Find wi-fi on a laptop. Driver installation and update. Turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop: using a keyboard shortcut or a switch on the case

What's the point of buying a laptop if you tie it to a specific place in the house with a wired Internet connection? Therefore, all laptops are equipped Wi-Fi module, allowing you to connect to wireless networks, which gives the user the opportunity to move freely with a laptop PC in space. But to take advantage of this opportunity, you first need to figure out how to turn on WiFi on a laptop.

You will have to use the adapter at several levels: enable it in hardware, launch it programmatically in the system settings and device manager. If you skip one step, the connection will not be established, so you need to be extremely careful about the procedure.

How to enable WiFi on a laptop

Hardware enable

By default, WiFi is inactive; you can start it using a special switch on the case or a key combination that differs on the device from different manufacturers.

Carefully inspect your laptop PC. Look for a button or switch next to which there is an image of an antenna that receives a signal (the picture may be different, but you will understand the meaning). If you find a switch, move it to the active position. The light on the case should light up, indicating that the device is ready to connect to wireless networks.

If there is no toggle switch, then WiFi is turned on with a key combination. You need to look for a suitable button in the row F1-F12. The search conditions are the same - the key should have an icon in the form of an antenna receiving the signal.

When you find the right key, press it in combination with Fn to launch the adapter. Possible combinations for different laptop manufacturers:

• Acer – Fn+F3.
• Asus – Fn+F2.
• HP – Fn+F12.
• Lenovo – Fn+F5.
• Samsung – Fn+F12 or Fn+F9.
• Dell – Fn+F12 or Fn+F2.

Depending on the model, the combinations may change even on devices from the same manufacturer, but don’t worry - the picture will make it clear that you were not mistaken.

If you do not find either a switch or a button in the F1-F12 row, then look for a built-in utility in the system for WiFi control. This is true for laptops from Samsung Corporation (Easy utility Settings) and laptops with an Intel board installed ( Intel program PROSet).

Equipment check

After physically turning it on, you need to check whether the board is recognized correctly on the computer. Open Device Manager and expand the Network Adapters section. It should display at least two lines − network card For wired connection and a board for working with Wi-Fi (can be signed as Wireless).

Make sure there is no exclamation mark, and the equipment itself functions without errors. If there are any problems, try reinstalling the drivers. Download software from the laptop manufacturer's website.

Drivers must be for your laptop model. In addition, the software must be correlated with Windows bit depth(32- and 64-bit), otherwise the equipment will not work correctly. If the drivers are installed correctly, but the node is not functioning, right-click on it and click “Enable”.

Soft launch

After checking the hardware in Device Manager, you need to make sure that the Wi-Fi connection is enabled on the system itself. Before this, you interacted directly with the module, now move on to the connection settings.

If instead of "Enable" in context menu If the “Disable” option is indicated, then you don’t need to do anything - Wi-Fi is already working and ready to use. By the way, “Airplane” mode was added to Windows 8, the activation of which disables all communication methods on the laptop. On the “ten” the mode is also preserved, so if the Internet does not work, make sure that the “Airplane” mode is disabled.

Today, regardless of the manufacturer, every laptop, e.g. asus lenovo, hp compaq and so on are equipped with a wifi interface.

Just for the Internet to appear, it must be configured correctly. It makes no difference what OS you have: windows 10, windows 7 or windows 8 - everything is done in the same way.

Second step: directly enable in your laptop wifi adapter - of course, if disabled. There are no problems with this, but since the easiest way to turn it on is with the keys, it is not uncommon that the exact key you require does not work.

So I'll give three here simple ways how to turn on the Wi-Fi adapter in a laptop using keys and even without a keyboard.

All three methods work on all Windows - windows 10, windows 7 or windows 8 and so on.

The first way to turn on the wifi adapter in a laptop on Windows 10 - Windows 7

On a laptop keyboard there is an Fn key at the bottom left. It, in combination with the button in the top row F1 ... F12, turns on the Wi-Fi adapter.

I won’t tell you which one does this for you, since it depends on the laptop manufacturer.

For example, in Asus there is almost always a combination of fn+f2. If you wish, you can go to the “Windows” menu on this site (at the very top) and find how to do this there.

This section has a description for everyone, although there are quite a few entries (about 1000, but at the very top there is a “search”).

I won’t dwell on the keys any more, but let’s look at how to carry out such a procedure without a keyboard.

The second way to turn on the Wi-Fi adapter in a laptop is via the command line

If the required key does not work on your laptop, then try turning on the adapter

To do this, run it, enter the command below and press enter, where instead of “Your Network” write the exact name of your wifi network.

Netsh wlan connect name=”Your Network”

The third way to enable a wi-fi adapter in a laptop without a keyboard on Windows 10 - Windows 7

This option involves enabling it directly in the adapter itself.

If for some reason this doesn’t work, then try another good option.

To do this, go to “…” and find something like “Troubleshooting”.

More than once, the “master” turned on the wifi adapter on his own; if it was turned off, I think he’ll turn it on for you too. Good luck.

Without working WiFi adapter and the laptop will not be able to connect to the wireless network. If you find that the Wi-Fi module is disabled, you can easily enable it yourself in hardware and software.

What is a WiFi adapter

Wi-Fi adapter is a module in a laptop that is capable of recognizing signals from routers by installing wireless connection to the Internet. A WiFi adapter is available on any modern laptop as a built-in board.

If you want to connect to wireless networks from your computer, you can purchase external WiFi adapter that connects to system unit via USB interface. Software setup the equipment will be the same in any case, only the methods will differ hardware enable devices.

Hardware enable

To turn on the Wi-Fi adapter on a laptop, find the corresponding hardware button on the case or use a hotkey combination. You can usually find out the current state of the module (on or off) using the indicator. If it is not lit, then you need to turn on WiFi on the laptop.

Most often, the combination of the Fn button with one of the keys in the F1-F12 row is responsible for turning it on. On ASUS laptops, for example, the combination Fn+F2 is used. When these two keys are pressed simultaneously, all wireless modules of the laptop are activated, including Wi-Fi.

Combinations for enabling Wi-Fi on laptops from various manufacturers:

• Acer – Fn+F3.
• ASUS – Fn+F2.
• Dell – Fn+F2.
• Gigabyte – Fn+F2.
• Fujitsu – Fn+F5.
• HP – Fn+F12.

The pictograms will help you determine the appropriate key. Usually on the desired button An antenna is drawn that distributes a signal.

On some laptop models, you can turn on the WiFi adapter using a separate button on the case. It can be located directly below the display. On older models there is a two-position switch, which is located on the side of the laptop.

Software enablement

If, after turning on the WiFi adapter in hardware, the wireless connection icon with a list of available connection points does not appear in the tray, you will also have to activate the module programmatically. You can enable Wi-Fi in the system settings.

On Windows 8 and Windows 10, WiFi is disabled/enabled with a special switch, which is located above the list of available points or in the system parameters.

An icon should appear in the notification area; when you click on it, a list of wireless networks available for connection will open. If the list states that available connections no, make sure Wi-Fi is configured on the router. If the wireless connection icon does not appear in the tray, make sure that the WiFi adapter is working without errors.

Possible problems when turning on

There are several reasons why the Wi-Fi model cannot be turned on:

1. The Fn button does not work, therefore the key combination does not work.
2. The adapter drivers are not installed, the system does not detect the device.
3. The WiFi module has failed and requires replacement.

Using a keyboard shortcut is usually not the only way to enable the wireless module, but if you try to get the adapter to work using a button combination and nothing works, you should check the software status.

On some laptops correct operation Fn buttons must be installed in the system special utility. For ASUS laptops this is ATK Hotkey Utility. You can find suitable software on the manufacturer's website. The Fn button may not work for other reasons, but this is a topic for a separate large article.

The most common reason why a Wi-Fi adapter cannot be turned on is missing hardware drivers.

Drivers can be installed automatically or manually. It is recommended to use manual installation by first downloading the software from the manufacturer’s website. At manual installation drivers suitable version and bit depth, the problem with turning on the adapter should disappear.

In this article we will tell you how to enable wifi on a laptop. The fact is that on laptops different brands and manufacturers, Wi-Fi is also turned on differently. On some laptop models you need to turn on a mechanical switch, on others you just need to press the desired combination of keyboard keys.

Therefore, our article will be divided into two parts. In the first part we will tell you about turning on WiFi on different models laptops, and in the second part we will look at some features of enabling Wi-Fi in the operating room Windows system. So, let's go!

How to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop

Next, we will give standard laptop key combinations that allow you to enable Wi-Fi on a laptop. Don’t forget, as mentioned above, that some models have a mechanical switch/switch that is responsible for turning on the laptop’s WiFi.

You can always check at the moment by asking a question in the comments. Now, we will move on to laptop key combinations that are designed to enable wifi. Typically, the button on a laptop that is responsible for turning on the wireless network is marked with a stylized icon:

1. Let's start with the company's laptops Asus (Asus). To turn on Wi-Fi they use a key combination Fn+F2.
2. The company's laptops HP (Hewlett Packard) need to be clamped Fn+F12. Or find a button with a picture of a wireless network.
3. Laptops Acer And Packard Bell turn on WiFi using a key combination Fn+F3.
4. On laptops MSI WiFi is turned on using the keys Fn+F10.
5. On laptop models from Samsung need to be clamped Fn+F9 or Fn+F12 .
6. Laptops from Lenovo (Lenovo), depending on the model, may have special switch. You can also turn on the wireless network through a key combination Fn+F5.
7. On laptops from Toshiba keyboard shortcut should be used Fn+F8.
8. Laptops from Sony Vaio(Sony Vayo) may have a mechanical switch.

If there is no button Fn It makes sense to look for the switch at the end of your laptop. If, after turning it on using the keys or switch, WiFi still does not work, then perhaps the reason lies in the configuration of the Windows operating system, the configuration of which will be discussed below.

Software enable Wi-Fi on laptops

Some laptop models may have software that enables the WiFi adapter. For example, on laptops Samsung this program is called “Easy Settings”, and on laptops with Wi-Fi adapter mi from the company Intel The Intel PROSet program is installed. This fact undoubtedly needs to be taken into account, especially if you have not found hotkey There is no mechanical switch on the keyboard or laptop.

If you have similar software installed on your laptop, then enabling Wi-Fi networks carried out through this software.

How to turn on wifi on a computer

For those of you, dear visitors, who do not have a laptop, but want to turn on Wi-Fi on desktop computer, we want to make a small clarification. The fact is that not everyone has a built-in Wi-Fi module that allows you to communicate via wireless technology. Find out if your computer has WIFI module You can refer to the specifications for your motherboard or try to find the adapter in Windows Device Manager.

As you can see from the screenshot above, the Wi-Fi adapter contains the word “Wireless”. The module may also contain the word “WiFi”. As you probably already understood, without such an adapter you can contact wireless point access or router will not work. There is a variety of equipment on sale, Wi-Fi adapters and modules to suit every taste and budget. They can be divided into two main types - USB and PCI adapters. The picture below shows a PCI module for connecting to Wi-Fi:

Accordingly, the USB adapter is inserted into USB connector on the motherboard, and the PCI adapter is connected to the pci slot motherboard. After installing the drivers, you can fully use this adapter. Let's move on to the settings that are responsible for Wi-Fi in your operating system.

Turn on WiFi in Windows

There are a number of options that should be checked for WiFi to work. First, go to Device Manager (Control Panel > System > Device Manager) and check if everything is ok with the network adapter driver. There should be no yellow on the device exclamation point, and it should be enabled, as shown in the following picture (we will talk about setting up the adapter in Device Manager below).

Next, we need to check whether the wireless connection we need is enabled. To do this, visit “Control Panel”> “Network and Internet”> “ Network connections" The following picture shows that the wireless connection is not enabled. If you also do not have it enabled, then you need to enable it by right-clicking on it.

In addition, you should make sure that your laptop sees the access point or router and connects to this device. By the way, we advise you to read the article:. So if WiFi router visible, then in the Windows tray (in the lower right corner there is a ladder icon) you need to select it and click the “Connect” button to required Wi-Fi networks.

The topic of this article is how to enable a wireless WiFi adapter on a laptop. However, we will not only talk about this. We will look at how to install it on a PC, as well as how to determine which Wi-Fi module is currently working. This will give you a better understanding of how the technology works, as well as how to handle similar equipment.

This, in turn, will allow you to easily and quickly solve various network connection problems that may arise during the process, as well as troubleshoot all sorts of problems yourself, without calling a technician. This is a fairly broad topic, so let's look at all the questions in order. The best place to start is with how to connect a wireless WiFi adapter on a laptop.

How to connect a Wi-Fi adapter to a laptop

First of all, it is worth noting that laptops usually use two brands of wireless adapters:

• Atheros.
• Broadcom.

Of course, there are others. But these are the ones that have received the most recognition and distribution. But no matter what module you have installed, they all have the same connector. In order to remove or connect the WiFi adapter, you will have to disassemble your laptop. The module itself is easy to disconnect or connect, since it is located in a special mini connector PCI. An antenna is also connected to it to enhance reception.

All Wi-Fi modules have this connection interface and are therefore interchangeable. There are also external models, which connect to the USB port of the computer. However, it is worth noting that due to their compactness, there is not enough space for a full-fledged antenna. And the connector itself is not capable of providing desired speed. This means that data transfer when USB help adapter will be much slower than when using an embedded device with a mini PCI form factor.

But at the same time, USB models are easier to use, since connecting them is much simpler. You don't need to disassemble your laptop to do this. It is, of course, recommended to use built-in hardware, because it is more stable, faster and does not take up USB ports.

So, in any case, we move on to the question of how to install a wireless Wi-Fi adapter on a laptop. After connecting it to the appropriate interface, we need to install the drivers.

How to enable WiFi adapter: Video

How to install software for a Wi-Fi adapter

If you bought a WiFi adapter separately, then the device should include a disk with the necessary software. Paste it in DVD drive and install necessary drivers. It is worth noting that after connecting the new module to the computer, after downloading latest system will automatically detect new hardware and ask you to install a driver. If you are using Windows 7 or 8, then as a rule, operating system it will find the necessary software and install it. However, it is still recommended to install it manually from disk. If there is no disk, then you can download everything you need from the Internet, you just need to know the equipment model. You will find this information on the box or in the instructions for the equipment.

How to determine which WiFi adapter is currently installed in a laptop? Everything is extremely simple here. To do this, simply open Device Manager. This is how it is done. Press two keys at the same time - Windows + R. In the window that appears, write mmc devmgmt.msc and press “Enter”. This is the command to launch Device Manager. All are displayed here installed devices on the computer.

We are interested in the “Network equipment” branch. Let's open it. Wireless WiFi devices, as a rule, contain the device model and the following phrase in the name - Wireless Network Adapter (translated as Wireless network equipment). Here we look at what devices are currently in use. You can also disable them in Device Manager.

To disable a device, open its information double click left mouse button. Next, go to the “Driver” tab. To disable or enable, press the corresponding button. You can also do this by simply right-clicking on the desired device. In the menu that appears, simply select the required action.

How to find out which WiFi adapter is in your laptop from the moment of purchase? This is also done in Device Manager. But this information can also be obtained on the official website of the PC developer. Just go to the site and indicate your model in full. So you will get detailed information about all laptop devices, including the WiFi adapter. Here you can also download the latest drivers.

How to install a driver for a WiFi adapter: Video

How to enable WiFi adapter on laptop

Turning on the Wi-Fi module on a laptop is as easy as shelling pears. First of all, install the drivers and necessary software. Next, simply press and hold the Fn key without releasing it, press the button turn on WiFi. It is marked with the corresponding icon. Some models have separate button. In this case, just press it.

If after these steps the module does not turn on and the system does not start searching for available connections, then you should open the Network Control Center and shared access and check the wireless connection status. Click the network icon in the tray (bottom right corner of the desktop). Select the appropriate item.

In the menu that opens, go to the “Change adapter settings” section. Finding the shortcut Wireless network(or wireless network connection). If he gray, then right-click on it and select “Enable”.