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The computer does not detect the Wi-Fi network. Troubleshooting Wi-Fi network connection problems on laptops I can't see a neighboring computer on a wireless network

All laptop owners, sooner or later, may encounter the fact that the laptop does not see wifi. The complexity is, in principle, common, and some of the solutions will help any users of wireless networks. The article will give a complete answer to the question of what to do if the laptop does not see the wifi network. Consider what causes can lead to such consequences, how to deal with the difficulty that has arisen and the nuances of elimination on various platforms.

The case when the laptop does not see Wi-Fi networks at all

In such cases, when turned on, you do not detect wireless networks, as such. In the “tray” (the space that, by default, is located in the lower right corner and is represented as a line with notes), instead of the connection icon, you will see a red cross. It is also possible that the icon will be standard, but the computer does not see Wi-Fi, and you are sure that there are wireless networks within the radius of the receiver (it is easy to check using a phone or other device with a Wi-Fi adapter). The difficulty is obvious, and in another case, you would have to call the wizard, but after reading this article it will be possible to solve such a snag yourself.

Causes

The most common reason why a laptop does not see WiFi is that the laptop's wireless adapter is turned off. Often it is accidentally turned off manually, although there are cases when this happens due to the fault of the installed software. It can be turned off systemically, by a combination of buttons on the keyboard or in the wireless networks menu. It is also possible to physically turn off by means of a button on the laptop case.
A possible reason for the difficulty is the lack or incorrect installation of network card drivers, when installing the wrong version of the software (Software) for the network card, or a failure in the installation.
The reason that the laptop stopped seeing the network is the lack of active wireless networks within the range of the device.

Solutions

The case when the laptop does not see a specific network

The difficulty when your laptop does not see WiFi is also solved. Suppose the device does not find the router's network, but sees signals from a neighboring office or building without difficulty. Such a difficulty is puzzling, especially if you look for a solution in a laptop (the malfunction is not always located in the computer, sometimes it does not catch Wi-Fi due to third-party reasons).

Possible reasons

The reason that the laptop does not find a specific network is very often (in about 85% of cases) one. Due to the fact that wireless networks have become very dense in our lives, often in large cities there are about 10 distributing Internet routers for one reception signal. Each new access point that appears looks for a free range. In the settings for wireless networks, for the most part, it is set to automatically search for a range. When you turn on the laptop, it does not find WiFi because it accidentally tuned in to the range of a nearby Wi-Fi connection.

Solution

Nuances on Windows 10

If your laptop with Windows 10 installed does not see Wi-Fi, try changing the network name along with the channel width (as described in the instructions above), or as this option was described in the “SSID” interface. Change the "Region" in the same settings window.
One of the frequent difficulties on the “dozens” is the driver. Be sure to check them out and reinstall just in case. In this operating system, wireless adapters often fail due to incorrect drivers.

If Android does not see the WiFi network, the first step is to understand which side the problem is: on the device that distributes the wireless network (modem / router), or on your Android phone / tablet.

This article is suitable for all brands that produce phones on Android 10/9/8/7: Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, LG, Sony, ZTE, Huawei, Meizu, Fly, Alcatel, Xiaomi, Nokia and others. We are not responsible for your actions.

Attention! You can ask your question to a specialist at the end of the article.

Determining the source of the problem

The first step is to determine if Android sees other Wi-Fi networks. Try to distribute the network from a laptop, from an iPhone or another phone, go to a public place with free Wi-Fi.

If there were no problems with finding other points, there is definitely a problem in the network, which. If the device does not catch any points, although other phones show their presence, then look for problems in the system and the hardware component.

Android does not see any Wi-Fi networks

If the device does not detect wireless points, although it previously saw them without problems, make sure that there are no errors in the system and that the module is working.

Open settings.
In the "Wireless Networks" field, move the Wi-FI switch to the "On" position.
Start a network search.
Open additional functions and check the box "Always look for networks."

In the settings of the latest versions of Android, there is an option to reset the network settings. With it, you can fix system failures without resetting other device settings and without deleting information from memory.

Settings
User and Archiving
Backup and Reset
Reset network settings

Increase

If you have problems connecting to Wi-Fi after updating or flashing the device, then you need to roll back to the latest stable version of Android. Use official or verified custom assemblies for firmware, then the question of what to do with the next system error will arise much less frequently.

The worst thing that can happen to a phone or tablet is hardware failure. If you suspect that the wireless module has failed, contact the service center to diagnose and replace the component.

Troubleshooting

Before you start serious hardware diagnostics, follow a few simple steps:

Make sure the network you want to connect to really exists. To do this, see if other devices detect it.
Go to android settings. Disable and enable Wi-Fi.
Restart your phone/tablet.
Reboot your router if you have access to it. Unplug it, wait 10-20 seconds and plug it back in.
Bring the device closer to the router. The signal may be obstructed by obstacles or the distance may be too great.
Check the saved password again. If you changed the password in the router settings, then it could be saved in the connection settings on Android.

That's all you can do on an Android device. If after performing these steps the network does not appear, proceed to check and configure the signal source.

Setting up a router

If you have access to the router, then check its settings. What can help:

Enable Wi-Fi in settings.
Change network name (SSID).
Change Wi-Fi channel.
Checking the network operation mode.
Removing restrictions on the number of connected devices.
Setting up the built-in firewall.

Router settings are different, but all have a Wi-Fi section. Take another look at how to set up Wi-Fi on a specific router model, and make sure you have the correct settings.

Increase

If when you try to establish a connection, the inscription “ ” appears, but nothing happens further, try:

Reboot your router.
Rename Wi-Fi network. Use only latin letters in the title.
Enable the DHCP server.
Change the network encryption type.
Manually enter the DNS and IP address in the Android hotspot settings.

These methods are also relevant for other devices from which Wi-Fi is distributed. If you are using third-party software to create a wireless connection from a laptop or phone, make sure the mobile hotspot is set up correctly. Try to connect to it from another phone, and if it is impossible to establish a connection, create a new point.

Many users sooner or later face this problem. The reasons why Wi-Fi does not work on a laptop may be different. Perhaps you recently installed a new operating system, bought a new router, or upgraded an old one and so on.

In general, if you are also in this situation, and you are unable to connect your laptop to a Wi-Fi network, then in this article we will look at several ways that should help you connect your laptop to Wi-Fi.

Let's start with the simplest - reboot the router. To do this, unplug the power supply from the outlet, wait 10 seconds and plug it back in. Then reboot your operating system.

Network Diagnostics

Do network diagnostics. Although many will be rather skeptical about this advice, sometimes it can also help. Right-click on the wireless network icon in the tray and select "Problem Diagnosis". Windows will check, and if it finds a problem, it will suggest ways to solve it.

If a message appears after diagnostics:, then in a separate article you can read about ways to solve this error.

If after that, the laptop still does not see Wi-Fi, check Is the Wi-Fi enabled on the laptop?.

Find the wireless network icon on one of the F1-F12 buttons, I have it F2. Also on the button itself, near the power button or touchpad, there should be a light indicator that indicates that Wi-Fi is on. Specifically, in my case, if Wi-Fi is disabled, the indicator light is on. To turn it on, press the combination Fn + F2.

You also need to check that the network card is enabled. To do this, right-click on the wireless network icon in the tray and select "Network and Sharing Center".

In the next window, click "Change adapter settings".

If you have "Wireless network connection" grayed out, right-click on it and select "Enable".

After that, the icon should become colored. This indicates that the network adapter is enabled and the laptop can connect to the Wi-Fi network.

Checking Drivers

Check network adapter drivers. Click "Start" and write in the search bar "Device Manager" and follow the link you found.

Expanding the List "Network adapters". The desired adapter will be called something like: model name and "Wireless Network Adapter" (may be written Wi-Fi).

First you need to make sure it's enabled. Therefore, right-click on it, and if there is an item in the menu "Engage", click on it.

Now pay attention that there is no yellow exclamation mark or red cross near the adapter. If you have the same as in the figure below, then everything is fine with the installed drivers. If you have one of the mentioned signs (in the figure I indicated with an arrow how it might look), you need to install or update the drivers.

If your laptop came with a disk with drivers for installed devices, use it and reinstall the driver. If this does not help, and the laptop still cannot connect to Wi-Fi, go to the official website of your laptop manufacturer, download the drivers for the network adapter from there and install them.

You can read about installing drivers in the article:.

Also, to update or install missing drivers, you can use.

Checking the WLAN AutoConfig Service

This service is responsible for wireless network adapters, and if it is not running, then the adapters will be unavailable, respectively, the laptop will not be able to connect to Wi-Fi.

We go to the "Start" menu and write in the search bar "Services". Let's move on to the relevant section.

Then in the list we look for "WLAN AutoConfig Service", click on it with the right mouse button and, if it is disabled, click "Run".

Checking your router settings

Router settings can go astray, and not always through the fault of the user. Perhaps the password for accessing the network was simply changed.

If your wireless network icon is muted, and there is a yellow star next to it, click on it with the mouse, select the network and try to connect to it, having previously found out if the access password has changed. The reason may be this.

Also pay attention to the section network information (LAN). You may need to change the settings here according to the provider.

For those who get an error when trying to connect:, the article at the link can help.

I hope at least one of the tips helped you solve the question: why the laptop does not connect to Wi-Fi, and now your device is successfully connected to the network.

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SECOND STEP:

Check the operation of the wireless adapter driver on the "eight". If you just installed Windows 8, then the driver may not work correctly. You can do this through Device Manager. To enter it, move the cursor all the way to the right so that an additional menu appears. Choose there Search. And already in the search bar, type Device Manager. We are looking for a line in it "Network adapters" and carefully check that they are all working (no exclamation points). You can try to enable and disable the adapter itself (right-click):

Right click on the wireless adapter and select "Disable", then click again and select "Turn on"

THIRD STEP:

You need to change the channel on which the Wi-Fi broadcasts. How to do it? If you have a router / modem, then you need to go to the settings through the web interface (in the browser, type 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 - depending on the model). There we are looking for Wi-Fi settings (in Russian they write “Wireless Network”. There we are looking for the line “Channel” or “Wireless Channel”:

It is better to set either the FIRST or THIRD channel:

FOURTH STEP:

Check if the wireless standards on the modem and on the computer match!. Wireless network standards are 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g and 802.11n. The latest and most modern of them is compatible with all the previous ones, but not vice versa. Those. if your adapter on the eight works in 802.11g mode, and the modem is 802.11n, then you will not be able to connect.

HOW TO CHECK WHAT STANDARD IS ON THE MODEM AND ADAPTER IN THE COMPUTER?

ON MODEM: We go to the settings through the browser at 192.168.1.1 (192.168.0.1 - depending on the model). All routers / modems have such a category as "Device Information" or "Device Info". There is usually information about the Wi-fi connection, where the standard is indicated:

ON LAPTOP: Often, the Wi-Fi standard is written on the laptop itself (on a sticker that lists the characteristics of the machine). You can Google the name of your laptop and see the specifications on the manufacturer's website. Here is an example of a Sony Vaio with the specifications listed on the sony.ru website:

Also, the standard of your adapter can be viewed using the program Everest.

There are times when Wi-Fi is no longer available on the computer. Why this happens and what to do in each case will be discussed in this article.

The problem can be of two types: the computer does not see the Wi-Fi network at all, or only your access point is not in the list of available neighbor networks. In the first case, the problem is most likely in the Wi-Fi device, in the second - in the computer on which the network was lost.

What's the first thing to do? You can restart the router or computer on which the network has disappeared. Make sure that the password is entered correctly and that Caps Lock is not turned on. If the passphrase is correct, but the computer does not connect, then you need to look for other reasons.

If the computer does not see any access points at all and / or has stopped seeing them: you need to check if the Wi-Fi adapter is active. You need to do this: on the computer keyboard, press the key combination "Fn + F3" (depending on the model and manufacturer, there may be a combination of "Fn + F2" or "Fn + F5"). For keyboard shortcuts to work, drivers must be installed on the keyboard. On older models, the ability to see Wi-Fi is sometimes turned on with a separate button.

Network problems

If you have installed the drivers on the keyboard, turned on the Wi-Fi module, but there is still no Internet, then open the "Control Panel". Select "Internet Networks" and in "Manage Sharing" select "Change adapter settings". Here you will see a list of all adapters. Click on "Wireless Network". If the gray icon and the inscription "Disabled", then there is no Wi-Fi icon in the system tray, which is why nothing works. In this case, you need to enable: right-click the context menu and select "Enable". The wireless network becomes active. In case of an error, running Windows Network Diagnostics helps. The system itself can find and correct errors.

If after that the computer does not detect an available network, then reinstall the drivers on the wireless network adapter. Open "Device Manager", click on "Network adapters", find the desired device. You need to uninstall and reinstall the driver. Drivers can be found on the official website of your computer manufacturer or you can find a CD with a working driver that came with your computer. After installing the driver, you need to turn on the Wi-Fi module and see the work - if everything is activated, we figured out why the network disappeared.

Sometimes it happens that the laptop does not see the wireless network after being repaired or after cleaning. Masters can turn off the antennas. Then you need to disassemble the laptop case and connect them or seek help from specialists.

Router problems

If the problem is that the computer does not see only your router, but sees others, then you need to take the following steps. Find the router settings and check the operation of the Wi-Fi adapter. To do this, open a browser and enter http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.0.1 in the address bar. If it didn’t work out, the data on the ip-address and authorization in order to enter the page can be taken from the sticker attached on the back of the router case or on the manufacturer’s website. On the router page, you need to find "Advanced settings", the "Wi-Fi and network settings" tab. You need to set the "Enable wireless connection" flag. If the flag is on, but for some reason the problem remains, then the last way is to change the channel on which the router is running. In order not to blindly change the channel, you can use the "inSSIDer for Home" program, which analyzes the frequency range of the channel. Channels 1 to 11 are the American Wi-Fi standard, most devices can work on these channels. Free can be from 11 to 13. When changing the settings, do not forget to click "Save".

You can try to remove encryption, the setting is called "Authentication Method", change it to "Open System". The problem could be the length of the key ("WPA Preshared Key"). If it is more than 20 characters, then the router will stop working with such a long key. Most likely, the key can be no more than 12-13 characters. You can also update the firmware here: the "Administration" section, the "Update Firmware" tab.

Software

Why are there still difficulties? The problem may be in the software. If you have System Restore enabled in Windows, then restore points will be shown in the log when you install programs. You can return the operating system to the day the network was up and let it see connections again. You need to select a state, click "Next", follow the instructions. A Wi-Fi network can often disappear when updating the OS, so sometimes you have to reinstall programs after updating, including for a wireless connection, and then the computer sees what it needs again.

Adapter failure

If nothing helped and the computer still does not see available networks, then there is a possibility that the Wi-Fi adapter could fail: it can burn out during operation, it needs good cooling. If it burned out, it will not be displayed in the "Device Manager", this problem will be issued during "Windows Diagnostics". It will need to be repaired or replaced.

So, we examined the most basic sources of problems when a computer crashes with Wi-Fi. Remember that any problem can be fixed if you know its causes.