Why doesn't the laptop see the wifi router? Why is Wi-Fi not visible? What to do if the laptop does not see the Wi-Fi network: Video

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We have already looked at solutions to many problems that may arise when connecting a laptop to a Wi-Fi network, or during use. But, there is one popular problem that I have not written about yet. This is when the laptop does not see Wi-Fi network. In principle, the problem applies not only to laptops, but also to desktop computer that are connected to Wi-Fi via an adapter (external or internal). The problem when the laptop does not see Wi-Fi can be encountered in Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and even in Windows 10. If you have Windows 10 installed and the computer does not see your router, then see separate instructions:. Since the solutions there are practically the same, it doesn’t matter what system your laptop is running on. Now we will try to figure out why the laptop does not see wireless networks, on Windows example 7.

Before moving on to any settings, let's try to figure out what problem you specifically have. There are two options:

When no Wi-Fi network is displayed in the list of networks available for connection. That is, the computer does not find Wi-Fi at all. But, are you sure that there are wireless networks within the radius? Other devices see them.
And when the laptop does not see only your Wi-Fi network, but others, neighboring networks sees.

I will divide this article into these two parts. You can immediately go to the required section with the solution to your problem.

Another important point. If you have an error on your computer "No available connections" , and a red cross next to the Wi-Fi connection icon, then there is a separate solution to solve this error.

Why doesn't my laptop see wireless networks (not a single one)?

The most popular reasons:

There are no available networks within the radius (we have already ruled this out)
The wireless adapter driver is not installed and therefore cannot find wireless networks. Or the driver is installed, but does not work correctly.
Wi-Fi on the laptop is simply turned off.
It happens that the Wi-Fi receiver is simply faulty or disabled (for example, while cleaning a laptop from dust).

But, most often, of course, the problem is that the wireless adapter is turned off, or the absence the required driver. This is what we will consider now.

Checking the wireless adapter driver

If you see a connection icon in the form of a computer with a red cross on your notification panel, then the driver is most likely not installed.

To check, we need to go to the device manager. Open menu Start, press right click mouse on Computer, and select Control. In the new window, go to the tab device Manager. Open section Network adapters, and see if there is an adapter whose name contains the words “Wi-Fi” or “Wireless”. It looks something like this:

If such an adapter is not there, as a rule, in this case only one adapter (network card) is displayed there, then it needs to be installed. If it is there, then it should be without any icons, like in my screenshot above. If there is an icon near the Wi-Fi adapter, then right-click on it and select Engage. Most likely, you will have to install the necessary driver. We have separate instructions for installation: .

If everything is fine with the driver, then let's Let's check if Wi-Fi is turned on on your computer.

Right-click on the network connection icon, and select Network Control Center and shared access . Then, select Change adapter settings.

After this, the computer should see wireless networks, and you can easily connect to your Wi-Fi network.

You may have wireless networks turned off by a keyboard shortcut on your laptop. You need to check, I wrote about this in more detail in the article:. And if you have a “ten”: .

After these steps, everything should work for you. The main thing is that he appears wifi icon networks with a yellow asterisk, this means that there are networks available for connection.

The laptop does not see my Wi-Fi, but does see others. Solution to the problem.

If above we considered the situation when wireless networks are not displayed on the laptop at all, now we will figure out why the laptop does not see only one Wi-Fi network that we need. And other networks, neighboring ones, are displayed in the list of available ones. This problem appears more often on mobile devices: smartphones and tablets. But computers are no exception.

In this case, the problem must be looked for on the Wi-Fi router side. Almost always, the solution is the same: change Wi-Fi channel networks. If the router itself, or you are in manual mode If you set the settings to static channel 13, then the computer most likely will not see the network. Therefore, you need to check and change the channel in the router settings. I wrote in the article how to change the channel on different routers:

For example, change the channel on Tp-Link. You can change it in the settings, on the Wireless tab (Wireless mode) . Try to put static channel (just don't put 12 and 13), or set to Auto.

If it doesn’t help, you can still change it Wi-Fi name networks. You can also do this in the settings, on the wireless network settings tab.

Another tip: try moving your laptop closer to the router, or vice versa. Perhaps this is the problem. There are often cases when Wi-Fi catches even close to the router, but on a short distance does not work. This is of course not normal, but somehow specific solution I don't know. Again, you need to try experimenting with channels.

Today, portable devices are gaining more and more popularity compared to personal computers, and there are a number of reasons for this. Modern laptops, tablets and phones are not just compact in size. They communicate with the Internet via Wi-Fi, and this is important, because Wi-Fi networks are quite widespread today. It is available in cafes, restaurants, libraries, train stations and even in public transport. All this thanks to Wi-Fi module available in portable devices. However, sometimes such wireless communication does not work entirely correctly.

A little about Wi-Fi coverage

The Wi-Fi network is wireless and based on IEEE-802.11. Today the data transfer speed through this network can reach 600 Mb/s. Wi-Fi coverage has a number positive aspects, namely:

To connect to a phone, laptop or tablet, you don't need a cable at all. Thus, the amount of cash costs is reduced.
The owner of a phone, tablet or any other portable device is not limited to a specific place. The Internet can be used anywhere the user desires.
Wi-Fi coverage can be used without problems by owners of phones, tablets and smartphones.
Despite the fact that there is only one Wi-Fi network in the room, many users with a phone or tablet can simultaneously connect to it.

Reasons for Wi-Fi connection failures

The reason such as the portable device being too far from the connection point, that is, the router, is not worth mentioning. The main thing is to maintain the required distance. However, if a laptop, phone or tablet is located a few meters from wireless router and there is no connection, there are several reasons for this. So here are the reasons:

Older laptop models have a special small button to turn on/off the Wi-Fi connection. Therefore, it is worth checking that the connection is simply turned on. In new models, you can use a key combination, for example, Fn and F2, to enable Wi-Fi access. Additional help The device documentation will provide.

The next reason is damage to the drivers that provide high-quality Wi-Fi work module. The problem is easily solved by reinstalling the drivers, which can be downloaded using the manufacturer's official website. Other sites may offer low-quality products.
Sometimes the adapter module does not work at all. This is caused by the lack special utility, which allows you to manage wireless network. The utility can be found on the manufacturer’s website or installed from the disk included with the laptop.
Sometimes WiFi connection completely inaccessible. This refers to cases when all devices recognize the network, but one of the devices does not. In this situation, you first need to turn off the router for 10-30 seconds and then turn it on again. Sometimes the problem occurs due to an unexpected failure in the router settings. All you need to do is configure it again. In the current situation, the most quality help will be provided by the provider's support service, because each provider has its own type of settings.
It also happens that the signal is almost elusive, characterized by low level. At the same time, some devices recognize the Wi-Fi connection, but connection is still impossible. This situation may arise if the router is located quite far from the laptop, phone or tablet.

Theoretically, the reason could be Wi-Fi failure module in a laptop or any other device. Moreover, if the warranty is still valid, you can easily exchange the purchased product. If you have an old device, repairs can be very expensive. Therefore, many advise purchasing an external Wi-Fi adapter, which is quite affordable.

So, it is important to remember that it is not enough to just purchase a router, connect the appropriate cable to it and connect to the Wi-Fi network. Setting is required, which is best left to a specialist.

Wi-Fi technology is very widely used in life modern man, because it allows you to easily and quickly solve problems with connecting to the Internet without using conventional wires. This is especially true when using laptops, which can be used to access the Internet in any convenient place thanks to the presence of a built-in Wi-Fi adapter.

That is why the situation when Wi-Fi does not work on a laptop leads to significant inconvenience and even some problems. The reasons why laptop computer Wi-Fi may not work, there are quite a few. It is simply unrealistic to solve the most serious of them on your own without the help of specialists, but there are quite a lot of them that can be eliminated on your own. Let's look at them.

Is the problem with your laptop or router?

A fairly common problem that a laptop has stopped connecting to the WiFi network is not a problem with the laptop itself, but with the settings of the router that distributes the network. Thus, the laptop can be configured correctly, but Wi-Fi still does not turn on precisely because it has nothing to connect to.

To rule out the possibility that this is the problem, you should try to connect to the network from any other device that is equipped with Wi-Fi adapter– from another laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc.

If Wi-Fi does not work from another gadget, then the problem lies in the Wi-Fi router distributing the Internet. If the connection is successful, the problem is in the laptop and before solving it, you first need to determine why Wi-Fi stopped working.

Hardware enable adapter

Based on such diagnostics, it is possible to accurately determine that this problem arose precisely because of the laptop. When Wi-Fi does not work on it, you can try using several methods.

The first one is to check if the adapter is turned on wireless connection on a laptop. Almost everything modern models have indicator lights work WiFi module and for him hardware enable There is special combinations keys

Typically, a lit indicator indicates that the module is turned on. If the indicator does not light up at all or lights up in red, then Wi-Fi is not working precisely because of the wireless network adapter. It must be turned on.

Most often, such indicators are located directly on the keyboard, side or front panel of the device case. Sometimes they are located on the monitor body or near the touchpad.

To enable the module of such a network, press the key combination Fn and one of the system keys F1-F12. The specific combination depends on the laptop manufacturer. Usually on the desired key the corresponding antenna icon is located. If it is not there, then to turn on Wi-Fi you should try pressing standard for specific model combination:
Fn+F3 for Acer;
Fn+F2 for Asus, Dell or Gigabyte;
Fn+F5 on Fujitsu devices;
Fn+F12 on HP laptops.

After pressing the corresponding keys, we check whether the wireless connection module operation indicator lights up or whether it stops glowing red. After this, you should try to connect to the network again. If this does not help, move on to the next step.

Software enablement

When Wi-Fi stops working and turning it on in hardware doesn’t work positive results, it is also necessary to implement it software activation, which is carried out directly from operating system, under which the laptop runs.

To implement software turning on WiFi that has stopped working on Windows 7, 8 or 10, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:

1. On the notification panel, which is located near the clock, select the network connection status icon;

2. From the list that opens, select “Network and Sharing Center” or “ Network settings» depending on the operating system version;

3. The next step is “Changing adapter parameters.”

Among the list of all existing connections, you need to pay attention to the color of the “Wireless” icon. network connection" If your WiFi does not work and the wireless adapter is disabled, the connection icon will not be highlighted. In this case, right-click on its icon, from the opened context menu select the “Enable” item. The color of the connection icon should change.

In this case, the wireless network adapter turns on, all you have to do is find the one you need in the list of available wireless networks and connect to it.

If after such Wi-Fi action which has stopped working continues to be inactive, you need to move on to the next method of solving the problem.

Driver installation and update

Quite often, the wireless Wi-Fi connection does not turn on due to the lack of a driver or when it is very outdated. To determine availability installed driver, you need to select “Properties” from the context menu of the “My Computer” icon, which is located on the desktop or in the “Start” menu. Next, in the window that opens, select the “Device Manager” command from the menu on the left.

In the new window that opens with a list of connected devices, you need to find the name of the laptop’s wireless network adapter. Usually its name is “Wireless Network Adapter” or “ Wireless Network Adapter", along with which the device manufacturer must be indicated: Realtek, Atheros, Qualcomm or something else.

Having found the desired item and right-clicking on it, select “Properties” from the context menu. In the window that opens, there should be an item “Device is working normally.” But even if there is a mark about normal operation device, this is far from a guarantee that it is installed correct version drivers and Wi-Fi turn on correctly. To check it, in the properties window wireless device go to the “Driver” tab and pay attention to the “Development date” and “Supplier” items.

In the event that the supplier is Microsoft or the date of development of the program is several years behind the current one, go to the official website of the laptop manufacturer and download the latest official version drivers.

The same must be done if among the list installed devices There was no wireless adapter.

If in the list of devices the module wireless communication present but marked in yellow exclamation mark, this means that the device is disconnected, as a result of which the network stopped working. In this case, opening the device properties window, you need to click the “Engage” button.

Another reason why Wi-Fi stopped working on a laptop may be that the energy-saving mode is enabled, which prevents the wireless connection from working. To disable it, you need to do the following:
1. Open Control Panel;
2. Select the “Power Options” icon;

3. In the window that opens, select the “High Performance” or “Balanced” mode.

External obstacles to the signal

It's also worth noting that a broken wireless network can also be the result of more than just laptop problems. The wireless signal depends on some external factors which may weaken it. Ceilings, walls, floors and similar obstacles significantly degrade the signal quality of the access point and laptop.

As is known, the signal quality is personal computer is displayed in the form of several marks - the more there are, the higher the quality of the signal. If the wireless connection level is displayed as 1 or 2 marks, then you don’t have to try to use WiFi - in this case it will not work normally.

In this case, you need to move the router closer to your workplace, move workplace closer to Wi-Fi router or buy a new, more powerful router.

If all else fails

If none of the tips given above helped, you can use a simple, but at the same time often effective solution: Restart both the computer and wireless router. Please note that after a reboot, the router turns on for up to 5-10 minutes before it starts distributing the network. Be patient. Also, despite the opinion of many skeptics, sometimes the problem diagnostic function found in the Windows operating system helps solve problems with a wireless network.

Thus, most of the above have been listed existing solutions problems related to the fact that Wi-Fi stopped working on the laptop. Almost all such methods and recommendations can be used by anyone who is faced with similar problem, since this does not require any special skills.
If nothing helps, and the wireless network has not started working, there is only one way out - go for help to a quality service center, where they can solve any problems with your laptop.

If the article did not help solve your problem and Wi-Fi still does not work, write in the comments, I will try to help.

I am glad to welcome you, dear visitors, to the website! In today's article we will take a closer look at what to do if your laptop does not see the wi-fi network. Today, a wi-fi network can be found very often, especially in big cities.

In restaurants, pubs, bars, cinemas, stations Maintenance etc. This list can be continued endlessly, besides, the lion's share is also distributed through a wi-fi router.

The laptop does not find the WiFi network.

If the router whose network you cannot connect to belongs to you, try using the instructions

But what to do if you are sure that wi fi is definitely there and you even see it on another device (smartphone, tablet, etc.), but your laptop or netbook does not find a single wi fi network? Let's take a closer look at this problem.

After all, in reality there are not so many reasons. It is enough just to check each of them one by one. For some, there must be access to a router.

1. Check available networks in your radius.

By the way, if we talk about the range of a wi-fi router, here we can note distances from 10 m (in an apartment or house) to tens of kilometers (in open areas without obstacles and on an industrial scale).

Among the factors that affect the range of a wi-fi network are data transmission protocols (802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n), room walls, tree foliage (due to water content, which has a dampening effect on wi-fi) , included microwave (also uses microwave frequencies), other wi-fi networks.

If you know other factors that affect signal attenuation, write about them in the comments.

To increase the range of the Wi-Fi network, you can use intermediate devices. But this is closer to industrial use.

If you have access to the router, then it would not be superfluous to reboot it by simply turning off and on the power.

2. Is Wi-Fi turned on on your laptop?

In order to turn it on, you just need to press the power button or the key combination (fn+F1-F12) to turn on wi fi, depending on your laptop model.

Then click on the “Connections” icon next to the clock. Select "Change adapter settings" and make sure that "Wireless network connection" is active (right-click → "enable").

3. Check if wi-fi is turned on on the router?

Everything is clear here - the network and power cables are connected. The router should show signs of life (there is a light indication).

If there is no indication, the problem is in the wires, the socket or the router itself.

4. The driver is not installed or is out of date.

Another reason why a laptop adapter may not see wi fi is the lack of a corresponding driver on the laptop.

To check the version, open Device Manager (right-click on My Computer → Manage). In the window that opens, select “Device Manager” → “Network Adapters”. Here, in addition to network connection, there should be a similar entry:

If it is not there, you need to download and install the required driver.

If the device is still displayed in " Network adapters", right-click on it and select "Properties". And in the new window, in the “Driver” tab, pay attention to the “Development date” item.

If the difference with current date essential, you need to update this driver from the official website of the developer.

5. Service center.

If you do not experience any of the above breakdowns, then it makes sense to contact a specialized service center. Perhaps the problem is with your router (if the laptop sees other networks) or the laptop itself (if it does not display any networks, but you are sure of their presence).

Wifi is very convenient way Internet connection. But situations arise when the laptop does not see the home network and there are no available connections. This is due to a number of unrelated problems. Why doesn't my laptop see the wifi network? Let's look at this issue more carefully.

What to do if the laptop does not see wifi? Before we start troubleshooting the device, let’s check the functionality of the home network. This is necessary to understand the cause of the malfunction.

Let's talk about the router. Sometimes network problems occur due to this equipment freezing. If you see that the lights on it are blinking in a non-standard mode, then you need to fix it. To do this, unplug the router from the outlet, wait a few minutes and start it up again. If there were no serious problems or breakdowns, then this will solve the problem. After this, the laptop will be able to connect to the network.

If your router freezes, it doesn't mean it's not working.

This is the most incomprehensible problem of all that exists in it. In any case, if there is no connection, it must be rebooted.

If you live in an area with unstable power supply, this may also affect your router. Its settings are due to constant change the tension may be relieved, and it will stop distributing Wi-Fi. In such cases, you need to go to the device’s web interface. To do this, launch the browser and enter address bar ip, which is indicated on back side router. The password and login are indicated there.

Checking the functionality of the laptop

If checking the router does not show any faults, then you need to check the laptop itself. First of all, we examine the work network equipment. All modern laptop models have light bulbs located below the keyboard. We must find the one next to which there is a sign of an antenna or something else associated with a wireless network. If this light is not on, then press the “fn” button (available in every laptop) + f8 or another key that suits your model. If it burns, then you don’t need to do anything.

We also check the connection settings themselves. The network name, if it is not accessible to all devices, and the password for it must be entered correctly.

Before you panic, you just need to restart your laptop. In some cases this will help.

More reasons why a laptop does not see wifi

If The laptop does not see the wifi network, then in addition to all the others, there are obvious points that we forget about. So, your device may not see the wifi network due to simple reasons. Let's look at them and answer the question of what to do with them:

Router turned off. Turn it on and the problem should be solved.
If you are far from the router, then you need to move closer to it or set up a wifi repeater.
If the router freezes, then simply reboot it.
Switched off wifi adapter on a laptop. We turn it on, and a special light should light up.

All these problems can be solved very quickly and require virtually no special knowledge. Now let's move on to more complex reasons for which the laptop does not see the Wi-Fi network:

Unconfigured router. Exists optimal settings for each model of this device. If you are unable to set it up yourself, then you should contact your provider, who will do it with a guarantee and with the highest quality.
If not every device finds the wifi network. What to do? In such cases, you need to go into the router settings and change the “visibility” item.
Damage to the wifi receiver. A laptop is a technically complex device that should not be disassembled on your own. If it's broken home wifi receiver, you can’t do it without the help of professionals. Replacing the receiver can cost you quite a bit of money.
Lack of drivers. This usually happens after reinstalling the operating system. To solve this problem, you need to go to the website of the manufacturer of your device, where you will find everything necessary drivers. You can also download driver packs that will update ALL drivers for your laptop. If this is not the reason, then such updates will never harm your device.
Viruses and other malicious software. They can block wifi networks and other methods of connecting to the Internet. You can get rid of them using antivirus programs such as Kaspersky antivirus, avira or microsoft security essentials In some cases best option- reinstalling the operating system, because from large number Viruses that have accumulated for a long time are very difficult to get rid of.
Windows related problems. They arise mainly due to pirated copies and incomprehensible assemblies found on the Internet. You must use licensed software.
Wrong MAC address. It is unique for each device and is indicated on the back of the router. But some Internet providers are changing it. If you don't know new MAC address, then call your provider. He will tell you how to use it to normalize access to Wi-Fi.

What to do about the above problems? There is a small solution for each of them, but if you are not confident in your ability to do them, then it is better to contact a professional.