Why Won’t My Laptop Connect To WiFi? – 13 Fixes

Do you find yourself asking why wont my laptop connect to WiFi? Then you are at the right place.

Internet connectivity issues can be really frustrating in the modern age of constant communication. It can be a real challenge to have Wi-Fi problems with your laptop when you want to get some work done.

While it is not common for modern laptops to have issues with Wi-Fi due to hardware problems, there are still plenty of internal software issues that can cause the Wi-Fi functionality to malfunction.

Here is an in-depth guide to fixing Wi-Fi connectivity problems with your laptop.

Why wont my laptop connect to WiFi?

If your laptop cannot connect to the Wi-Fi, there can be multiple reasons behind it. Some of the most common reasons for Wi-Fi connectivity issues are:

• Wi-Fi is turned off
• Airplane Mode is enabled
• The physical Wi-Fi switch is disabled
• The router is not in range
• Incorrect Wi-Fi password
• Misconfigured Wi-Fi settings
• Outdated or corrupt network drivers

Any single one, or a combination, of these issues can prevent your laptop from connecting to the Wi-Fi.

Troubleshooting Wi-Fi Network issues

In order to fix the Wi-Fi network issues of your laptop, you should first run a primary troubleshooting process. The following checks should be performed before moving to other steps of this guide.

1. Check if your router is unplugged or switched off in any way. Sometimes the solution is as simple as turning on a switch.
2. Check if your Wi-Fi password is the same. It is always beneficial to check if someone changed the password.
3. Check if other websites or internet browsers are working. This will help you pinpoint the problem with your Wi-Fi connection or a particular website.
4. Check if your device is trying to connect to the same Wi-Fi network as it usually does.
5. Try to move closer to the router to improve signal strength.
6. Try to turn on Airplane Mode and turn it off again.
7. Check if the physical Wi-Fi switch on your laptop is activated (if present).

If you have exhausted all the points in this checklist, then there is a definite problem with your laptop’s Wi-Fi connectivity. Read on to see the solutions to this problem.

How to fix a laptop that won’t connect to WiFi

Here are some of the more advanced troubleshooting steps that you should try if your laptop won’t connect to the Wi-Fi.

Reset your Router and Modem

The first step in the process should be to instantly restart your Wi-Fi router and modem. Here is the step-by-step way to do it properly.

1. Remove all the cables from your modem and router.
2. Wait for at least 30 seconds.
3. Plug the cables back into your modem.
4. Power on the modem using the power button.
5. Wait for at least 1 minute.
6. Plug the power cable back into the router and power it on.
7. Wait for at least 2 minutes before attempting to reconnect.
8. Check if your laptop can connect to the Wi-Fi now.

Often, the simplest of troubleshooting steps can solve your problem instantly. If the problem persists, move on to the next steps.

Restart your laptop

This might slip your mind while troubleshooting, but the simple act of restarting your laptop can often save you a lot of time and effort. Try to restart your laptop by turning it off, waiting for at least 30 seconds, and then turning it back on.

Reconnect to the Wi-Fi to see if it is working.

Remove Malware

Some suspicious applications and third-party software may cause unnecessary changes to your network settings without your permission.

These changes are often caused by malware that may be downloaded from the internet or transferred from an external storage device.

Downloading suspicious applications, unauthorized software, cracks, and other material from third-party websites can lead to the presence of malware in your system.

Malware can, therefore, be the cause of your network connectivity issues.

In order to scan and remove malware, you can use the MalwareBytes program. It is a very effective malware remover that can be used for free.

Run the Windows Troubleshooter

The standard Windows troubleshooter is not a very effective tool in most instances, but it can help you diagnose networking issues quite frequently. It doesn’t hurt to give it a try in this case.

1. Right-click on the Internet/Wi-Fi icon on your taskbar.
2. Select the “Troubleshoot problems” option.
3. Select “Wi-Fi” when prompted.
4. Click on “Next”
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Wait for the scan to be completed.
7. Apply the changes that are suggested by the Troubleshooter.

After running the troubleshooter, check to see if the Wi-Fi is working now.

Reset your Wi-Fi drivers

It is quite common for outdated or corrupt Wi-Fi device drivers to be the cause of networking issues in modern laptops. Therefore, resetting the Wi-Fi device drivers is an effective step in troubleshooting this problem.

1. Right-click on the Start button and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
2. Double click on “Network Adapters”.
3. Right-click on your Wi-Fi driver software, and select “Uninstall Device”.
4. Restart your laptop.
5. Wait a few seconds after booting, and then check if your Wi-Fi is working.

If the laptop is still not connecting to wi-fi, then try updating the device drivers using the following steps.

Update your Wi-Fi drivers

Although the system should install the missing Network Adapter driver automatically, it may install outdated basic drivers for it. This can happen if you have upgraded from an older version of Windows to a newer one. You can update the Wi-Fi driver manually by following these steps.

1. Right-click on Start and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network Adapters.
3. Right-click on the Wi-Fi Network Adapter and click “Update Driver”.
4. Choose to “Update Drivers Automatically” using the Internet.
5. Wait for the installation to be completed.
6. Check if you can connect to the Wi-Fi now.

If the system cannot update the drivers automatically using the internet, you will have to manually download the drivers to install the update. This can be done by using one of the several driver updater software available on the internet.

Renew your IP address

It is possible for the internet connection issues to be caused by IP conflicts. This can be solved by renewing the IP address on your laptop.

Follow these steps to renew your IP address.

1. Use the shortcut “Windows Key + R” to bring up the Run box.
2. Type “cmd” and press Enter.
3. Once the black window opens, type ipconfig /release and press Enter.
4. Wait for the command to run.
5. Once it is completed, type ipconfig /renew and press Enter.
6. Wait for it to complete and close the Command Prompt.
7. Try to connect to the WiFi again.

If you cannot connect to the WiFi still, try flushing the DNS by using the command ipconfig /flushdns in addition to the two aforementioned commands.

Turn off Anti-virus programs

Third-party antivirus software with real-time protection can often block the WiFi on your device. It is a simple troubleshooting step to try to turn off any antivirus programs to see if your WiFi connectivity is restored.

Disable IPv4 or IPv6

The next step in our troubleshooting process is to disable IPv4 or IPv6 in order to restore WiFi networking.

Here’s how to do it.

1. Open the Settings app by using the shortcut “Windows logo Key + I”
2. Open Network & Internet.
3. Select the “Change Adapter Options” under the Status section.
4. Right-click on the Wi-Fi adapter, and select Properties.
5. Uncheck the “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option to disable IPv4.
6. Click “OK” and try reconnecting via WiFi.
7. If the problem persists, re-enable the IPv4 and disable the “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” using the same steps.
8. Click “OK” and try to reconnect again.

Move on to the next steps if you still can’t connect to the WiFi.

Unhide and Rename the Internet Service Provider SSID

You can also try to rename the SSID of your WiFi network to force a reconnection. For some reason, many WiFi adapters do not connect to networks with unusual or strange names (usually with Unicode characters or unusual letters).

Furthermore, the SSID can be hidden in some cases and needs to be manually inserted while connecting.

This two-step process can resolve the issue for many users.

Use 2.4 GHz band on Dual-band routers

Dual-band WiFi routers can operate in both 2.4 GHz mode as well as 5 GHz mode. If you are having network problems while operating in 5 GHz mode, then you should try to use the 2.4 GHz mode to see if it has any effect.

1. Open the Control Panel using the “Windows Key + S” shortcut.
2. Open the “Network and Internet” category.
3. Open the “Network and Sharing Center”
4. Select “Change Adapter Settings” which is visible on the left.
5. Find your WiFi adapter, right-click on it, and select Properties.
6. Select the Configure option from the new window.
7. Go to the Advanced tab.
8. Scroll down to the “WZC IBSS Channel Number”.
9. Choose channels 1, 6, or 11 from the right drop-down menu labeled “Value”.
10. Confirm the changes and exit the settings.

The benefit of the 2.4 GHz band over the 5 GHz band is that the signal goes further and travels through walls easier than the latter. Furthermore, it has better support for older wireless standards and devices.

Change the Power Settings

The power settings of your laptop can be interfering with your WiFi adapter connectivity. In order to configure them properly, follow these steps.

1. Open the “Power Options” by right-clicking on the Battery icon in the notification area.
2. Click on “Change Plan Settings” next to your chosen plan.
3. Click on “Change Advanced Power Settings”.
4. Find the Wireless Adapter Settings and then “Power Saving Mode”.
5. Set the Power Saving Mode to “Maximum Performance” for both on battery and while plugged in.
6. Confirm the changes and exit the settings.

Restart your laptop and try to connect to the WiFi again.

Use an external WiFi adapter

Finally, if all the above steps have failed, then there is possibly a hardware issue with the WiFi module in your laptop. You will have to use an external WiFi adapter to regain this functionality.

WiFi adapters are commonly available in various shapes and sizes, but for a laptop, it is best to purchase a USB adapter in a relatively compact size.

Be sure to take note of the networking speeds that are supported by the WiFi adapter before buying it.

FAQs:

How do I reset my wireless connection on my laptop?

You can reset the wireless network connection on your laptop by going to Network & Internet settings, and then clicking on “Manage Known Networks”. Here you can configure the various network connection settings of your WiFi and network adapters.

Why won’t my laptop connect to Wi-Fi but my phone will?

If your laptop won’t connect to the WiFi but your phone will, then there is a definite problem with the WiFi settings of your laptop. Try to run the Windows Troubleshooter to see if the problem can be rectified automatically.

Are external Wi-Fi adapters worth it?

External WiFi adapters are worth it if your laptop is completely unable to activate the WiFi functionality. This points to there being a hardware issue with the laptop’s WiFi module. External WiFi adapters can bypass that problem.

Why are WiFi networks not showing on my laptop?

If your WiFi is ON but the available Wi-Fi networks are not showing on your laptop, then you may be out of range of the routers. Try to move closer to the wireless router to see if the network issue persists. You can also try to turn the WiFi OFF and ON again to rectify this issue.