxy Server" line value should be "None".
Several network users may mistakenly be under the same IP address, making operation impossible. How to fix it?
- Disconnect all connected devices from the router.
- Turn off your router for a minute.
- Connect one device to it.
- Does Wi-Fi work? Connect other devices.
Authentication Error
Often users see the text: “Saved, WPA/WPA2 protected.” This happens after an unsuccessful connection. Later, “Authentication Error” may pop up. Why doesn't Wi-Fi turn on on Android? The password entered is incorrect. The Wi-Fi network settings may not be suitable. It may write "Saved". What to do if you encounter this problem?
- Double-check that you entered the password correctly.
- Change the router parameters (how to enter them was described above). Change the mode from “Auto” or “n” to “802.11 b/g”.
- Change the region to USA or Russia.
- In the router settings, set the authentication method to “WPA” and the encryption to “AES”.
- Specify a free channel. Changing the bus to 20 MHz may help.
- Try making a Wi-Fi password using only numbers.
- Follow the path “Settings” - “More” - “Modem mode” - “Setting up an access point and pairing” - specify “IPv4 and Ipv6” - turn off the VT modem. Go to the “VPN” section, set a password and remove it. Activate and deactivate airplane mode. WiFi should turn on.
We hope the problem has been resolved.
Reading time: 4 min
Wi-Fi module in a tablet or phone on operating system Android is one of the most important components today. Wireless network surround not only at home, but also at work, in your favorite coffee shops and even on public transport. Wi-Fi on Android usually doesn't turn on at the most inopportune times. Why might this happen? There are several options:
- the password is entered incorrectly;
- the network connection or system settings are lost;
- there was a failure in the operating system;
- the wrong firmware was installed;
- The Wi-Fi module itself has failed.
Most often the problem turns out to be in the settings. Of course, if a smartphone falls into water, there is a possibility that something is wrong with the module. But if nothing happened, and the network suddenly disappeared, the error is most likely a software one.
If Wi-Fi on Android does not start, first of all you should:
Often the reason for Wi-Fi not working is very simple. But it does not always consist in wrong password or out of time. If after all the actions wifi icon still remains gray, it’s time to move on to more decisive ones.
Restoring settings
The simplest solutions for restoring Wi-Fi involve setting the correct date and time. If airplane mode is not active and the date and time are correct, you can try resetting the device to factory settings. Having previously saved the data in cloud storage or on another device.
Android users We encountered the problem of eternal loading when trying to update or install applications through the Play Market. This also affected the performance of the network. If this is your case, try clearing the Play Market cache and deleting temporary files.
Router settings
You come into additional settings and you get the error “mac address unavailable”? Turn off Wi-Fi on the device, as well as the router itself. After some time, connect back and try to access the network again. If this does not help, the encryption settings on the router itself may have been changed. Some Android devices simply do not see encryption channels higher than 11. Change the router settings and connect again.
Android engineering menu settings
If your device is powered by a MediaTek processor (most devices with a Qualcomm processor do not have this option), you can go to the engineering menu and set the Wi-Fi settings directly through it. You can open it using the command “*#*#3646633#*#*” entered in the dial pad. For some tablets that do not have this panel, you can install special utilities to enter engineering mode. The settings are checked and set in the "connection" tab.
Setting up something through the engineering mode is only worth it if you are an advanced user Android platforms. This is a mode for developers; any changes at random can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Wi-Fi settings on Android TV-box
The TV Box, which also runs on Android, like smartphones and tablets, is also not without connection problems. To work with it, it is recommended to use an external Wi-Fi adapter or connect a cable, but this will only help improve the speed. And if Wi-Fi connections no at all, it is recommended:
- Go to the file manager.
- Find the WIFI folder and the wpa_supplicant.conf file in it.
- Delete a file.
- Wait a while and start searching for Wi-Fi on the set-top box.
- The device will automatically find a connection.
Did not help? Time to check the software.
Software glitches
Wi-Fi may not work or randomly disconnect due to recently installed applications. Go to Application Manager on mobile device and see which one gets the most activity during departure. Such an application usually also mercilessly eats up the battery, so the smartphone or tablet “dies” faster. It will be enough to delete the application or install another version with which the error was not observed.
It is recommended to check whether you have any applications that restrict Internet access. So you can set restrictions through a number of firewalls even without root rights. There are also special utilities for checking software, thanks to which you can see which application is causing the network to generate an error. Additionally, it is recommended to check the device for viruses - some of them may create problems with the network connection via Wi-Fi.
Installing the wrong firmware
The cause of problems with the operation of the Wi-Fi module may be custom firmware that blocks the connection. Manufacturers recommend installing only official versions firmware: custom options are not always reliable. If problems arise after flashing, you should roll back the device to factory default or flash it again. Only now on the official one.