Is there a red X over the Wi-Fi icon on the Windows taskbar? Are you told that there are no wireless networks available? But when you know there are, right? Wireless connection issues can be incredibly frustrating, especially when they happen at the worst possible time, like when you need to send an email to meet a deadline. Wi-Fi problems can often be fixed easily. Here are 7 steps to troubleshoot wireless network connection problems.
- Ensure Wi-Fi is enabled on the device
Wireless capabilities can be turned on and off through a physical switch on the side of the device. Check this first. It will save you lots of time if you don’t have to troubleshoot wireless network connection problems when the wireless connection is simply disabled.
- Move closer to the router
Walls, furniture, metal objects, and all sorts of other obstacles can affect wireless signal strength. If you can, move closer to the wireless signal source. If you try this and find that the wireless connection works just fine, eliminate the interferences, or strategically move the router somewhere else, like to a more central location. You can call us immediately if you’re facing home Wi-Fi problems.
- Restart or reset the router
If your Wi-Fi router has not been powered down in a while, try restarting the router to flush out anything that could be causing glitches. This is definitely something to try if the wireless connection issues happen sporadically or after a heavy load (like Netflix streaming). If restarting the router does not fix the problem, try resetting the router’s software to restore it all back to factory default settings. This will permanently erase all the customizations you may have made on it, like the Wi-Fi password and other settings.
- Check the SSID and password
The name of the Wi-Fi network is known as SSID. Usually, this is stored on any device that was previously connected to it. But if it’s not saved any longer, then your wireless device will not automatically connect to it. Check the SSID that the device is trying to connect to and ensure it’s the right one for the network you need access to. Some SSIDs are hidden. So, in this case, you will have to manually enter the SSID information. Did the connection fail? And you know the SSID is right? Verify the password to ensure that it matches up with the password configured on the router.
- Check the device’s DHCP settings
Wireless routers are set up as DHCP servers. This allows computers and other client devices to join the network. So, their IP addresses do not have to be manually set up. Check your wireless network adapter’s TCP/IP settings to ensure your adapter is automatically obtaining settings from the DHCP server. If it is not getting an address automatically, then it is likely using a static IP address. This can cause problems if the network is not set up the right way. Run the “control net connections” command-line command by Run or Command Prompt. Right-click the wireless network adapter and fill in its properties. And then choose IPv4 or IPv6 options to check how the IP address is being obtained.
- Update the network drivers and operating system
Device driver issues can cause problems with network connections. Your network driver could be outdated, a new driver can cause glitches, the wireless router could have been recently updated, etc. Do a system update first. In Windows, use Windows Update to download and install any necessary fixes or updates.
- Try to repair the connection
Windows try to repair wireless issues for you or provide additional troubleshooting. Right-click the network connection icon on the taskbar. Choose “Diagnose”, “Repair”, or “Diagnose and Repair”. This depends on your version of Windows. Or open “Control Panel” and search for “Network and Sharing Centre” or “Network Connections” or execute “control net connections” from Run or Command Prompt, to get the list of network connections. One should be for the Wi-Fi adapter. Right-click it and pick a repair option.
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