Wi-Fi does not work on the laptop. Why doesn't WiFi turn on on an Android phone?
Connecting a laptop to a wireless, Wi-Fi, network does not always go smoothly.
If you're having problems, check out step by step instructions that will help troubleshoot the problem.
Diagnosing the source of the problem
If your device, a laptop, fails to connect to Wi-Fi networks, the problem may be hidden in incorrect settings router. First of all, you need to find the source of the malfunction that leads to the connection error. This is what further “treatment” depends on.
To determine the source, connect your iPad, smartphone, computer (any other device) to a Wi-Fi network. If the connection on any of the devices is successful, the conclusions are obvious - the problem lies in the laptop. And if you fail to connect via a wireless network, as in the first option, it means that the router is not configured properly. We will consider both cases separately. So, what to do if the problem is in the laptop?
Hardware enablement of the Wi-Fi module of the laptop
The diagnostics carried out earlier (see step one) revealed the following: if you were able to connect, for example, a tablet or smartphone to the wireless network, then everything is fine with Wi-Fi, and the problem lies in the laptop.
To solve it, the first thing you need to do is check the status of the wireless adapter of the “problem” device. It may be disabled, and accordingly, the Wi-Fi network on this device does not work. The adapter is connected with a specific set of buttons and shows operation using a light indicator.
It is important! If the indicator is lit, the wireless module is enabled on the device. And if the light is off, the Wi-Fi adapter is disabled.
The indicator light is traditionally located on the front or side of the laptop. But there are some models of laptop computers that differ in the location of the indicator. For example, it can be located on the monitor (its body) or touchpad. And there is a third group of laptops. They have a light indicator, which shows whether the wireless network module is working or not, located on the power button (that is, built-in).
To connect the wireless network module, a specific key combination is required. Any combination begins with the Fn modifier key, to which one of the functional keys is added - F1-F12. If you take a close look at function keys, you will see the wireless, wi-fi, network icon.
Acer laptops differ from more modern models in that they turn on the wireless network module using a special two-position switch. If you have a laptop from this company, you will most likely find this switch on the side. In the screenshots below we showed how the Wi-Fi adapter is turned off or turned on on laptops different manufacturers.
Fujitsu: Fn+F5
Gigabyte: Fn + F2
If the wireless network module is working, connect via Wi-Fi network. Are there still problems? So, follow the third step.
Software enablement of laptop Wi-Fi module
The second step we tried to fix the problem was to hardware enable the wireless network adapter. Now we will try to do this programmatically. And this means that our the following actions will be executed in the OS itself, the software that is installed on our laptop computer.
If you have an operating room Windows system version seven, follow these steps:
Act one
To enable the Wi-Fi module, go to the Network and Control Center section. shared access» (where the time is shown).
Act two
On the left, click on “Change network module parameters”.
Act three
Here you will see a list of connections. The indicator should be lit when connected via a wireless network; if not, the module is disabled. Click on it and turn it on.
If the icon lights up, the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on.
Act four
Go to the taskbar (where the clock and other icons are). As you remember, in the second step the problem was that the wireless module was working fine, but there was no network to connect to, which means the router was not configured correctly. The picture shows 2 connection states in the task area of the desktop: the first - no available networks and there is a second one.
With the help of the third step you have enabled the Wi-Fi adapter, now you need to find your network and simply connect.
The module was successfully enabled using software methods, now try connecting to the Wi-Fi network. Is the problem still there? Follow the next fourth step.
Installing/reinstalling drivers for the Wi-Fi module
Now you need to check if the driver is on the system. In “My Computer”, click on “Properties”, and from there go to “Device Manager”.
A menu window will open. Here you need "Network Modules". You need to find the name of your wireless module. In this name you will see the word Adapter (if the operating system on the laptop is English language) or “Wireless network adapter” (if it is in Russian). For example, the name of the module will be: Qualcomm Wireless Network adapter. Click on the name of the adapter and in “Properties” see how the device works. It should work fine.
Important information! If in " Network adapters“You didn’t find the name of the wireless module installed on the laptop, which means there are no drivers. Download them from disk or find them on the official website of the manufacturer.
Troubleshooting connection problems in the router
What to do if the problems lie in the router settings? We cannot consider each individual case, since both the routers and the devices installed on them software(firmware) sufficient quantity. Therefore, we will limit ourselves to only general tips that will hopefully help you solve the problem with connecting to a wireless, Wi-Fi, network.
- Place the router next to the computer.
- Check if the wireless network adapter is turned on (if the indicator light is on).
In your router settings, check the following:
- Is the wireless network module turned on?
- Is the broadcast channel enabled in the Service Set Identifier?
- Check if your laptop's unique identifier (its MAC address) is on the blacklist.
This is the list of problems we have that prevent us from connecting to a wireless network normally. For each case we wrote detailed guide, compliance with which should solve the connection problem. If something doesn’t work out for you, check carefully whether you correctly identified the cause of the malfunction and whether you followed the sequence of actions.
After running the diagnostics operating system described in this article, you must solve the problem of connecting Wi-Fi on a laptop.
Nowadays, the Internet is so firmly established in our lives that it is difficult to imagine how we ever managed without it. And with the advent of laptops, wireless access to the World Wide Web became especially popular. Wi-Fi connection. But like any others information Technology, the wireless network may have various faults that become an unpleasant surprise for laptop owners. After all, if WiFi does not work on a laptop, then the user loses wireless access to the Internet, which significantly limits its capabilities. There may be several reasons for this malfunction. Let's look at them in more detail.
No WiFi due to user settingsSome laptop models have a special switch on the case that activates the wireless network. The instructions for your laptop will tell you whether there is such a button and where it is located. If Wi-Fi is turned on, a light indicator next to the switch will light up, and a wireless icon will appear in the system tray, by clicking on which you can select and configure the network. If there is no connection, you should check whether the settings are correct.
Weak signal
It happens that everything seems to be in order, the function is enabled, and the settings are set, but WiFi on the laptop still does not work. The wireless option may not be available due to weak signal. This situation can occur when it is blocked by any obstacles or objects. In this case, you should try moving the laptop to another location.
Lack of drivers
If this did not help, and WiFi still does not work on the laptop, then perhaps not necessary drivers on the device, or they are not suitable. You can solve the problem by downloading necessary drivers from a special website on the Internet.
Presence of a virus in the system
It happens that some viruses affecting the computer, interfere with the operation of some files. Perhaps WiFi on the laptop does not work precisely for this reason. Therefore, you should scan the system to detect the presence of viruses, and if they are detected, treat your computer antivirus program. After this, you need to reboot the system and then configure Wi-Fi again.
Defective Wi-Fi module
It also happens that wireless connection doesn't turn on at all. In this case, there may be no WiFi on the laptop due to a faulty module. Then you should contact the service center, they will diagnose and eliminate the cause of the problem. It is not recommended to open the device yourself; it can cause even more damage.
Wi-Fi may not be available because the network is password protected. To gain access you need to enter special key, which can be taken from system administrator, or it may be provided by your telecommunications service provider.
Where to contact?
Get Additional information You can find out why WiFi does not work on a laptop from special literature or from a specialist in service center. In any case, the problem can be solved, and there is no need to worry about it.
The problem of Wi-Fi not working on a laptop is quite common these days. At the same time, there are many methods on the Internet that supposedly help solve it, but in fact turn out to be absolutely useless.
Sometimes the solution to a problem is so simple that users don't even realize it. We will look at the most effective methods that really help deal with non-working Wi-Fi on a laptop.
1. What to do from the very beginning
As we said above, sometimes the solution to this problem can be as simple as possible. It is not at all necessary to immediately go into the settings, change device configurations or do anything like that.
Start with the following:
- Restart your computer. This is especially true in cases where the computer is old (at least 3-4 years old).
- Unplug the router and plug it back in. It is quite possible that there was some kind of malfunction in the device that is responsible for distributing the Internet.
- Check the tightness of all cables to the connectors. This is especially true for the cable that is directly responsible for the Internet (RJ45).
- Try reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network if possible. In some cases, minor glitches may occur that cause the system to disconnect from the network.
All these methods will definitely help solve the problem if Wi-Fi is simply not working well. If not, then it's time to buy a new router.
But we will talk about a situation where the Internet has stopped working completely (the laptop cannot detect it at all), but before everything was fine.
We have few options - a router, a computer and a cable.
2. The problem is in the router
This is quite easy to determine:
- If you bring the laptop closer to the router, there will still be no connection.
- If you try to connect another computer or even a smartphone/tablet to the router, it still won’t be able to do it.
Note: If nothing lights up on the router when you turn it on, and there is no reaction at all when you connect cables to it, don’t even try to do anything. The problem is in the technology itself and the only way out in such a situation, take the router for repair. It is quite possible that specialists will be able to save your equipment.
But if everything is not so bad and some kind of reaction is present, then everything can be corrected. The easiest way to do this is with full reset settings.
All routers, usually on the back, have a button that resets the entire device configuration. “Reset” is usually written next to it. It may be in a small depression. Click on it and try to use your router again.
You can find a lot of advice on the Internet regarding correct settings router, but the best and easiest way is to simply reset it to its initial state instead of tinkering with the settings for a long time.
3. Computer problem
It’s also easy to check - if the Internet connects to other devices, but not to a specific computer, then the problem is there.
In this case, do this:
- Check if Wi-Fi is turned on. A special indicator will indicate this. U different models it is in different places. Read the instructions for your device. Usually on laptops there is special buttons or key combinations that are responsible for wireless connection. Try simultaneously pressing the Fn button (the so-called Wi-Fi button in some circles) and F1, then Fn and F2, F3, F4, F5, F12. Perhaps one of these combinations will launch Wi-Fi on your laptop.
- Turn on wireless connection. To do this, on the Internet icon in the panel quick access(below) click right click mice. Open “Network and Sharing Center...”. In the window that opens, in the left panel, select “Change adapter settings.”
- Reinstall the drivers for the Wi-Fi module of your laptop. It is quite possible that this is precisely the problem - outdated drivers do not allow the computer to easily connect to the network. To update them, go to the “Control Panel”, find there and open “Device Manager”. Open the "Network Adapters" section. Next comes the most interesting part. We need to intuitively determine where the Wi-Fi module is. Usually its name includes the word “Wireless” or simply says “Network Adapter”. Right-click on it and click on “Update drivers...”. Next, select “ Automatic search..." and follow the instructions of the wizard.
Advice: If you are not sure that this is the network module we need, update the drivers of all devices from the “Network adapters” section. To do this, use the same method described above.
- If Wi-Fi is detected by the computer, but some error occurs when connecting and you are absolutely sure that the password is correct, you can delete the connection and reinstall it. To do this, go to the network control center again, but now in the left panel, select “Manage wireless networks.” On the connection with which problems are occurring, right-click and select “Delete network”. Now connect to your router in the same way as before - through the Internet connections button in the Quick Launch panel.
If all this does not help, the router is fully operational, setting it up did not solve the problem and you can connect another Wi-Fi to the laptop, which means the problem is in the cable.
4. Cable problem
You can check this option by connecting the cable directly to the computer connector.
You can also see if the connection indicator on the router is lit. If it doesn’t light up, but the cable works when connected directly, then the problem is still in the router, or rather, in its connector. Changing it is quite simple, but only if you have some experience. That's why the best option V in this case will return the device for repair.
But if this particular cable does not work, you need to try changing the connector itself. How to do this is shown in the video below.
If this option does not help, you need to call your operator and have a technician come to your home. Most likely there is a problem with the connection on the roof or there is a cable break. This should be checked by a professional.
Connecting a laptop to a wireless, Wi-Fi, network does not always go smoothly. If you're having problems, check out the step-by-step instructions to help you troubleshoot. We recommend not to ignore this or that action, but to perform everything sequentially, as in the article.
Diagnosing the source of the problem
If your device, a laptop computer, fails to connect to the Wi-Fi network, the problem may be hidden in incorrect router settings. The first step is to find the source of the malfunction that leads to the connection error. This is what further “treatment” depends on.To determine the source, connect your iPad, smartphone, computer (any other device) to a Wi-Fi network. If the connection on any of the devices is successful, the conclusions are obvious - the problem lies in the laptop. And if you fail to connect via a wireless network, as in the first option, it means that the router is not configured properly. We will consider both cases separately. So, what to do if the problem is in the laptop?
Hardware enablement of the Wi-Fi module of the laptop
The diagnostics carried out earlier (see step one) revealed the following: if you were able to connect, for example, a tablet or smartphone to the wireless network, then everything is fine with Wi-Fi, and the problem lies in the laptop.To solve it, the first thing you need to do is check the status of the wireless adapter of the “problem” device. It may be disabled, and therefore the Wi-Fi network does not work on this device. The adapter is connected with a specific set of buttons and shows operation using a light indicator.
The indicator light is traditionally located on the front or side of the laptop. But there are some models of laptop computers that differ in the location of the indicator. For example, it can be located on the monitor (its body) or touch panel. And there is a third group of laptops. They have a light indicator, which shows whether the wireless network module is working or not, located on the power button (that is, built-in).
To connect the wireless network module, a specific key combination is required. Any combination begins with the Fn modifier key, to which one of the functional keys is added - F1-F12. If you look closely at the function keys, you will see a wireless, wi-fi, network icon.
Acer laptops differ from more modern models in that they turn on the wireless network module using a special two-position switch. If you have a laptop from this company, you will most likely find this switch on the side. In the screenshots below we showed how the Wi-Fi adapter is turned off or on on laptops from different manufacturers.
Acer: Fn+F3
Asus: Fn+F3
Dell: Fn + F2
Fujitsu: Fn+F5
Gigabyte: Fn + F2
HP:Fn+F12
If the wireless network module is working, connect via Wi-Fi network. Are there still problems? So, follow the third step.
Software enablement of laptop Wi-Fi module
The second step we tried to fix the problem was to hardware enable the wireless network adapter. Now we will try to do this programmatically. This means that our next actions will be performed in the OS itself, the software that is installed on our laptop computer.If you have Windows version 7 operating system, follow these steps::
Step one To enable the Wi-Fi module, go to the “Network and Sharing Center” section (where the time is shown).
Step two On the left, click on “Change network module parameters”.
Step three Here you will see a list of connections. The indicator should be lit when connected via a wireless network; if not, the module is disabled. Click on it and turn it on.
If the icon lights up, the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on.
Act four Go to the taskbar (where the clock and other icons are). As you remember, in the second step the problem was that the wireless module was working fine, but there was no network to connect to, which means the router was not configured correctly. The picture shows 2 connection states in the task area of the desktop: the first - there are no available networks and the second - there are.
With the help of the third step you have enabled the Wi-Fi adapter, now you need to find your network and simply connect.
The module was successfully enabled using software methods, now try connecting to the Wi-Fi network. Is the problem still there? Follow the next fourth step.
Installing/reinstalling drivers for the Wi-Fi module
Now you need to check if the driver is on the system. In “My Computer”, click on “Properties”, and from there go to “Device Manager”.
A menu window will open. Here you need "Network Modules". You need to find the name of your wireless module. In this name you will see the word Adapter (if the operating system on the laptop is in English) or “Wireless network adapter” (if it is in Russian). For example, the name of the module will be: Qualcomm Wireless Network Adapter. Click on the name of the adapter and in “Properties” see how the device works. It should work fine.
Important information! If in “Network adapters” you do not find the name of the wireless module installed on the laptop, it means there are no drivers. Download them from disk or find them on the official website of the manufacturer.
Troubleshooting connection problems in the router
In the first step, if you remember, we recommended that you, if possible, find the exact reason why the wireless network on your laptop does not connect. Depending on this, we proposed methods to eliminate the problem.What to do if the problems lie in the router settings? We cannot consider each individual case, since there are a sufficient number of routers and the software (firmware) installed on them. Therefore, we will limit ourselves to only general tips that will hopefully help you solve the problem with connecting to a wireless, Wi-Fi, network.
- Place the router next to the computer.
- Check if the wireless network adapter is turned on (if the indicator light is on).
- Is the wireless network module turned on?
- Is the broadcast channel enabled in the Service Set Identifier?
- Check if your laptop's unique identifier (its MAC address) is on the blacklist.
After performing the operating system diagnostics described in this article, you should solve the problem of connecting Wi-Fi on your laptop.