Several factors can cause a Wi-Fi connection to fail.
The steps to resolve this issue are listed below in order of the most common.
The Wi-Fi device is disabled
As a security feature, most current laptops include a button that turns your computer’s Wi-Fi on and off.
Check any buttons or status light indicators to make sure your Wi-Fi is on.
When the light is on, it is usually blue or green.
Make sure the WiFi connection is turned on
Select Start, type network connection in the Search box, and then click the Show network connections in Windows option to make sure the connection is not disabled.
If your wireless connection is listed under Network Connections, right-click it and select Enable.
The network connection is already activated if you see Disable.
Make sure the SSID and security key are correct
If you see many available wireless networks in your list of wireless connections, double-check that you are connecting to the correct SSID (router name) and using the correct security key.
The laptop will not connect to the network if you connect to a neighbor’s router or if you enter the wrong security key.
Make sure the internet is up and running
If you can connect to your Wi-Fi device but not the Internet, the problem may be with your Internet service provider, not your computer.
Check that your Internet connection is working by connecting to the Internet with a separate device, such as a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
If you can access the Internet on another device, you can safely conclude that the problem is with the computer.
There may be a problem with your router, modem, or ISP if the internet is not working on any device.
For assistance in troubleshooting your Internet connection, please contact your ISP’s technical support staff.
Reset the modem and router as necessary
Problems with a DSL modem, cable modem, or network router that prevent one or more devices from connecting to the network are not uncommon.
Disconnect the power from the back of the modem and router to make sure this is not the problem.
Wait 10-15 seconds after turning off the power before turning it back on.
Wait a few minutes for the modem and router to reconnect to the Internet, then check your computer’s Internet connection.
If the problem persists, try restarting your computer.
Firewalls should be disabled
Installing several software firewalls on your computer can cause several problems with your network connection.
We recommend temporarily disabling any firewalls on your computer to make sure this isn’t a problem.
Disable the Windows Firewall as well as any other firewalls included in your security software.
Roll back Windows to a previous version
If you’re using Microsoft Windows and your Wi-Fi was working before, consider rolling back Windows to a previous version.
Bad software or settings may have created problems with your Wi-Fi equipment or Windows’ ability to use the Internet connection in some situations.
Drivers and wireless devices need to be reinstalled
Another reason why you might not be able to see any Wi-Fi networks or have trouble identifying your wireless card is if your wireless drivers are corrupted or have errors.
Follow the steps below to make sure you don’t have a problem with the driver.
Remove the device and wait for Windows to recognize the Wi-Fi card again
- Open Device Manager in Windows.
- Expand the Network adapters section in Device Manager to see all network devices.
- To uninstall your Wi-Fi or wireless network adapter, select it and click the Delete button.
If the option to remove the driver is available, uncheck it for now. - Close all windows, restart your computer, and let Windows re-detect and install the network card after the device is uninstalled.
If allowing Windows to re-detect and install the wireless card does not resolve the issue, the problem may be with the drivers.
Follow the procedures below to replace the drivers.
Reinstall the latest network drivers
- Find and download the network drivers for your network adapter.
We recommend downloading drivers directly from the manufacturer if at all possible (eg Dell, HP, or Netgear). - Open Device Manager in Windows.
- Expand the Network adapters section in Device Manager to see all network devices.
- To uninstall your Wi-Fi or wireless network adapter, select it and click the Delete button.
Check the option to remove the driver if available. - Close all open windows and install the downloaded drivers after the device has been erased.
If the drivers have an installation or executable file, run it. - Restart your computer and check if your internet connection is working.
Move the computer or wireless router
This can cause connectivity issues if your computer has trouble maintaining a strong signal with your wireless router.
Reposition the router and its antennas to make sure this is not the problem.
If you have problems with signal strength, try getting a range extender (repeater) for your home or workplace to ensure a good signal in all locations.
Alternatively, to reduce signal interference from wireless devices, consider changing the frequency of your router.
Restore the laptop to factory settings
If you have a laptop, try resetting it using the procedures below.
- Turn off the laptop.
- Remove the battery and disconnect the AC adapter (power supply) when the laptop is turned off.
- Leave the computer off for 30 seconds after removing the battery and unplugging the power cord.
While the device is off, press and hold the power button for 5-10 seconds. - Put the battery in the laptop and reconnect the power cable after 30 seconds.
- Start the laptop and enter the CMOS setup while it is loading.
- Reset the CMOS settings to their default values in CMOS Setup, save the settings, and then exit Setup.
If your Wi-Fi still isn’t working, try uninstalling the Wi-Fi adapter from Device Manager and restarting your laptop to see if Windows recognizes it.
Upgrade the firmware on your router
If your computer was never able to connect to the network, try updating your router’s firmware.
Damage to the operating system
If your Wi-Fi connection is still not working after trying all the instructions above, the problem may be caused by file corruption in the operating system.
As a final option, we recommend wiping everything and reinstalling the operating system to see if you have faulty hardware.
This way, you can ensure that your computer is clean and trouble-free.
Defective hardware
If you are unable to establish a Wi-Fi connection after trying all the above ideas, the Wi-Fi adapter or related hardware is probably broken.
Check all antenna cables on the desktop with Wi-Fi built into the motherboard (on the board) and, if everything is fine, replace the motherboard.
If you have a laptop, we recommend that you take it in for service.
If you’ve followed all of the above methods and your Wi-Fi still isn’t working on multiple devices, your router is broken and needs to be replaced.
Workaround
A workaround would be to plug a USB network adapter into your computer if a hardware change is out of your budget or if you need a faster alternative.
These adapters are relatively cheap and can be quickly inserted into the computer if there are no other problems.