Enable and configure Wi-Fi on laptops with different versions of Windows. Turning on WiFi on laptops of different models Network button


Due to the lack of a unified standard for the method of enabling WiFi on laptops, even in the line of models from the same manufacturer, users often have problems with how to enable WiFi on a laptop, for example, of the popular HP brand. Below is a detailed guide describing how to activate the WiFi adapter on HP laptops.

Preparatory actions

Before you turn on WiFi on your laptop, you need to make sure that the software is correctly installed for the normal functioning of the WiFi adapter built into the device. You can check the installation of hardware drivers using the Network and Sharing Center or through Device Manager.

You only need to perform a few sequential steps:


To solve the problem through Device Manager, you should take the following steps (using Windows 10 as an example):

As in the instructions above, you will also need to visit the official resource of the equipment manufacturer on the Internet, download the appropriate drivers for the adapter from there and then install them in the laptop.

Procedure for turning on Wi-Fi

Enabling can be done using several methods.

Method 1: Using HP Connection Manager

The algorithm of actions consists of the following steps:


Method 2: Using buttons on an HP laptop

Most often, HP laptop models use a combination of buttons on the keyboard. For example, you need to hold down “Fn” and click on “F12”. Sometimes, instead of “F12”, another button is provided, but this key always has a picture with a WiFi symbol.

There are HP laptops equipped with special buttons that perform the function of activating the WiFi adapter. For example, in earlier models such a key was located above the keyboard, and in some subsequent models the manufacturer began to place it below the keyboard.

There are often modern models that implement a method of activating WiFi using a touch button, which is indicated by a characteristic Wi-Fi wireless network icon. Sometimes there will be an "X" next to the symbol representing a wireless network. If this symbol is active, then Wi-Fi is turned off.

A wireless network has long become a common thing for many owners of computers and laptops. It is easy and convenient to use. You can access the Internet anywhere in your apartment or office, but at the same time, kilometers of wires will not get tangled under your feet. You can access the Internet not only from a laptop, but also from a tablet or smartphone.

However, most users do not know how to solve even simple router-related problems and do not understand how to enable wireless communication on a laptop. When access to the Network is lost, you do not need to immediately call the provider’s technical support. First you need to figure out what caused the Internet outage: the computer or the service provider.

Some models, such as the MSI GT780, have a touchpad located above the keyboard, which allows you to turn the wireless network on or off with one touch.

How to enable wireless communication on a laptop through Network and Sharing Center

There are cases when the Wi-Fi receiver is disabled by software and it is impossible to activate it using a button or keyboard shortcut. How to enable wireless communication on a laptop (Lenovo, Asus or Acer - not so important) in such cases?

The user will need to right-click on the Network icon on the taskbar. Next, select “Network and Sharing Center” from the list. In the window that opens, go to the page where you can change the adapter settings. Select a wireless network from the list provided and turn it on.

The connection will change from gray to color, and after a while a connection to the Internet will be established.

Enabling wireless communication through Device Manager

You can also programmatically activate the network adapter through Device Manager. As a rule, such shutdowns occur rarely, mainly during operating system failures.

To enable the Wi-Fi adapter through Device Manager, you must:

  • Open the “Control Panel” tab.
  • Select "Hardware and Sound" from the list.
  • In the "Devices and Printers" group, click on "Device Manager".
  • Expand the list of network adapters.
  • Right-click on anything that contains the word Wireless and click Enable.

This way you can enable the wireless network either hardware or software.

Laptop owners usually use a wireless connection to access the Internet; fortunately, a Wi-Fi adapter is available on all laptop models without exception. However, to use it, sometimes you have to figure out how to turn on wifi on a laptop.

Hotkeys or hardware switch

The first step is to physically turn on the Wi-Fi adapter. This procedure differs slightly on different laptop models, but its meaning is the same: you need to find a hardware switch or use the function keys. Let's look at a few examples:

You can continue the options for turning on Wi-Fi for a long time, citing methods for MSI, Acer, Samsung and other brands. Even different series from the same manufacturer have different ways of activating the wireless module, therefore:

  • Inspect the laptop case for a hardware switch or Wi-Fi power button.
  • Examine the keyboard - one of the keys in the F1-F12 row should be marked with a wireless connection icon. If you press it together with the Fn button, the adapter will turn on or off.

If you have a Sony Vaio series laptop, then there may be neither a hardware key nor an Fn button on its keyboard. For Wi-Fi to work in this case, you need a special VAIO Smart Network utility, which can be found on the manufacturer’s official website.

Fn button doesn't work

What to do if the Fn button does not work? How to turn on the adapter in this case? First you need to figure out why the key does not work. Fn operates under BIOS control and has its own utility, without which the key does not function. Therefore, if the button does not work, you first need to find a utility for enabling hot keys on the manufacturer’s website for a specific laptop model (the name should contain the word “HotKey”).

If installing the utility did not help or the key is physically damaged, you will have to use an alternative method of turning on the adapter. On Windows 8 and Windows 10, to turn on the adapter, just click on the Wi-Fi icon in the notification panel and move the “Wireless network” slider to the active position. If the adapter drivers are installed correctly, then the icon must be there.

There is no such function in Windows 7, but you can try to enable the wireless connection through the window for changing adapter settings (this is discussed below). If this method does not help, then you will have to look for an external keyboard with a working Fn key and then never turn off the Wi-Fi module.

Setting up Wi-Fi on different versions of Windows

You will figure out how to physically turn on the module quite quickly. Sometimes this is where the Wi-Fi setup ends: the system performs the rest of the necessary actions on its own, displaying a list of available wireless points. But sometimes you have to establish the connection manually.

Regardless of the version of Windows, you first need to check that the Wi-Fi module drivers are installed without errors:


To be sure, it is better to go to the official website of the laptop manufacturer and find the latest version of the wireless network module driver for your model. In addition, right-click on the adapter and select “Enable” (if its operation is stopped).

Windows XP

In theory, Windows XP should have been discontinued a long time ago, but on some older Dell models and other laptops, the legendary system still continues to perform its functions. Wi-Fi in Windows XP is configured as follows:


There should be a Wireless Network Connection icon in the File Explorer window. Its presence demonstrates that the Wi-Fi module is working correctly. Right-click the icon and select Enable. Further:


If the list of available points does not include the network that your router distributes, click “Update list”. Then select the desired point by name and click “Connect”. If the network is password protected, you will be prompted to enter an access code, after which a connection will be established.

Windows 7

On Windows 7, the procedure for connecting to a wireless network has changed slightly, becoming a little easier. Now all available networks are displayed after clicking on the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray. But if there is no icon, then:

  1. Go to Network and Sharing Center.
  2. Click "Change adapter settings."
  3. Find your wireless connection and make sure it is turned on.

After turning on the wireless connection, the Wi-Fi icon will appear in the tray. Click on it to see a list of available points, select the network and click “Connect”.

Windows 8

On Windows 8, the procedure for connecting to Wi-Fi remains the same, but an Airplane mode has been added, which you need to know how to work with. If the adapter driver is installed and the wireless connection is working correctly, then in the notification panel you will see a Wi-Fi icon, when you click on it, a list of available networks appears.

If there is no icon, follow the same steps as on Windows 7 - open the “Change adapter settings” window and turn on the wireless connection. If there is no wireless connection itself, check the drivers and the status of the module - everything should be turned on and installed.

If the adapter is turned on, the drivers are installed, but no available networks are detected, check that the Airplane mode icon is not hanging on the notification panel. If it is, you need to disable this mode. To do this, click on the icon and move the slider to the “Disabled” state.

Windows 10

On Windows 10, everything remains the same with a few minor changes, so you'll quickly figure out how to connect your laptop to Wi-Fi:

  1. Click on the wireless connection icon in the tray.
  2. Select the desired network.
  3. Click "Connect" and enter your password.

If the access point does not appear, try adjusting your network settings. Click on the link of the same name - the “Network and Internet” section of Windows 10 settings will open.

There are two tabs of interest here:

  • Wi-Fi - Make sure your wireless network is turned on.
  • Airplane mode - make sure the mode is turned off.

You can go to the section for changing adapter settings and enable the wireless connection. Simply put, on Windows 10 you have several equivalent options - you just need to choose the more convenient method for yourself.

Oddly enough, this is precisely the problem that often arises among users of new laptop models. After a short period of use, for some unknown reason, Wi-Fi turns off. But this was done to reduce battery power consumption. Today I will tell you how to quickly turn on a wireless network or Wi-Fi adapter on laptops: HP, Lenova, ACER, etc.

Diagnostics

To quickly fix the problem, simply find your network connection in the lower right corner. And it doesn’t matter what operating system you have: Windows 7, 8, 10 or XP. Find the wave icon and right-click on it. After that, select diagnostics.

The Windows operating system itself must find the problem and solve it programmatically. After this, you should see a message that the adapter has been disabled and the operating system has reactivated it.


But sometimes you can see this message: “Wireless disabled - Not fixed (With a red cross).” But you shouldn’t be scared, it’s just that the system itself couldn’t turn on the transmitter on the laptop, and we’ll do it manually.

Using buttons

On 50% of laptops you can find a separate button or switch that turns the Wi-Fi network on and off. For starters, I'd look at the extra buttons next to the main keyboard. You need to find a button that will show: an antenna, a computer - with waves emanating from them.


If there is no such button, then you can look for it on the side of the laptop. Sometimes laptop companies put power buttons there. But as I wrote earlier, not all laptops have such a button. But you can enable it in another way; to do this, you need to find a similar icon on the main keyboard in the row of F keys.


To activate, you must simultaneously press the auxiliary key “Fn” and this key. On my laptop this is the combination “Fn+F2”, but sometimes the keys F3, F5, F9, F12 are used.

If nothing happens when you press it, it means that you do not have the drivers installed on your machine that are responsible for these buttons, so we will turn it on differently.

Enable via control center

  1. Press the Win (May look like a window) and R keys simultaneously. You already know how to do this.


  1. After this you will see a window like this. You need to enter the command ncpa.cpl in one field and click on the button below “OK”.


  1. Find the wireless connection with the ladder icon, right-click on it and select “Enable.”

Windows 8 and 10

If you have an eight and a ten, then you may have Airplane mode turned on. Then you will not be able to turn on WiFi while it is working.


  1. You need to go to “All parameters”.


  1. Next, enter the section with the planet icon.


  1. Click on the airplane and turn off the mode. You can also move the bottom sliders to “On” mode. Then, even if you have Airplane mode enabled, the wireless network and Bluetooth will not be disabled.

Check driver

  1. Press Win+R;


  1. We write the command devmgmt.msc;


  1. Go to the "Network Devices" section. Now look carefully to see if there is an icon with an arrow down. If it is there, then right-click on it and then select “Engage”.

Checking the WLAN function

I’ll say right away that this function automatically controls all network devices and, in theory, it should be enabled. But sometimes when installing some programs or due to damage from viruses, the setting may fail.

  1. Win+R;


  1. services.msc;


  1. The list will arrange the data in alphabetical order. So just scroll down to the bottom to the “WLAN AutoConfig Service” section. After that, select the properties of this section.

  1. In the line “Startup type:” set automatic startup. Then click “Apply” and “OK”.

Installing drivers

If I were you, I would reinstall the drivers for your WiFi adapter. They should be downloaded from the official website of your laptop company.

  1. To do this, connect your laptop to your router via a wire into any free LAN port. Or you can find where else you can use the Internet.


  1. After that, open any search engine and enter the company name. I have an Acer laptop, so that's what I'm entering.


  1. Choose your product. Select the operating system version and then download the drivers for your wireless adapter.

If you did not find the necessary firewood on the site or are simply confused, then you can download the whole pack from the site - https://drp.su/ru/foradmin. You need to download "DriverPack Offline Network". After installing the driver, do not forget to restart the device.


What to do on the computer?

Unfortunately, manufacturers of ordinary stationary personal computers do not install a built-in wireless network module. But it can be purchased separately. It looks like a regular flash drive. Sometimes an antenna is also installed in it to improve communication. Such external modules cost from 800 to 1800 rubles in any computer store. Drivers are quickly installed offline the first time you connect to the Internet.


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