You bought a laptop DNS (or you've been using it for a long time), but it suddenly stopped working Wi-Fi? Or is the wireless network module disabled at the factory, and you don't know how to activate it? This problem is familiar to many owners of budget and gaming models of the brand—from DNS Airbook to DNS PrestigioThe reasons may vary, from a simple settings error to a hardware failure.
In this article we will look at all possible ways to turn on Wi-Fi on laptops DNS, regardless of model and version Windows (10/11) You will learn how to check the adapter status, update drivers, and use hot keys and even go into BIOS, if the module is disabled at the hardware level. And if the problem goes deeper, we'll provide a diagnostic checklist.
Spoiler: in 80% of cases, it's the fault of software settings, not a broken adapter. So don't rush to take your laptop to a service center!
1. Checking the physical activation of Wi-Fi (hot keys and switches)
The first thing to do is to make sure that The Wi-Fi module is physically turned onOn laptops DNS (as with most others) this is the responsibility of:
- 🔑 Key combination - usually
Fn + F2,Fn + F12or a separate button with an antenna icon (depending on the model). The button may have a picture drawn on it. airplane or signal waves. - 🔄 Hardware switch - on some models (for example, DNS Airbook 15) There is a small slider on the right or front of the case. If it is moved to the position
OFF, Wi-Fi will not work. - 💡 Indicator — the LED with the Wi-Fi icon on the front panel or next to the keyboard should be lit (or blinking). If it does not glow, the module is disabled.
Press a key combination (eg. Fn + F2) and wait 5-10 seconds – a network signal should appear. If nothing happens:
- Try holding
Fnlonger (sometimes laptops DNS "they don't catch" a short press). - Check if the key is locked
Fn- some models have a separate buttonFn Lock. - Connect your laptop to a charger—some models turn off Wi-Fi when the battery level is low.
⚠️ Attention: On laptops DNS With dual OS (Windows + Linux) Hotkeys may only work on one system. If you recently reinstalled the OS, check the settings inBIOS(chapterAdvanced → Hotkey Mode).
2. Enabling Wi-Fi through Windows settings (if the adapter is disabled software-based)
If physically turning it on doesn't help, check your settings. Windows. Often the adapter is disconnected accidentally through Network and Sharing Center or device Manager.
Method 1. Via the notification panel:
- Click on the icon Wi-Fi in the lower right corner of the screen (next to the clock).
- If the network sign is crossed out or grey, click on it and select
Wi-Fi → Turn on. - If the network is not listed, click
Troubleshooting— Windows will automatically check the adapter.
Method 2. Via "Settings" (Windows 10/11):
- Open
Start → Settings → Network & Internet. - Go to the tab
Wi-Fi. - Move the slider
Wireless networkin position On - If there is no slider or it is inactive, the problem is in the driver (see Section 4).
Method 3. Via "Network Connections":
- Click
Win + R, enterncpa.cpland pressEnter. - Find the adapter
Wireless network(orWireless). - If it's grey, right click and select
Turn on.
☑️ Checking Windows network settings
3. Check the adapter status in Device Manager
If Wi-Fi does not turn on using any of the above methods, the problem is most likely in Device ManagerThere are two ways to get there:
- Through
Start → Device Manager. - By clicking
Win + Xand selecting the appropriate item.
In the window that opens:
- Expand the section
Network adapters. - Find the device with the words
Wireless,Wi-Fi,802.11or the model name (for example, Intel Wi-Fi 6, Realtek RTL8821CE). - If the light next to the adapter is on down arrow (🔽) - Right-click and select
Engage. - If there is no adapter at all or nearby exclamation mark (⚠️) — the problem is drivers (see next section).
Also check if the adapter is disabled in properties:
- Right-click on the adapter →
Properties. - Go to the tab
Power management. - Uncheck the box
Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
⚠️ Attention: On laptops DNS With Linux (for example, pre-installed Ubuntu) the adapter may have a different name - look for itwlan0orwlp3s0in the terminal via commandip a.
| Symbol in Device Manager | What does it mean? | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 🔽 (down arrow) | The adapter was disabled manually. | Click "Activate" |
| ⚠️ (exclamation mark) | Problem with the driver | Update/reinstall the driver |
| ❌ (red cross) | The device is disabled in BIOS | Enter BIOS and enable Wi-Fi |
| ❓ (question mark) | Windows does not recognize the device | Install the driver manually |
4. Update or reinstall Wi-Fi drivers
If in Device Manager the adapter is marked with an exclamation mark or is missing altogether, the problem is drivers. Laptops DNS often come with stripped-down or outdated drivers, especially if you've reinstalled Windows.
Method 1. Automatic update via Windows:
- Open
device Manager. - Find your Wi-Fi adapter, right-click →
Update driver. - Select
Automatic search. - If Windows finds an update, install it and restart your laptop.
Method 2. Installing the driver from the DNS website:
- Go to official DNS website (chapter
Support → Drivers). - Please enter your laptop model (e.g. DNS Airbook 15 A2021).
- Download driver for network adapter (chapter
WirelessorWi-Fi). - Install it and restart your laptop.
Method 3. Installing a universal driver:
If on the site DNS There is no driver for your model. Determine the manufacturer of your Wi-Fi module:
- IN
Device Managerclick on the adapter →Properties → Details. - From the drop-down menu, select
Equipment ID. - Copy the first line (eg.
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2723). - Look for this code on the website DevID — They'll pick up a driver there.
5. Enabling Wi-Fi in BIOS (if the adapter is disabled at the hardware level)
If all the previous methods did not work, it is possible that The Wi-Fi module is disabled in the BIOS.This often happens on new laptops. DNS, where the module is deactivated to save power.
How to access BIOS on a DNS laptop:
- Turn off your laptop.
- Press the power button and press continuously key
Del,F2orEsc(depending on the model). The message should appear on the screenEntering Setup. - If it doesn't work, try
F1,F10orF12.
How to enable Wi-Fi in BIOS:
- Go to the section
Advanced(orConfiguration,System Configuration). - Find the parameter
Wireless LAN,Wi-Fi,WLANorNetwork Controller. - Set value
Enabled(included). - Save changes (
F10) and restart the laptop.
⚠️ Attention: On some laptops DNS (especially in gaming series) there may be a separate item in the BIOS Airplane Mode - it needs to be turn off, otherwise Wi-Fi will not work.
What should I do if I can't enter BIOS?
If your laptop does not respond to keys when turned on, try:
1. Disable quick launch in Windows (Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do → Change unavailable settings → Uncheck "Turn on fast startup").
2. Remove the battery (if it is removable) and connect the laptop to the power supply - sometimes this resets the BIOS settings.
3. Press Win + X → Shut Down → Shut Down (not reboot!) and immediately upon turning on, press the BIOS entry key.
6. Troubleshooting: When the Hardware is to Blame
If none of the methods helped, the problem might be hardwareHere are some signs that the Wi-Fi module is faulty or physically disconnected:
- 🔌 The adapter is not displayed in
Device Managereven after installing the drivers. - 💥 The laptop does not respond to hotkeys and the Wi-Fi indicator does not light up.
- 🔧 There is no option in the BIOS
Wireless LANor it is inactive. - 🔄 After rebooting, Wi-Fi settings are reset.
What you can do yourself:
- Check the antenna connections:
- Turn off the laptop and remove the back cover (if it is removable).
- Find the Wi-Fi module (usually a small board with two antenna wires).
- Make sure the wires are tightly connected to the connectors.
MAINAndAUX.
- Test the module in another laptop:
- If possible, remove the Wi-Fi module and insert it into another laptop (for example, a friend’s).
- If it doesn’t work there either, the module is faulty.
- If the module is broken, you can use USB adapter (For example, TP-Link TL-WN725N).
- Connect it to a USB port and install the driver - it will cost less than replacing the internal module.
Important: on laptops DNS Prestigio and some models Airbook The Wi-Fi module may be soldered to the motherboard. In this case, replacement is only possible at a service center.
7. Alternative ways to connect to the Internet (if Wi-Fi doesn't work)
While you're figuring out Wi-Fi, you can connect to the internet in other ways:
- 📱 USB tethering from a smartphone:
- Connect your phone via USB and turn it on.
Modem modein the settings. - On your laptop, select
Local Area Network Connection.
- Connect your phone via USB and turn it on.
- 🌐 Ethernet (cable):
- Connect your laptop to the router via network cable (connector
RJ-45). - If there is no connector, use USB-Ethernet adapter.
- Connect your laptop to the router via network cable (connector
- 📡 4G/5G modem:
- Buy a USB modem (for example, Huawei E3372) and insert a SIM card with Internet.
- Install the driver and connect via
Mobile hotspot.
If you urgently need to download a Wi-Fi driver but don't have internet access:
- Download the driver on another device (phone, tablet, second laptop).
- Transfer it to a flash drive or via the cloud (for example, Google Drive).
- Install on the problematic laptop DNS.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Wi-Fi on DNS Laptops
Why doesn't WiFi work on my laptop after a Windows update?
Windows updates sometimes reset drivers or conflict with them. Try:
- Roll back the system to a previous restore point (
Start → Settings → Update & Security → Recovery). - Uninstall the current Wi-Fi driver and reinstall it from the website DNS.
- Disable automatic driver updates (
Control Panel → System → Advanced system settings → Hardware → Device installation settings).
Is it possible to enable Wi-Fi on a DNS laptop without Windows (for example, on Linux)?
Yes, but the process depends on the distribution. The general algorithm is:
- Open terminal and enter
lspci | grep -i network- this is how you will find the name of the Wi-Fi adapter. - Install the driver via a package manager (for example,
sudo apt install firmware-iwlwifiFor Intel). - Enable the adapter with the command
sudo ip link set wlan0 up(Wherewlan0— the name of your adapter). - Connect to the network via
nmtuiornmcli.
For Ubuntu And Mint An additional package often helps linux-firmware.
My laptop's DNS doesn't see the Wi-Fi network, but the adapter is turned on. What's wrong?
Possible reasons:
- The router is operating in the mode
802.11ac(5 GHz), and your adapter only supports802.11n(2.4 GHz). Solution: enable the mode in the router settingsb/g/n. - It is disabled in the driver. scanning mode. Solution: update the driver or manually enable scanning via
Device Manager → Adapter Properties → Advanced. - The signal is too weak. Solution: move your laptop closer to the router or use repeater.
- It's turned on in the router MAC address filter. Solution: add the laptop's MAC address to the list of allowed devices (you can find it through
ipconfig /all(in the command line).
How do I reset my laptop's network DNS settings?
If your Wi-Fi is unstable, try resetting your network settings:
- Open Command prompt as administrator (
Win + X → Command Prompt (Administrator)). - Enter the commands one by one:
netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns - Restart your laptop.
If this does not help, remove all network adapters via device Manager (right click → Remove device), then reboot - Windows will reinstall them automatically.
Where can I find a DNS service center for Wi-Fi repair?
Official service centers DNS There are ones in most major cities. To find the nearest one:
- Go to the website DNS.
- At the bottom of the page, select
Service centers. - Enter your city or address and the system will show the nearest points.
If your laptop is under warranty, the repair will be free (provided the breakdown is not your fault). The average cost of replacing a Wi-Fi module out of warranty is 1,500–3,000 rubles (depending on the model).