Wi-Fi connection lost. Wi-Fi does not work on the laptop. How to restore connection. Poor or unstable Wi-Fi signal level

Recently I began to notice that the more people buy different equipment with WiFi - routers, modems, access points, TVs, tablets, etc. - the more problems arise with the wireless network: the signal disappears or it is very low, the data transfer speed jumps or it is very low, devices periodically fall off and can no longer connect. There are many reasons why Wi-Fi turns off, and it can be either software settings or a hardware malfunction. In general, a wireless network itself is a very capricious thing, the stability of which depends on many factors and conditions. Today I will talk about the most common problems and failures that can cause poor reception or the WiFi signal disappearing altogether.

The WiFi signal suddenly disappeared

— the router shut down. Try rebooting it by turning off the power for a couple of minutes and turning it on again.

— If you have a laptop or tablet, check the battery charge. On many mobile devices, the Wi-Fi module can be forcibly disabled to save energy. Moreover, on laptops with Windows 8 and Windows 10, this option is often enabled in the adapter properties.

It is also worth checking the settings of the power supply circuit used.

— Approach the router at a distance of approximately 2 meters. No signal? Then for the test you need a known working device with a wireless network interface - a tablet, smartphone, telephone, etc. If it works without problems, but your laptop cannot connect, then most likely there is a problem with the adapter driver. Try reinstalling or updating it.

It didn’t help and WiFi still turns off on the laptop? Take it to the service center.
By the way, on laptops and tablets there is often a case when, due to poor contact, the antenna turns off during shaking. In this case, you need to open the case and solder it back.

If the test device also does not see the home network, then the problem is on the router’s side. Try resetting it to factory settings using the “Reset” button and setting it up again.

If it doesn’t help, take it in for repair.

Poor or unstable Wi-Fi signal level

The reason for the deterioration in the quality of a wireless home network is most often the presence of several more access points in the neighborhood. This is another common reason why Wi-Fi turns off. Lately in apartment buildings this has been some kind of punishment. Almost every apartment has a router and in every entrance there are a dozen or two networks. In this case, there are two options: the right one and the cheap one.
—Correct option, but more expensive. Why? But because you will have to buy equipment operating at a frequency of 5 GHz, fortunately now it is already relatively inexpensive. An inexpensive dual-band router will cost about 3 thousand rubles. For example, Totolink A2004NS router.

I think it’s clear that for a computer and laptop you will also need to buy additional adapters - that’s another couple of thousand. But with smartphones and tablets, things are worse - some already have support for the 5 GHz band, but simpler and cheaper ones will have to be left in the old range. But there will be no more problems with channel overlap and interference from neighbors.
— The cheap option is labor-intensive and hemorrhoid-intensive. Firstly, you will need to constantly scan the range with the inSSIDer program in search of a free channel, and then set it in the router settings.

Secondly, you will still have to drag most devices closer to the modem or router, since even if the selected channel is free, interference can come from busy neighboring ones. And there’s no getting around it. Just cover the house with 5 layers of foil.

I don't have networks in my neighborhood, but WiFi still turns off. Why?

In this case, the most common reason is the incorrect location of the access point in the apartment. To provide it with maximum coverage area, it must be located as close to the center of the home as possible. If you have points where Wi-Fi from the router still does not reach, then you need to install an additional device - a repeater.

The quality of the wireless network signal is greatly affected by:
- plasterboard (walls made of it or their finishing with plasterboard)
— reinforced concrete walls(reinforcement has a critical influence)
- water. Very often in houses or apartments they like to place a large, very large aquarium against the wall. After this, a pandemonium with the network may begin in the next room and the owner will be visited by the question “why is Wi-Fi turned off?!”
— electronic devices. If there are a lot of electronics (TVs, microwaves, radios) and the like in the space between the router and the computer (laptop, tablet, smartphone), then you will immediately notice a deterioration in the quality of work.

Don’t forget that the reason why WiFi turns off can be software or hardware. router malfunction.

In my memory, there is one case with the D-Link DIR-615 K2. The owner complained to me - “Wi-Fi is disappearing!” I checked the settings - everything is correct. But after some time the access point simply turns off. And through the LAN ports of the router everything works fine. The solution was a simple firmware update, after which the problem was successfully resolved.
Another case was with a device from QTech, where when it fell from a table, the contact of the internal antenna fell off. The manufacturer regretted the solder. We opened it, soldered the antenna and WiFi does not disappear. Although, if you are not comfortable with a soldering iron, then if you suspect that Wi-Fi is disappearing due to a hardware malfunction, take the device to a service center.

Wi-Fi not working on your laptop? Then you've come to the right place.

There are quite a few reasons when a laptop cannot connect to a Wi-Fi network. This article will provide an algorithm for solving this problem, taking into account the frequency of possible causes.

Step 1: Diagnose the source of the problem

If the connection to the wireless network is unsuccessful, the problem may not be in the client device (netbook, ultrabook, etc.), but in the router settings.

To do this, you need to try to connect to the wireless network using any other device equipped with a Wi-Fi module - another laptop, netbook, tablet, smartphone, etc.

If you were able to connect to the wireless network, the problem is with your computer. If the connection fails, the problem is in .

Step 2. Hardware enable the Wi-Fi module of the laptop

So, based on the diagnostics that we carried out in the previous step, it was determined that the connection problem occurred on one of the client devices of the wireless network.

As a rule, all laptops are equipped with light indicators for the operation of the wireless module and have a specific key combination to turn it on.

Pay attention! A glowing indicator indicates that the adapter is turned on. The absence of backlight indicates that the Wi-Fi adapter is turned off.

Most manufacturers place indicator lights on the front or one of the sides of the computer.

Less common is the location of indicators near the touchpad or on the monitor body.

On some HP models, a module status light may be built into the power button on the keyboard.

To turn on the Wi-Fi module, a key combination is used, which consists of a special Fn key and one of the system keys from F1 to F12.

Look carefully at the system (function) keys and find the Wi-Fi connection icon on one of them.

On some older models, in particular from the company, you can find a solution for turning on the Wi-Fi module in the form of a two-position switch.

Such a switch is usually located on one of the sides of the laptop or on its front side.

Below is a list of keys that can be used to enable/disable the Wi-Fi module on the most popular brands of laptops.

Acer: Fn+F3

Asus: Fn+F2

Dell: Fn+F2

Fujitsu: Fn+F5

Gigabyte: Fn + F2

HP: Fn+F12

After the adapter is turned on in hardware, connect to the wireless network. If the connection fails, move on to the next step.

Step 3. Software enable the laptop's Wi-Fi module

In addition to the hardware enablement of the wireless adapter, which we dealt with in the previous paragraph, there is also a software enablement, which is performed directly in the operating system installed on the laptop.

To enable the wireless connection adapter in Windows 7, you must complete the following steps: on the notification panel (near the clock), select the Internet connection status icon “Network and Sharing Center”.

In the left column, select “Change adapter settings.”

In the list of connections, you need to pay attention to the indication of the “Wireless network connection” item. If the adapter is disabled, it will not be highlighted.

To enable it, right-click on the icon and select enable.

The icon color should change.

Now you need to pay attention to the notification panel area. In the first case, the laptop's Wi-Fi adapter is turned on, but there is no network to connect to (usually this is a problem with the router).

In the second option, the adapter is turned on and you need to find your network in the list of connections and connect.

After software enabling the adapter, we try to connect to . If the connection fails, move on to the next step.

Step 4. Installing/reinstalling drivers for the Wi-Fi module

To check whether the driver is installed, you need to right-click on the “My Computer” shortcut, which can be found either in the “Start” menu or on the Desktop, select “Properties” in the context menu, and select the “Manager” menu in the left column of the window that opens devices."

In the window that opens, you need to find the “Network Adapters” menu and find the name of the wireless adapter, which contains part of the name “... Wireless Network Adapter” or “Wireless Network Adapter ...”, where instead of “…” there should be the name of your wireless adapter, for example, Atheros , Realtek, Qualcomm.

In our case, this is Atheros Wireless Network Adapter. Right-click on it and select “Properties”. In the menu that opens, you need to make sure that “The device is working normally.”

Important! If you do not find the name in the “Network Adapters” menu, you need to install drivers. Drivers can be found on the disk that came with the laptop, or by searching the Internet.

Step 5. Fix connection problems in the router

In the first step of our article, we looked at how to determine with a high degree of probability the possible reason why it is impossible to establish a Wi-Fi connection.

Since there are quite a lot of routers, and even more firmware for them, in this paragraph we will give general recommendations for troubleshooting the problem.

1. Try to reduce the distance between and the router. Try to ensure that there is direct visibility between the devices and as little interference as possible (walls, partitions, ceilings, microwave ovens, radiotelephone bases, etc.).

What to do if Wi-Fi does not work on your laptop

Why doesn't Wi-Fi work on my laptop? You can find out by running system diagnostics. You will learn how to do this in the video presented.

In this article, I will try to answer a very popular question, which in most cases is difficult to even explain. People often write to me in the comments about some problem with Wi-Fi, I read the question several times, but I can’t understand anything. And to answer the question, I answer with several questions :) in order to understand what the problem is and clarify the necessary information. Let's talk today about the unstable operation of the Internet when connected via Wi-Fi.

Let's try to figure out what exactly this connection instability is, what the problem might be, and what can be done to solve problems with the wireless network.

There are times when the Internet does not work as it should. For example, you connected the Internet to your computer via a network cable. We bought and installed a wireless router, and began connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi. And they began to notice that the Internet was not working properly, it was constantly cutting out, the speed was low, etc.

I’ll probably now highlight problems that can be attributed to unstable operation of the wireless network. This way, it will be easier for us to navigate the problem itself and a possible solution.

Frequent connection interruptions. For example, you connected a smartphone, and after a while it turns off by itself. Or a laptop that constantly disconnects and connects. I've seen cases where the connection was lost for a few seconds and was immediately restored. This is not always noticeable, but if you have Skype installed, its connection status is constantly changing. Or a yellow icon appears next to the connection icon. Here is another article on this issue: ““.
Low internet connection speed, or speed spikes when connected via Wi-Fi. It may be that, for example, during the day the speed is normal, but in the evening it drops significantly (if connected via cable, the speed is always stable).
Unstable Wi-Fi connection. This can include a large number of connection problems. For example, when a device connects to the network for the second or third time. Or, only in a certain place (for example, near the router, I already wrote about this problem ) .
When you notice some problems, but not always. For example, the Internet works fine for several days, and then strange problems with Wi-Fi begin again. Or, as I already wrote, everything is fine in the morning, but in the afternoon the connection is unstable.

This list can be continued, but I think the essence is clear. I would just like to exclude from this list popular problems that have their own characteristics and about which separate articles have already been written:

Error “ ” on computers, or when there is a connection on mobile devices, but .
Errors on mobile devices: , and " ".

Solving the problem with unstable Wi-Fi

I have some kind of universal solution. And there are no special settings with which you can adjust the stability of operation. You need to try and find a solution. I will give some tips that should help you in this difficult matter.

Reboot your router and laptop (smartphone, tablet, etc.).

This is the first thing to do. Just turn off the power from the router and turn it back on. Also, reboot the device that you are trying to connect to the network, or that is experiencing some problems.

You need to understand what the problem is.

Everything is simple here. We need to find the culprit. This could be either your router or the device itself (computer, smartphone, etc.). How to do this? Just try connecting other devices to your network (preferably those that run on the same operating system). If the problem persists, then most likely the problem is with the access point. And the problem must be looked for in it.

If another device connects and the Internet works stably, then most likely the problem is in the device itself (with which there were difficulties). I’m already confused myself :)

Make sure the Internet is working directly.

What does direct mean? This is when it is connected without a router. Network cable directly to the computer. Perhaps there are some problems on the provider's side. And you are already torturing your router and other equipment :)

Change the channel your wireless network is on.

This is a must! If there is interference on the channel on which your Wi-Fi is operating (in the form of wireless, neighboring networks), then a variety of incomprehensible problems may arise in the operation of your Internet connection, which are even difficult to explain. Read the article about how to change the channel. This is probably the most important and effective advice.

We update the software on the router.

Afterword

If nothing works, write about your problem in the comments. Try to describe the problem in as much detail as possible. We'll figure it out together.

If you have anything to add to the article, I will be only grateful. Best wishes!

I often get asked questions about the problem when Wi-Fi disappears on a laptop or computer. It doesn’t just disconnect from the network, but the Wi-Fi adapter and the connection itself completely disappear. In Windows, everything related to Wi-Fi disappears. There is no wireless adapter in network connections. There is no "Wi-Fi" button, no icon in the notification panel and no section in the settings (if we are talking about Windows 10). In the device manager there is also no WLAN (Wireless) adapter, which is responsible for connecting to wireless networks. Well, accordingly, the computer does not see the Wi-Fi network, and there is no way to connect to it.

In most cases, the problem appears suddenly. Everything worked, turned off the laptop, turned it on and there was no Wi-Fi on the laptop at all. In some cases, such a problem may appear after updating Windows or drivers. Or maybe after installing some program, or changing settings. From my own experience, I can say that it is not uncommon for Wi-Fi to disappear after cleaning the laptop from dust or repairing it.

Two important points:

It happens that the laptop simply does not see a specific network, or all networks. In this case, the adapter is in the device manager, there are settings related to the wireless network, etc. This is a slightly different problem, which I wrote about in the article and.
It may also be that he himself. In this case, the network is not available on all devices.

To find a solution, you must first understand the cause. Why did it happen that the laptop suddenly stopped seeing Wi-Fi networks and there are no settings related to this at all.

You need to think and remember what you did before the problem appeared. Perhaps the solution will come on its own.
Restart your laptop. If you have Windows 10, you need to reboot. Not Off/On.
If you have a PC with an external Wi-Fi adapter, check if it is connected. Try connecting to a different USB port. Notice whether the light on the adapter is blinking.
If Wi-Fi disappeared after cleaning or repairing the laptop, then most likely it was simply not connected (poorly connected, damaged) the Wi-Fi module itself in the laptop. If you did this yourself, then disassemble the laptop and check the connection of the Wi-Fi module and antenna.

The Wi-Fi adapter has disappeared from Device Manager

If the network cable is not connected, the icon on the notification panel will look like this:

If you go to adapter management, then most likely there will only be Ethernet (or "Local Area Connection" in Windows 7). Well, maybe Bluetooth. And we need a “Wireless Network” or “Wireless Network Connection” adapter.

In Device Manager, open the "Network Adapters" tab. Most likely, you will not find an adapter there whose name includes “Wireless”, “WLAN”, “Wi-Fi”. And that's exactly what we need.

See if there is an unknown device in Device Manager. Or devices with a yellow exclamation mark. If there is, then it is quite possible that this is our wireless adapter, which simply has problems with the drivers.

Pay special attention to the "Other devices" section. Is there something like "Network Controller" there?

If it is, then you just need to install the driver.

How to solve the problem and return the Wi-Fi adapter?

Unfortunately, as I wrote above in the article, in most cases this is a hardware problem. That is, a breakdown of the module itself. And programmatically (some kind of settings) it cannot be solved. You need to change the module itself, or connect an external adapter via USB. If it's a laptop.

All solutions boil down to reinstalling the Wi-Fi driver. Perhaps if the adapter itself is working, this will help. Well, you can also reinstall Windows. There may be something in the system, but it is very unlikely.

And so, let's return to the driver. You just need to go to the laptop manufacturer’s website, use a search to find your model and download the driver for WLAN (Wi-Fi). Then run its installation. If at the beginning of the driver installation an error appears that the device was not detected in the system, or something like that, then I am almost sure that this is a hardware failure.

Detailed instructions for installing drivers:

And separate installation instructions and .

If you have tried everything, and in the device manager there are no adapters associated with wireless networks at all, including unknown devices, then you will have to take the laptop for repairs, or connect a USB Wi-Fi adapter. There are small ones that are great for laptops.

When starting a laptop with Windows 10 / Windows 7 or a buggy Windows 8, one day you may find that the wireless network icon - wifi - has disappeared. What to do then? How to fix it?

Wi-Fi (Wireless) is the most widely used wireless connection between a laptop and the Internet.

Wireless Wi-Fi connection is almost a monopoly in its industry and the versatility of this solution is beyond doubt.

It minimizes compatibility issues and this technology is rapidly developing.

Unfortunately, the more users use it, the more errors and malfunctions arise, one of them is that the icon is missing or has disappeared.

ATTENTION: the entry below is already a little outdated (written at least 5 years ago), so I recommend looking for a solution in a new one, written quite recently -

No wifi icon

To connect to a Wi-Fi wireless network, you must have an appropriate receiving device (for example, a network adapter) that is compatible with the sending device (for example, a router).

When you start your laptop, you should be able to view detected networks by clicking the wireless network icon. It happens that the icon is not displayed - it has disappeared. Why?

If you're using a mobile device, you'll first need to find out if it's in Airplane mode, which disables the ability to communicate.

If, after starting the device in standard mode, the wireless network icon is still not displayed, check whether the network card is running.

In laptops, it is launched using a special switch (on the case) and through a combination of function keys.

To do this, launch Device Manager (Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Device Manager), select Network Adapters, open Properties, and launch the appropriate settings.