Wireless adapter or access point problem - how to fix the problem. Solving the problem when there is no wireless network connection Network adapters do not have a wireless connection

More and more users prefer wireless internet, but with the advent of Wi-Fi, difficulties also appeared that accompany an over-the-air connection. Therefore, today we will look in detail at why the Wi-Fi adapter does not see the network and what to do about this problem.

general information

This problem mainly applies to laptops that have long been equipped with wireless modules by default, but this also applies to computers on which the adapter was installed - both external and internal.

There may be several reasons for the problem:

Errors when loading the router or the computer itself.
Problems with drivers on the receiving device.
There is a problem with the software on the dispenser.
Oxidation of contacts or disconnected adapter after cleaning.

In general, the first step that needs to be taken in any case is to restart both devices, and if the problem continues, try connecting from another device - for example, from a phone, to understand which side the problem is on.

If the router is not new and you have been using it for quite a long time, then a settings failure is unlikely, unless the firmware has crashed.

If you are using an internal adapter that connects to motherboard directly (in the case of a desktop computer), then you should remove the device and check the contacts - oxidation rarely occurs, which will need to be eliminated.

Also, don't forget that sometimes the adapter on laptops can turn itself off, so before you sound the alarm, just check that it's turned on. On some models you can find a separate button with an indicator, while on others activation occurs using a key combination - usually this plus another key marked wireless network.

The last of the simplest is a rare case when after cleaning the technician forgets to connect the Wi-Fi receiver, so if you have recently carried out cleaning, then it is worth checking for this particular reason.

Now let’s try to figure out together why your Wi-Fi adapter isn’t working.

Problem on the receiving device side

If reboots and other simple methods did not help you, then at least you have already carried out diagnostics first. If the phone and everything else that you tried to connect sees the network and works normally with it, then the problem, naturally, is on the computer side.

For those for whom none of the connected devices wanted to find the network, it is better to immediately move on to the next section.

Now we will consider two options:

The problem occurred during the first connection.
The problem arose after quite a long and normal operation.

In the first case, most likely, you simply did not have the drivers installed - the only correct solution in this case would be to search for official software. If you installed a third-party adapter, then a disk should have come with it, from where everything should be installed, and if it is a built-in adapter, as in the case of a laptop, the manufacturer’s website will help you - find out the model of your laptop, go to the company’s website and enter the model name there , then select the required driver or download the full package.

In the second case, you should do the following operation:

Open the Start menu, find “My Computer”, right-click and look for “Properties”.
Now we find “Device Manager” on the left - a new window will open in front of you, in which you need to find the item regarding network adapters.

We find the desired sub-item with the Wi-Fi signature, press the right mouse button again, then select “Delete” and confirm the choice.

A little higher, click “Update configuration” and see how the computer finds the adapter again.

As a result, after reinstalling the equipment, the drivers should be in place again, and everything will work as it should. Even more effective would be to install the driver manually from a file downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website.

If the Wi-Fi adapter does not connect to the network and almost immediately breaks the connection, then you may need to configure the connection, but before that, let the system perform diagnostics itself: find the Wi-Fi icon on the panel below, press the right button and find diagnostics. Next you will need to follow the instructions.

If none of the above helps, right-click on the signal strength icon in the panel. Now our goal is the “Network Control Center”.

Now find the “Change adapter settings” icon.

Inside you will find with a red cross an icon of the network to which we tried to connect - double-click on it and look inside for “Internet Protocol Version 4”.

In the general tab, set both parameters to automatic receipt and now simply click confirmation in all open tabs.

Now we have dealt with the problem due to which the Wi-Fi adapter on the receiving device side does not turn on, and now we move on.

The problem is on the distribution point side

If Wi-Fi is turned on but does not see the network, then perhaps the problem is hidden in your router.

Quite rarely, but it happens when an old router and a new laptop (or vice versa) do not want to “see” each other - this is due to the different frequencies at which the devices operate, so try not to use equipment of different generations.

All you can do if the problems are on this side is to rearrange the firmware, since the problems are most likely there, or the router has simply worked its way. This problem is quite difficult to detect, since even when entering the settings on the crashed firmware, everything can happen as usual, but some functions will be blocked.

To flash the firmware, you again need to go to the manufacturer’s official website and download there software and read the instructions for this operation.

If, after all that has been done, the reason why the Wi-Fi adapter does not see the network is not found, you can safely go for another router.

What to do if Wi-Fi doesn't work? Easy solution to the problem: Video

Windows users often encounter a problem when network connections no laptop wireless connection, and a “cross” appears in the tray on the connection status icon.

At the same time, the WiFi access point functions properly and distributes the Internet to other gadgets and devices.

If you hover your mouse over this icon, you will see a “no connections available” notification. The situation is unpleasant, but there is no need to rush to take the PC to service center.

After all, even if there is no Wi-Fi icon in the running Network Control Center window, it is possible that the PC hardware is in good working order and does not need repair.

In most cases, such a problem can be diagnosed and solved independently. To do this, you just need to know the reasons for its occurrence and how to correctly configure the wireless connection.

A short list of possible sources of the problem and their solutions

Among the most common reasons why there is no wireless network connection on a computer are the following:

Often, laptop models provide “Fn” buttons and one of the function keys, for example, “F2,” for this purpose. On the desired button a conscientious manufacturer always applies an appropriate design symbolizing wireless communication.

Sometimes a separate switch with this pattern is placed at the ends of the laptop:

Infection with malicious applications. The actions are obvious; you should conduct a full analysis of your PC for the presence of viruses and, if found, remove them;
It often happens that the network is unavailable because some functions are blocked by an antivirus utility or firewall. It is recommended to try deactivating them for a while.

How to make sure you have a Wi-Fi adapter?

If this module is missing, the Wi-Fi icon in the tray is also missing. And if it is there, but a message about no connection is displayed, then the manufacturer usually indicates the device model on a sticker that can be found on the laptop case.

The owner of a desktop PC can accurately verify the presence of a wireless receiver simply by examining system unit. If an external antenna is detected, we can conclude that it most likely belongs to a WiFi adapter.

It is very easy to determine the adapter model using Windows tools. For this purpose, it is necessary to carry out only a few sequential actions:

Software

Windows provides automatic loading of drivers, but it happens that the software for some devices is not installed or does not work correctly.

In such cases, you need to install the software yourself. To do this you just need to take a few steps:

If the above does not lead to a successful result, then you will need to perform the following steps:

Go back to the “Actions” tab;
Click the line “Install old device”;
In the window that appears, click “Next”;
Specify " Automatic search"or "Manual";
Then select “Network adapters”;
Find the device model in the list;
Wait until the installation is complete and restart the PC.

If it is necessary to update drivers, the algorithm will consist of the following steps:

Guided by points 1 – 5 from the first instructions, launch “Device Manager”;
Then call the context menu from the problematic equipment;
Click “Update driver”;
It is recommended to specify “Automatic search”, and the OS will automatically find and install the software;
Or, if the user downloaded the software in advance and saved it on the PC, click “Search on your computer” and show the location of the downloaded drivers.

To manually find and download suitable software, you must complete the following steps:

Open the device developer resource;
In the search field, type the equipment model and click “Enter”;
Enter the “Devices” section;
Save drivers for the device in PC memory.

If you encounter difficulties performing a task manually, you can use programs that are specially designed for software installation. One such application is Driver Booster.

The advantage of using it mainly lies in automatically detecting the device model and downloading the latest software modifications.

Network configuration

In order for the laptop to connect to Wi-Fi correctly, diagnostics are required.

Diagnostics:

Wireless Internet access technologies are gaining increasing popularity. However, despite the apparent perfection, quite often you can encounter situations with a lack of connection, although it would seem that the network is configured correctly. In most cases the problem is the adapter wireless networks or access point in Windows 7 or other similar operating systems is associated either with the settings of the routers, or with incorrectly set access parameters on the computer, laptop or mobile device. Next, we propose to consider the reasons for this phenomenon and several solutions to eliminate problems corresponding to typical situations with the appearance of connection errors.

Wireless adapter or access point problem: Why is there no connection?

Let's start directly with the reasons. Problems that arise can be divided into two types: when there is a connection, but without access to the Internet, and when there is no Internet access at all.

How to correct such situations will be discussed a little later. However, do not forget that the problem with a wireless network adapter or access point (in Windows 10, for example) may be related not so much to the equipment or connection settings, but to the provider. You can find out by looking at the router. If the problem is on the provider's side, the LED light indicated by the Internet icon will not light up. Or maybe, no matter how trivial it sounds, the user simply did not pay the subscription fee on time, or the provider is currently carrying out technical work?

But what to do if the light is on, the provider’s router is pinging, and there is no connection for connected computer terminals or mobile devices? In this case, you can offer several options for action that usually eliminate all sorts of failures and errors in the wireless connection, mostly using software methods rather than physical intervention in the operation of devices.

Wireless adapter or access point problem: how to fix the problem in the simplest way?

Let's start, perhaps, with the most primitive solutions. To begin with, just check the Internet access not from the main computer, but, for example, from mobile device. If there is a connection, then the problem is with the computer. If there is no connection on all devices, try resetting the router by completely disconnecting it from the network for 10-15 seconds and turning it on again (some users advise pausing for one to five minutes). Sometimes it may be necessary to reboot the device from which the connection is supposed to be made (this means desktop computers or laptops, not mobile devices).

Quite often, a problem with a wireless network adapter or access point on a laptop can be resolved by checking that the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on. To do this, laptops use either special switches, assigned buttons, or combinations thereof. It may very well be that the network adapter just needs to be turned on, and after a while the available networks will be identified, and the connection icon for selecting the required network will appear in the system tray.

Checking your router settings

But, suppose that the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on, but there is still no network. Here you will have to enter the router settings by entering the appropriate address indicated on the sign on the back of the router in any Internet browser, and then, using authorization in the form of login and password, check whether Wi-Fi distribution is turned on (usually this is the Wireless section or something something like that, unless the router interface is Russified).

Another option to troubleshoot your wireless adapter or access point is to check whether it is enabled in the appropriate section of your router settings. If this does not help, reset the settings to factory settings directly in the router options (there is usually a special menu for this).

It is also advisable to check a similar service in Windows, using the services.msc command in the Run console to access it. If the service is inactive, you should enable it and set the startup type to automatic.

Changing the connection type

In some cases, even after resetting the settings, the problem with the wireless network adapter or access point does not resolve. In this case, use the router settings again, and in the established channel line, enter the values 5, 6 or 11.

You can also try changing the connection type to mixed (b/g/n) in the wireless connection section.

Driver Questions

The problem with the wireless network adapter or access point may be due to the fact that the device drivers are outdated or crashed.

Enter the "Task Manager", find the device you are looking for and use the driver update option from the RMB menu or when going to properties on the driver tab. If this does not work, completely remove the Wi-Fi adapter from the system, and then install the drivers again. You should not rely on Windows, since the system, after removing the driver or upon reboot, will still offer to install the most suitable software from its own database, and for some non-standard devices it may not be in the catalog. It is better to use the original driver disk, if available, or install the control software using programs like DriverPack Solution.

Checking TCP/IP protocol settings

Finally, another solution to the question of how to fix the problem of the wireless network adapter or access point is to check the IPv4 protocol settings in the properties of the connection you are using.

All parameters must be set to receive addresses automatically. If this is the case, but the network still does not work, you can use manually set DNS server addresses. As an optimal option, many advise entering free Google combinations, which are sequences of fours and eights (less often, sevens).

Please note that in some cases, when the sixth version of the protocol is also activated along with the fourth version of the protocol, it must be completely disabled (it is quite possible that the provider does not use the DHCP server of the sixth version, and the active IPv6 protocol causes conflicts in the system).

Using utilities to troubleshoot network errors

Some users recommend using various testing programs to troubleshoot connection problems. One of the most interesting (albeit in the English version) is the NetAdapter Repair utility, which is a kind of automated tool for fixing failures, similar to how, for example, the Windows troubleshooting service or the same FixIt utility works.

Simply launch the application, select the necessary tests from the menu on the left and run testing (Run all selected). You can also use the Advanced Repair alternative to fix identified problems.

What else could it be?

Only the most common problems and the main methods for eliminating them were described above. But sometimes more serious situations can occur. In some cases, you may need to delete an existing connection and create a similar one again.

Many experts call the most severe case the situation when only the Power indicator on the router is lit when it is turned on. This already indicates a problem with the equipment itself.

It also happens that the Wi-Fi indicator does not light up. On some router models, you need to check whether there is a button to turn on the distribution on the rear panel (it is, as it were, recessed into the case). Sometimes you may need to update your router firmware. Perhaps the problem is that the connection cable is broken. To find out, connect the cable directly to your computer or laptop and check the connection. Finally, contact your ISP and find out if and which static IP you can use. If this is provided, register it in the IPv4 settings.

However, in most situations, if the problems are not related to broken routers or do not relate to the provider providing Internet access services, the above methods usually fix the problems. True, it will be impossible to immediately say what exactly caused the failure, so you will have to act, to put it mildly, at random, although you can perform all the actions in the order in which they were described above.

Patient: Problem with the wireless adapter. The error “The network adapter “Wireless Network Connection” does not have valid IP settings” appears. Operating system Windows 10.

Solution:
1.Launch Command Prompt ( cmd) on behalf of the administrator.
To do this, open the explorer. Open drive C there, for example. Next, in the “file” menu of the explorer, click on “Open command line” and to the left “Open command line as administrator”. click on this item.
2. When the black window opens, its title at the top should begin with the word Administrator! In the black window that appears, write (after each line click Enter.):
route -f
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh int ip reset
netsh int ipv4 reset
netsh int tcp reset
netsh winsock reset

3. The computer will reboot. After rebooting, wait until the connection itself is updated.

A similar problem is solved in a similar way in Windows systems 7 and 8.1 In this case command line runs as shown in the picture below:
Click "START"(item 1) in the field that appears, type cmd(clause 2). The line will appear above cmd, right-click on it (step 3.) Select from the menu that appears “run as administrator”.

Wi-Fi technology is very widely used in the life of a modern person, as it allows you to easily and quickly solve the problem of connecting to the Internet without using conventional wires. This is especially true when using laptops, which can be used to access the Internet in any convenient place thanks to the presence of a built-in Wi-Fi adapter.

That is why the situation when Wi-Fi does not work on a laptop leads to significant inconvenience and even some problems. The reasons why laptop computer Wi-Fi may not work, there are quite a few. It is simply unrealistic to solve the most serious of them on your own without the help of specialists, but there are quite a lot of them that can be eliminated on your own. Let's look at them.

Is the problem with your laptop or router?

A fairly common problem that a laptop has stopped connecting to the WiFi network is not a problem with the laptop itself, but with the settings of the router that distributes the network. Thus, the laptop can be configured correctly, but Wi-Fi still does not turn on precisely because it has nothing to connect to.

To rule out the possibility that the problem is related to this, you should try to connect to the network from any other device that is equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter - from another laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc.

If Wi-Fi does not work from another gadget, then the problem lies in the Wi-Fi router distributing the Internet. If the connection is successful, the problem is in the laptop and before solving it, you first need to determine why Wi-Fi stopped working.

Hardware enable adapter

Based on such diagnostics, you can accurately determine that this problem arose precisely because of the laptop. When Wi-Fi does not work on it, you can try using several methods.

The first one is to check if the wireless adapter on your laptop is enabled. Almost all modern models have light indicators for the operation of the WiFi module and there are special key combinations to enable it in hardware.

Typically, a lit indicator indicates that the module is turned on. If the indicator does not light up at all or lights up in red, then Wi-Fi is not working precisely because of the wireless network adapter. It must be turned on.

Most often, such indicators are located directly on the keyboard, side or front panel of the device case. Sometimes they are located on the monitor body or near the touchpad.

To enable the module of such a network, press the key combination Fn and one of the system keys F1-F12. The specific combination depends on the laptop manufacturer. Usually, the corresponding antenna icon is located on the desired key. If it is not there, then to turn on Wi-Fi you should try pressing the standard combination for a particular model:
Fn+F3 for Acer;
Fn+F2 for Asus, Dell or Gigabyte;
Fn+F5 on Fujitsu devices;
Fn+F12 on HP laptops.

After pressing the corresponding keys, we check whether the wireless connection module operation indicator lights up or whether it stops glowing red. After this, you should try to connect to the network again. If this does not help, move on to the next step.

Software enablement

When Wi-Fi stops working and turning it on in hardware does not give positive results, you also need to turn it on in software, which is done directly from the operating system the laptop is running.

To implement software turning on WiFi that has stopped working on Windows 7, 8 or 10, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:

1. On the notification panel, which is located near the clock, select the network connection status icon;

2. From the list that opens, select “Network and Sharing Center” or “Network Settings” depending on the version of the operating system;

3. The next step is “Changing adapter parameters.”

Among the list of all existing connections, you need to pay attention to the color of the “Wireless Network Connection” icon. If your WiFi does not work and the wireless adapter is disabled, the connection icon will not be highlighted. In this case, right-click on its icon and select “Enable” from the context menu that opens. The color of the connection icon should change.

In this case, the wireless network adapter turns on, all you have to do is find the one you need in the list of available wireless networks and connect to it.

If, after such actions, Wi-Fi, which has stopped working, continues to be inactive, you need to move on to the next method of solving the problem.

Driver installation and update

Quite often, the wireless Wi-Fi connection does not turn on due to the lack of a driver or when it is very outdated. To determine availability installed driver, you need to select “Properties” from the context menu of the “My Computer” icon, which is located on the desktop or in the “Start” menu. Next, in the window that opens, select the “Device Manager” command from the menu on the left.

In the new window that opens with a list of connected devices, you need to find the name of the laptop’s wireless network adapter. Usually its name is “Wireless Network Adapter” or “Wireless Network Adapter”, along with which the device manufacturer should be indicated: Realtek, Atheros, Qualcomm or something else.

Having found the desired item and right-clicking on it, select “Properties” from the context menu. In the window that opens, there should be an item “Device is working normally.” But even if there is a mark about normal operation device, this is far from a guarantee that the correct driver version is installed and Wi-Fi is turned on correctly. To check it, in the window with the properties of the wireless device, go to the “Driver” tab and pay attention to the items “Date of development” and “Vendor”.

If the supplier is Microsoft or the program development date is several years behind the current one, go to the official website of the laptop manufacturer and download the latest official version of the driver.

The same should be done if there is no wireless adapter among the list of installed devices.

If in the list of devices the module wireless communication is present, but marked with a yellow exclamation mark, this means that the device is disabled, as a result of which the network stopped working. In this case, opening the device properties window, you need to click the “Engage” button.

Another reason why Wi-Fi stopped working on a laptop may be that the energy-saving mode is enabled, which prevents the wireless connection from working. To disable it, you need to do the following:
1. Open Control Panel;
2. Select the “Power Options” icon;

3. In the window that opens, select the “High Performance” or “Balanced” mode.

External obstacles to the signal

It's also worth noting that a broken wireless network can also be the result of more than just laptop problems. The wireless signal is affected by some external factors that may weaken it. Ceilings, walls, floors and similar obstacles significantly degrade the signal quality of the access point and laptop.

As is known, the signal quality is personal computer is displayed in the form of several marks - the more there are, the higher the quality of the signal. If the wireless connection level is displayed as 1 or 2 marks, then you don’t have to try to use WiFi - in this case it will not work normally.

In this case, you need to move the router closer to your workplace, move the workplace closer to Wi-Fi router or buy a new, more powerful router.

If all else fails

If none of the tips above helped, you can use a simple, but often effective solution: restart both your computer and your wireless router. Please note that after a reboot, the router turns on for up to 5-10 minutes before it starts distributing the network. Be patient. Also, despite the opinion of many skeptics, sometimes the troubleshooting function that is included in the wireless network helps to solve problems with the wireless network. operating system Windows.

Thus, most of the existing solutions to problems related to the fact that Wi-Fi has stopped working on a laptop have been listed above. Almost all such methods and recommendations can be used by anyone who is faced with a similar problem, since this does not require any special skills.
If nothing helps, and the wireless network does not start working, there is only one option left - go for help to a quality service center, where they can solve any problems with the laptop.

If the article did not help solve your problem and Wi-Fi still does not work, write in the comments, I will try to help.