Make Sure Wi-Fi Is Enabled on the Device
On some devices, wireless capabilities can be turned on and off via a physical switch on the edge of the device. At the same time, most devices let you toggle Wi-Fi on and off through the software. Check both of these areas first, because that will save you troubleshooting time if the wireless connection is simply disabled.
Check the Wi-Fi Switch
If you’re on a laptop, look for a hardware switch or special function key that can turn the wireless radio on and off. It’s relatively easy to flip it by accident, or maybe you did it on purpose and forgot. Either way, toggle this switch or press that function key to see if this is the case. If you’re using a USB wireless network adapter, make sure it’s plugged in correctly. Try a different USB port to be sure the port isn’t to blame.
Enable Wi-Fi in the Settings
Another place to look is within the device’s settings. You might need to do this on your phone, desktop, laptop, Xbox, or other devices—anything that can turn Wi-Fi on and off will have an option to do so. For example, in Windows, within Control Panel, look for the Power Options setting and choose Change advanced power settings to make sure the Wireless Adapter Settings option is not set to a “power savings” mode. Anything but Maximum Performance might negatively affect the adapter’s performance and affect the connection. Also, check for a disabled wireless adapter from the list of network connections in Control Panel. To do that, execute the control netconnections command in Run or Command Prompt, and check for any red networks listed there. Another place where system settings could be causing no Wi-Fi connection is if the wireless adapter has been disabled in Device Manager. You can easily enable the device again if that’s the cause of the problem. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Android device that shows no wireless connection, open the Settings app, and find the Wi-Fi option. Make sure the Wi-Fi setting is enabled (it’s green when enabled on iOS, and blue on most Android devices).
Move Closer to the Router
Windows, walls, furniture, wireless phones, metal objects, and other obstructions can affect wireless signal strength. One study quoted by Cisco found that microwaves can degrade data throughput by as much as 64 percent and video cameras and analog phones can create 100 percent decreased throughput, meaning no data connection at all. If you’re able to, move closer to the wireless signal source. If you try this and find that the wireless connection works just fine, either eliminate the interferences or strategically move the router elsewhere, like to a more central location.
Restart or Reset the Router
Restart and reset are two different things, but both can come in handy if you have networking problems or poor Wi-Fi performance. If your Wi-Fi router hasn’t been powered down in a while, try restarting the router to flush out anything that could be causing hiccups. This is something to try if the no network connection problem happens sporadically or after a heavy load (like Netflix streaming). If restarting the router doesn’t fix the problem, try resetting the router’s software to restore it to factory default settings. This permanently erases the customizations you may have made on it, like the Wi-Fi password and other settings.
Check the SSID and Password
The SSID is the name of the Wi-Fi network. Normally, this name is stored on any device that previously connected to it, but if it’s not saved any longer, then your phone or other wireless devices will not automatically connect to it. Check the SSID that the device is trying to connect to and make sure it’s the right one for the network you need access to. For example, if the SSID for the network at your school is called “SchoolGuest,” be sure to choose that SSID from the list and not a different one that you don’t have access to. Some SSIDs are hidden, so if that’s the case, you must manually enter the SSID information, instead of just selecting it from a list of available networks. The SSID is only part of what’s required to connect to a network. If the connection fails when you try, and you know the SSID is right, double-check the password to ensure that it matches the password configured on the router. You might need to speak with the network administrator to get this.
Check the Device’s DHCP Settings
Most wireless routers are set up as DHCP servers, which allow computers and other client devices to join the network so their IP addresses don’t have to be manually set up. Check your wireless network adapter’s TCP/IP settings to make sure your adapter is automatically obtaining settings from the DHCP server. If it doesn’t get an address automatically, then it’s likely using a static IP address, which can cause problems if the network isn’t set up that way. You can do this in Windows by running the control netconnections command-line command via Run or Command Prompt. Right-click the wireless network adapter and enter its properties and then IPv4 or IPv6 options to check how the IP address is obtained. Similar steps can be taken on an iPhone or iPad via the Settings app in the Wi-Fi options. Tap the (i) button next to the network that’s experiencing the wireless connection issue, and make sure the Configure IP option is set up appropriately, with Automatic chosen if it’s supposed to use DHCP, or Manual if that’s necessary. For an Android, open the Settings > Wi-Fi menu and then tap the network name. Use the Edit link there to find the advanced settings that control DHCP and static addresses.
Update the Network Drivers and Operating System
Device driver issues can also cause problems with network connections—the network driver may be outdated, a new driver is causing problems, or the wireless router was recently upgraded. Do a system update first. In Windows, use Windows Update to download and install any necessary fixes or updates, both for the OS and for any network adapters. Also, visit the manufacturer’s website for your network adapter and check if there are any updates available. One easy way to update most network drivers is with a free driver updater tool.
Let the Computer Repair the Connection
Windows can repair wireless issues for you or provide additional troubleshooting. To do this, right-click the network connection icon in the taskbar and choose Diagnose, Repair, or Diagnose and Repair, depending on your version of Windows. If you don’t see such an option, open Control Panel and search for Network and Sharing Center or Network Connections, or execute control netconnections from Run or Command Prompt, to find the list of network connections, one of which should be for the Wi-Fi adapter. Right-click it and pick a repair option.
