What to do if Wi-Fi isn't working on your computer: complete instructions

Have you turned on your laptop or PC, only to suddenly lose your Wi-Fi connection? Or is the network detected, but pages won't load, and an exclamation point appears next to the connection icon? This problem is familiar to every second user—and the causes can range from simple glitches to serious hardware issues. In this article, we'll explore the possibilities. all possible scenarios, Why Wi-Fi doesn't work on the computer, and we'll give step-by-step solutions — from elementary to advanced.

It's important to understand: the course of action depends on the symptoms. For example, if the network isn't showing up in the list at all, that's one thing, but if there's a connection but no internet, that's quite another. We've structured this article so you can quickly find your specific situation. We'll start with the simplest checks—they help in 60% of cases—and gradually move on to more complex settings.

Don't rush to reset your router or reinstall drivers! Often, the problem can be solved in just a few clicks. And if you're a user Windows 10/11, we have separate life hacks for your system.

1. Basic diagnostics: checking the obvious

Before digging too deep, make sure the problem isn't a minor one. These steps take no more than a minute and will save you a lot of unnecessary work.

• 🔌 Router power supply: Check if the power light on the router is on. If not, plug it into a power outlet or press the power button (usually on the back panel).
• 📶 Wi-Fi on the router: on some models (TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic) There is a separate button for turning on the wireless network. Make sure it is active (the indicator Wi-Fi or WLAN lights up green/blue).
• ⚡ Airplane Mode: on laptops, check if the mode is activated Airplane ModeOn . Windows This can be done through the notification panel (airplane icon) or with a key combination Fn + F2 (on some models HP, Lenovo).
• 🔄 Rebooting devices: Turn off your router for 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Do the same with your computer. This clears temporary connection errors.

If the network appears after these steps, the problem was a hardware failure. If not, let's move on.

2. Check the connection on other devices

Before setting up your computer, make sure the problem is with your computer and not your router or ISP. To do this:

1. Take your smartphone, tablet or another laptop.
2. Try connecting to the same network Wi-Fi.
3. If the internet works, the problem is with your PC. If not, the router or ISP is to blame.

What to do if Wi-Fi doesn't work on all devices:

• 📞 Call your provider (the number is usually on your contract or on the router box) and check if there are any problems on their end.
• 🔧 Reboot your router (unplug the power cord for 1 minute).
• 🔌 Check if the ISP cable is connected to the port WAN/Internet on the router (usually it is highlighted in a different color).

3. Diagnosing the network adapter in Windows

If the problem is only on your PC, first check the status network adapter. IN Windows This is done through the Device Manager.

1. Click Win + X and select "Device Manager"**.
2. Expand the tab Network adapters**.
3. Find the device with the words Wireless, Wi-Fi or 802.11 (For example, Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 or Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377).
4. If there is a yellow triangle ⚠️ next to the adapter, right-click on it and select "Update driver"**.

What to do if the adapter appears to be working properly, but Wi-Fi is not working:

• 🔄 Right-click on the adapter → "Enable"** (if the option is active).
• 🔧 Choose "Properties" → tab "Driver" → "Roll Back"** (if the button is active). Sometimes an updated driver performs worse than the old one.
• 📥 If the rollback did not help, download the driver from the laptop manufacturer's website (for HP, Dell, Lenovo) or adapter (for TP-Link, ASUS).

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