The laptop does not see a specific wifi network. What to do if the laptop does not see the WiFi router

There are times when Wi-Fi is no longer available on the computer. Why this happens and what to do in each specific case will be discussed in this article.

The problem can be of two types: the computer does not see the Wi-Fi network at all, or only your access point is not in the list of available neighbor networks. In the first case, the problem is most likely in the Wi-Fi device, in the second - in the computer on which the network has disappeared.

What should you do first? You can reboot the router or computer on which the network has disappeared. Make sure the password is entered correctly and Caps Lock is not enabled. If the passphrase is correct, but the computer does not connect, then you need to look for other reasons.

If the computer does not see any access points at all and/or has stopped seeing them: you need to check whether the Wi-Fi adapter is active. You need to do this: on your computer keyboard, press the key combination “Fn+F3” (depending on the model and manufacturer, there may be a combination of “Fn+F2” or “Fn+F5”). For keyboard shortcuts to work, keyboard drivers must be installed. On older models, the ability to see Wi-Fi is sometimes enabled with a separate button.

Network problems

If you have installed the drivers for the keyboard, turned on the Wi-Fi module, but there is still no Internet, then open the “Control Panel”. Select “Internet Networks” and in “Sharing Management” select “Change adapter settings”. Here you will see a list of all adapters. Click on the “Wireless Network” item. If the icon is gray and says “Disabled,” then there is no Wi-Fi icon in the system tray, which is why nothing works. In this case, you need to enable it: right-click the context menu and select “Enable”. The wireless network becomes active. If an error occurs, running “Windows Network Diagnostics” helps. The system itself can find and correct errors.

If after this the computer does not detect an available network, then reinstall the drivers for the wireless network adapter. Open "Device Manager", click on "Network Adapters", find the desired device. You need to remove and install the driver again. Drivers can be found on the official website of your computer manufacturer or you can find a CD with a working driver included with your computer. After installing the driver, you need to turn on the Wi-Fi module and see how it works - if everything is activated, we figured out why the network disappeared.

Sometimes it happens that a laptop does not see the wireless network after being repaired or after cleaning. The technicians can turn off the antennas. Then you need to disassemble the laptop case and connect them or seek help from specialists.

Problems with the router

If the problem is that the computer does not see only your router, but sees others, then you need to take the following steps. Find the router settings and check the operation of the Wi-Fi adapter. To do this, open your browser and enter http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.0.1 in the address bar. If it doesn’t work out, you can take the IP address and authorization data in order to access the page from a sticker attached to the back of the router case or on the manufacturer’s website. On the router page you need to find “Advanced settings”, “Wi-Fi and network settings” tab. You need to set the “Enable wireless connection” flag. If the flag is set, but for some reason the problem remains, then the last way is to change the channel on which the router is running. In order not to change the channel blindly, you can use the “inSSIDer for Home” program, which analyzes the frequency range of the channel. Channels 1 to 11 are American standard, most devices can do work on these channels. Free hours may be from 11 to 13. When changing settings, do not forget to click “Save”.

You can try to remove encryption, the setting is called “Authentication Method”, change it to “Open System”. The problem may be the key length (WPA Pre-Shared Key). If it is more than 20 characters, then the router will stop working with such a long key. Most likely, the key can be no more than 12-13 characters. You can also update the firmware: section “Administration”, tab “Update firmware”.

Software

Why are there still difficulties? The problem may be in the software. If you have System Restore enabled in Windows, then restore points will be shown in the log when installing programs. You can reset the operating system to the day the network was running and allow it to see connections again. You need to select a state, click “Next”, and act according to the instructions. The Wi-Fi network can often disappear when updating the OS, so sometimes after the update you have to reinstall programs, including those for a wireless connection, and then the computer again sees what it needs.

Adapter failure

If nothing helps and the computer still does not see available networks, then there is a possibility that the Wi-Fi adapter may have failed: it may burn out during operation, it needs good cooling. If it burns out, it will not be displayed in the “Device Manager”; this problem will be displayed during the “Windows Diagnostics”. It will need to be repaired or replaced.

So, we have looked at the most basic sources of problems when a computer with Wi-Fi fails. Remember that any problem can be eliminated if you know its causes.

Owners of laptop computers often encounter the fact that the laptop does not see the WiFi router. This is a rather serious and annoying problem that baffles many, even experienced users. What could cause a laptop not to see the WiFi router?

There may be several reasons for this phenomenon, and each of them requires separate careful consideration. This problem can affect not only users of portable machines such as laptops and netbooks, but also owners of classic stationary systems with a WiFi receiver. Therefore, the solution to such a popular problem will be relevant and useful to know for almost everyone who at least sometimes deals with computers or WiFi.

Connection problems - looking for the culprit

One of the most common obstacles that prevent a laptop from seeing a WiFi router is the unsuccessful launch of the WiFi module on it. It may even happen that the search for available networks is turned on, all points are within range, but as soon as you try to join, the system displays a connection error. These and similar complications most often occur on computers with Windows 7; it is this system that is most likely to create problems with connecting to WiFi.

Figure 1. Checking driver installation on WI-FI. First you need to check whether the driver is installed on Wi-Fi.

In addition to the computer's fault, one should not exclude the possibility of a faulty access point, i.e. router. Therefore, the first step is to determine what exactly caused the problem, who is the culprit - the computer or the router? A simple and effective way to determine this is as follows:

Find a second computer and try to connect to the access point from it.
From the suspected computer, try connecting to various other points.

This should determine which device is actually causing the problem.

If one computer does not see the router, but other computers and mobile devices connect to it freely, then the problem is in this computer. Otherwise, if other devices are unable to connect to the router, and other access points do not cause any problems, you will still have to deal with the router.

Checking the drivers

If WiFi does not connect due to the fault of the computer, the first thing to do is check whether the WiFi module is running and whether all drivers are installed on it.

To check the adapter, you need to go to Network Connections through the Control Panel and turn on the adapter.

To do this, open the Device Manager (Computer - Properties - Device Manager), look for and open the “Network adapters” subsection.

We check whether there is a device there whose name contains the words “Wireless Network Adapter”, or “Wireless”, or simply “Wi-Fi”. You need to go to “properties” and see if it works fine. (FIG. 1)

If such a device is missing or does not work correctly, or there are unidentified devices, you need to reinstall their drivers. To do this, we find the website of the manufacturer of the laptop model, look for a suitable Wireless Network Adapter driver on it, download it and install it.

Incorrect automatic detection of drivers by the system, or outdated drivers are a common case that can prevent the correct operation of the wireless adapter.

Checking the operation of the adapter

You should definitely check if the wireless adapter is turned on on your laptop. As a rule, it is enabled/disabled by pressing a key combination, for example FN + F2. To make sure which buttons you need to press, find the key with the wireless network icon and press it at the same time as the FN key, or refer to the user manual for your laptop model. Some laptops have a separate switch to turn WiFi on/off.

Another way to check whether WiFi is enabled or not is through a network management program. From the Control Panel, go to the Network and Sharing Center, then select “Change adapter settings” on the left. The Network Adapters and Connections window will open, in which you need to find “Wireless Network Connection”. Right-click on the connection icon. If there is an “Enable” item in the context menu that opens and the connection icon looks gray, click on “Enable”, the adapter should start.

Otherwise, if the icon is colored and there is a “Disable” item in the menu, it is recommended to restart the adapter, i.e. Click on “Disable”, wait a few seconds for the module to turn off, and then turn it on again. The connection icon in the notification area should look like the one in the screenshot. This means that the adapter is turned on and access points have been found. If a similar icon appears, but instead of a yellow asterisk a red cross is shown, it means that the module is running, but no connection points were found.

It is also quite common for the computer to find available WiFi points, but not connect to them; instead, trying to connect causes the error “Windows could not connect.” But at present, there is no universal and unambiguous fix for this error. Quite often, the cause is incorrect router settings, such as incorrect security and encryption settings, or problems with IP address allocation.

One of the possible methods, which helps in many situations, is to reboot the router and computer. In some cases, clicking the "Troubleshooting" link in the error message box can help you fix the error. Another tip: go to the properties of the wireless adapter and disable it to save energy, because... the reason may be that the computer does not correctly manage the power to the WiFi module.

Quite often, a connection loss occurs after the laptop exits sleep or standby mode. This problem appears mainly on Windows 7 and Windows 8 systems. In this case, the measure described above also helps, i.e. Prohibition of turning off the adapter to save energy. To do this, go to Device Manager, in the network devices subsection we find the wireless adapter, go to its properties through the context menu. In the properties window, you need to go to the “Power Management” tab and there uncheck the “Allow the device to turn off” option. Click OK and reboot the system.

A connection error will inevitably appear if the password and encryption type for automatic connection were saved in the properties of the WiFi connection on the laptop, and one or both of these parameters were changed on the router. In this case, the system will try to connect to the router with the old parameters, and it, accordingly, will not accept them and refuse the connection. The solution to the problem is to delete the network with the old parameters and connect using the new ones.

Checking the router configuration

You can enter the router settings through Network Connections, where we select the “Network and Sharing Center” item, then, if necessary, change the router settings.

In the same case, when the router is at fault and rebooting does not help, there are several ways to fix the problem:

Do not use automatic channel detection, set it manually, check different channels.
Change the type, frequency and region of the network.
Do not use Cyrillic characters in the password and SSID name.

Getting into the router settings is not difficult; to do this you need to follow a few simple steps. First of all, the router must be connected to the computer with a network cable. It is possible to connect via a wireless network, but it is not as reliable and secure as directly via cable. Then we open any Internet browser, enter the IP of the router into the address bar, usually it is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, more precisely you can find it in the instructions for the router or read it directly on the sticker on its case. By entering the router address, we get to its web interface.

To gain access you must enter a name and password, usually they are the same: admin. Sometimes they may differ, this should be indicated in the same place as the address - in the instructions or on a sticker. Once in the settings, you must first try to set them in accordance with modern standards:

security type WPA/WPA2;
WPA2-PSK version;
automatic encryption;
region of the USA or the Russian Federation.

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It is recommended to change the WiFi hotspot name and password. Don't use Cyrillic, check your keyboard layout! Only names and passwords in Latin work correctly; numbers can be used. When you finish changing the settings, you should reboot the router. After this, the new settings will take effect, you can delete the old saved connection on the laptop and all other devices that previously connected to the router, and try to connect again.

As already mentioned, if after changing the password, type of protection or encryption, you do not delete the old one and create a new connection on the computer, the computer may refuse to connect to WiFi, displaying an error. To complete this procedure, you need to go to the Network and Sharing Center; this can be done from the Control Panel or through the network icon in the notification area. Having entered it, we find and click the “Manage wireless networks” link. Once there, select the network of the router on which the parameters were changed, right-click on it and select “Delete network” in the context menu.

Unfortunately, many of us have encountered a problem when the laptop stops finding a wireless network, which creates significant inconvenience. Considering that the laptop can be used outside the home, the user may be left without the Internet at all. There can be many reasons for this little pleasant moment. But, as a rule, the problem is technical, or in the incorrect operation of the software. To understand how to deal with the problem, let's look at it in more detail.

In order to understand the causes of the problem and understand why the laptop does not find the WiFi router or home WiFi network, you need to know what WiFi is and understand how this wireless communication system works.

WiFi is the same as a local network, only without the need to lay a cable. Connection to the network occurs through a signal that is transmitted via radio waves. This system gained popularity not so long ago. A dozen years ago, no one knew about it, and the signal distance was much shorter. To be precise, the signal can be sent over a distance of 100 km.

In addition, WiFi is a registered brand that is developing very actively. In 2014, data transfer speeds via WiFi should increase to several Gbit/s.

To put it simply, this method of connecting to the network is now very popular. Almost every laptop has a built-in sensor that allows you to use a wireless network. At bus stops, cafes or any other public places, owners install free access points, which increases the level of comfort of the establishment or public place.

The main reasons for the lack of WiFi

As mentioned above, the main reasons can be divided into technical and software. In the case of technical ones, the owner of a laptop will most likely have to contact a service center and spend money on repairing it. At best, figure out the reason for the poor performance of the router.

Availability of WiFi on laptop and router

It’s worth starting with the very basics, which can be forgotten due to haste or inattention.

Make sure that the receiving antenna is turned on. If the WiFi button does not work, then the problem is obvious. Not all laptop models have this switch, but some do have it. Most often it looks not like a button, but like a latch. However, it depends on the manufacturer. The switch may have a signature or image of an antenna, which indicates WiFi.

If there is no such button on your laptop model, then you need to pay attention to the bottom panel of the operating system, to the icon next to the time. The image should show whether the wireless connection is currently active.

It is possible that this icon on the panel next to the time is not there.

To check activity without using this icon, you need to:

Checking available networks

The next thing to do is check the available networks. Perhaps the router simply does not reach the laptop’s antenna and for this reason it is impossible to connect to the network.

To do this you need:

Click on the network icon in the lower right corner, on the bottom panel, next to the time.
Select “Connect to a network” and select the desired access point. Most likely, there will be more than one access point, since you can see neighbors or some other routers. But, in most cases, a password is placed on the access point, thus protecting it from unauthorized users.

Video: What to do if your ASUS laptop cannot find Wi-Fi

The laptop does not see the WiFi network: the main reasons

Why doesn't my laptop see the WiFi network? Perhaps the solution to the problem is right in front of you and only takes five seconds of your time. But there are also more severe cases. Let's look at the most common options.

Router

It is worth making sure that the router is turned on. Its operation can be easily determined by indicator lights. After connecting, look at the corresponding icons in the instructions for the router and determine whether the wireless connection is active.

If the router does not respond at all, then the problem is purely technical. In this situation, you should look for a problem in the wires, power supply, or take the router for repair. As a rule, it is easier to replace the router with a new one than to send it to service centers for inspection.

Drivers

As you know, any equipment requires software that guarantees stable operation. If the laptop does not detect WiFi, then you should check the drivers. Even if they are installed, it is recommended to update them.

You can check drivers through the control panel. In the “device manager” section there is a line “network adapters”, which should contain the name of the router if the problem is with the drivers. Right-click on it and look at the driver version. Compare it with the real version, which can be found on the Internet.

If the version is outdated, then download a new one and install. It is best to download from official sources. Drivers for hardware are distributed by developers free of charge, and there is no point in risking the “health” of your operating system in vain.

Signal distance

If after searching for a network the answer appears: “No connections available,” think about the signal. In apartments, this option is not very relevant, since modern routers have a strong signal and distribute it quite far. But in private homes or other places where the distance can be quite large, the signal simply may not reach the laptop. Therefore, you should not be surprised if the Internet suddenly disappeared while you were walking around the house or yard.

Mac address

There are situations when I was able to connect, but the router does not see the Internet through my WiFi or has stopped seeing it. When using services from some providers, the user cannot simply change the network adapter, since the Mac address changes.

The Mac address is written on each router and the user just needs to call the operator to bind a new address to replace the old one. You may be asked to dictate it in full or to specify only the last few values of the entire number.

Antivirus or third party programs

Third-party programs installed on a laptop may conflict with drivers or interfere with the correct establishment of an Internet connection, which often happens when the device sees wifi but does not connect. In addition, sometimes antiviruses interfere with creating a connection. If possible, it is better to try connecting to the Internet without a router first. If everything is fine, then the programs are not to blame.

In addition to those listed, there can be many reasons. Basically, the variety of reasons is due to problems with the operating system. Therefore, if all else fails, try reinstalling your operating system. Perhaps all the problems come from here.

The laptop does not see the WIFI network on Windows7/Windows 8/WindowsXP

For those who are wondering why the laptop does not see wifi in Windows 7, first of all, you need to try manually turning on the wireless network.

To do this you need:

In Windows 8, activity is checked through the “PC Settings” item. Next, you need to select the “wireless connection” line and move the slider on the right side of the menu to the “On” state.

The wireless network when using Windows XP does not require manual activation and, as a rule, connects like Windows 7. It is enough to activate it through the control panel or through the wireless icon through the bottom panel of the system.

Video: how to create and configure a WI-FI network

How to set up a wireless network

For comfortable use of the network, some users resort to settings. Usually, standard settings are enough, but if you want, you can delve into your personal account. It is through your personal account that parameters are changed.

The login and password are specified by the router manufacturers, and you can find this data in the instructions. The address that will take you to your personal account is also indicated there. It is best to replace the default data so that no one can use it.

All other settings are made on the laptop itself, and they are installed using the Network Control Center.

WiFi without internet due to Windows

There are rare cases when the operating system itself does not want to detect a wireless connection and shows that there is no external network at all. This option may exist when using non-licensed OS. Some people prefer to use amateur assemblies, which do not load the system as much and allow you to squeeze more out of the hardware.

Another reason could be a clogged system. System folders, over time, become clogged with unnecessary files, and if defragmentation is not carried out, the processor will be increasingly overloaded. Antiviruses also cannot keep a laptop clean forever.

In any case, all problems with the OS can be solved by a simple reinstallation. After reinstalling Windows everything should work. Thus, the solution to the problem lies only in the functionality of the router, enabled WiFi on the laptop, or the presence of the necessary software. If these points are observed, WiFi will not present difficulties and will delight the user with stable operation.

Hello, dear friends. As you probably already understood from the title, today I decided to touch on a very serious and painful topic, and try to figure out what to do when Wi-Fi on a laptop or netbook does not work and how to still connect a laptop to a Wi-Fi router. By the way, this can be not only a laptop or netbook, it can also be an ordinary desktop computer with a Wi-Fi receiver. A lot of similar questions have been popping up lately, mostly related to the article.

Now we will try to figure out step by step what and why problems may arise when connecting a laptop to a wireless Wi-Fi network. We will also try to find a solution to this very popular and unpleasant problem with connecting to Wi-Fi, or rather, an unsuccessful connection.

Most often, problems arise when it is not possible to turn on the Wi-Fi module itself on the laptop. And when Wi-Fi turns on, the laptop finds all available networks, but when trying to connect it writes . You need to check whether the drivers are installed on the Wi-Fi adapter, whether Wi-Fi is turned on on the laptop, etc. Now we will do this.

I noticed that most often problems with connecting to Wi-Fi occur in Windows 7. It is on this OS that the network without Internet access error very often appears; I wrote how to solve this problem in the article linked above. In fact, as practice shows, there can be many reasons for this problem. And if there are many reasons, then there are many ways in which you can force a laptop to connect to a Wi-Fi router.

But it’s not always the laptop, netbook, etc. that is to blame. There may also be a problem with the access point, that is, with the Wi-Fi router. And the first thing we need to do when a problem arises with connecting to Wi-Fi is to determine what the reason is, in the laptop or in the Wi-Fi router. Now I will consider the problem with connecting to my own router. Because if you can’t establish a connection with someone else’s Wi-Fi, then all your complaints are against your neighbor, it’s most likely his problem :).

Who is to blame, the laptop or the Wi-Fi router?

As I wrote above, you first need to find the culprit. Before you make any settings on your laptop or Wi-Fi router, you need to understand what the problem is, which is why you can’t connect your laptop to Wi-Fi. You can simply configure it in such a way that you will then have to do and configure everything again. The best way to determine which device is hiding the problem is to try connecting another device to the router, for example another laptop, tablet, or phone. If you have a laptop that has problems connecting to Wi-Fi, you should try connecting it to a different wireless network.

I think that you understood my point. If there are other devices connected to your router (best with a similar operating system) will connect without problems, then the problem is in the laptop. Read this article further, now let’s try to solve it.

Well, if problems connecting to your network also occur on other devices, and the “problematic” laptop connects to other networks without problems, then the problem is in setting up the Wi-Fi router. See the article on, it might be useful.

I will show the example of a laptop that runs on Windows 7. This is currently the most popular operating system.

I advise you to immediately pay attention to the icon that displays the status of your Internet connection. It's located in the notification panel.

If the Internet connection status looks like this:

First you need to check whether the drivers for Wi-Fi are installed and whether the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on.

Right click on “My computer” and select “Properties”. On the left select "Device Manager".

Open a tab in a new window “Network adapters” and see if there is a device like Wireless Network Adapter (You may call it differently). If you have such a device, then right-click on it and select “Properties”. Another window will open, make sure it says “The device is working normally.”

If everything is approximately the same as mine above in the screenshot, then everything is fine, the driver is installed. And if there is no Wireless Network Adapter device and you have unidentified devices, go to the website of your laptop manufacturer, download and install the Wireless Network Adapter driver for your model.

Learn more about installing and updating the driver for the wireless adapter.

We sorted out the drivers.

Checking whether Wi-Fi is turned on on the laptop

If the driver is installed, but the Wi-Fi module is disabled, the connection status will be the same:

Usually the wireless adapter on your laptop is turned on, but it doesn't hurt to check. Wi-Fi on laptops (netbooks) is usually turned on and off using a keyboard shortcut. On my ASUS K56cm, these are the keys FN+F2. But although when I press these keys I get a message that the wireless adapters are enabled/disabled, nothing happens. Look for the key on your laptop FN and a key with a picture of a wireless network. Press them at the same time.

Some laptops may have a special switch on the case that can be used to enable or disable Wi-Fi. For example on Toshiba Satellite L300 it looks like this:

Enable or disable the Wi-Fi wireless adapter in Windows 7

But the best way to check whether the wireless network adapter is working or not is to go to the network control center and take a look.

This means that in the notification panel, right-click on the Internet connection status icon and select “Network and Sharing Center”.

Then select on the left.

Among the connections we are looking for “Wireless network connection”. If everything is fine and the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on, then it should look like this:

If the adapter is disabled, it will look like the screenshot below. Right-click on it and select “Enable”.

Using the methods described above, we must make sure that the status of the Internet connection in the notification panel is like this:

This status means “No connection – There are connections available”- this means that the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on and there are available wireless networks to connect to.

If the connection status is like this:

This means that Wi-Fi is turned on, but the laptop simply does not see the networks available for connection.

Error “Windows could not connect to...”

We have sorted out the problem when the wireless network module is disabled or does not work at all. Now consider the case when the laptop finds available Wi-Fi networks, but when trying to connect to Wi-Fi it writes: “Windows was unable to connect to...”, where instead of dots is the name of the network you want to connect to.

If your network connection status is the same as in the screenshot above (via one, network with yellow icon), then click on it and you will see a list of networks available for connection.

Select the desired network, click on it, then click the “Connect” button.

If the set is password protected, Windows will ask you to provide the password. Enter your network password and click “Ok”.

And if everything is fine, then your laptop should connect to the Internet via a wireless connection. And the Internet connection status should look like this:

But it is at the moment of connection that the error “Windows could not connect to...” very often appears. She looks like this:

Unfortunately, friends, there is no definite solution to this problem. But I can download that very often the problem with such an error appears due to the settings of the Wi-Fi router. It may be through the type of security and encryption that is installed on the Wi-Fi router, read more about this in the article. There may also be a problem with the distribution of IP addresses.

If you notice that in the window with the error “Windows could not connect to...” you can run “Troubleshooting”, it would be a sin not to take advantage. Try running it, I heard somewhere that there are cases in which it helps :). But seriously, sometimes it really helps. Windows will check the readiness of the wireless adapter, check the settings, etc. And if it can, it will fix the problem that is preventing you from connecting to Wi-Fi.

Just reboot your router and then your laptop. Very often this helps.

Update

I noticed that in Windows this error appears when the settings that are saved on the computer for your network do not match the current network settings. I'll explain now.

For example, your laptop was connected to Wi-Fi, it automatically connected to the network. But you went and changed the password, or the type of network encryption. Now the laptop is trying to connect to the network, but the parameters no longer match, and that’s the error.

All you need to do is simply delete the network on your computer and re-establish the connection. I wrote about this in an article

Conclusion

It’s a great article, and I hope it’s useful. I wrote it for half a day, with interruptions of course, there were still problems with adding screenshots to the site, but I seemed to have solved it.

I tried to collect all the necessary information that should help you solve the problem that arises when connecting a laptop or netbook to Wi-Fi. If I forgot to write something, I will definitely add to the article in the future, and I will also be very grateful if you share in the comments the information that helped you solve the problem with connecting to a wireless network.

If you have any questions, ask them in the comments, we’ll try to figure it out. Best wishes!

Also on the site:

Why doesn't Wi-Fi work on a laptop (netbook)? How to connect a laptop to a Wi-Fi router? Error “Windows could not connect to...” updated: February 7, 2018 by: admin

Every person who uses a personal computer very often encounters problems connecting to Wi-Fi. Situations arise when a laptop or other device does not see the wireless network, or it is incorrectly displayed in the list of available connections. It also happens that the network is connected, but data transfer does not occur.

There are many reasons why such a problem arises. And in order to correct this, you first need to determine why such a malfunction could occur. The first reason this happens is that the laptop refuses to find any available Wi-Fi hotspots nearby. The other one cause depends on the wireless network source. And in such a situation, the computer, on the contrary, sees all Wi-Fi zones except the one to which it needs to connect.

You should always start diagnosing a malfunction by finding out the causes. And then proceed according to the plan below to identify the culprit of the problem:

Is the router working correctly and is it accessible to connect? dot Wi-Fi? Can other devices that have a Wi-Fi receiver see the router's signal?
Are there other wireless network sources nearby? And how are they displayed in the list of network connections on a computer or smartphone?

Fixing the problem using Windows 7 or 8

When it turns out that the router is properly distributing a signal and other devices are detecting it, but the laptop does not see Wi-Fi even from neighboring routers, this indicates that adapter the laptop has failed or is simply disabled by software or hardware. To be sure of this, you need to:

Launch Device Manager and find “Network Adapters” in the list.
The sub-item that appears should contain all network devices, the list of which should include a wireless adapter. It may be designated differently for each laptop model. Its exact name should be in the technical specifications, which can be found on the manufacturer’s website.
It is also necessary that in the line with the name of the network device there are no additional yellow icons with a sign exclamations(this is a warning that the device is disabled or the wrong driver is installed on it).
First you need to try to turn on Wi-Fi. To do this, you need to call the context menu on the line with the name of the adapter and select the “Engage” command.
If this method does not help, then you need to try reinstalling the device drivers. To do this, you need to download them from the manufacturer’s website and reinstall them.
You can also remove the adapter from the device manager list and restart the computer. And after turning it on and loading, open the manager again and check whether the Wi-Fi adapter is detected correctly. If it is displayed as “Unknown device”, then install the pre-loaded drivers.

You can use another method to check the functionality of a wireless Wi-Fi card. To do this, you need to go to the “Control Panel” and find the “Network and Sharing Center...” section there. Then go to the “Change adapter settings” item in the left column of the window. When Wi-Fi is turned on and working normally, there should be no red crosses or other additional symbols on the “Wireless network connection” icon. If the adapter shortcut says “Disabled”, then you can launch it by calling the context menu and clicking on the “Enable” command.

Hardware problems

Additionally, the Wi-Fi card can be enabled using the laptop's function keys and switches. In this case, you need to look on the keyboard among the buttons (F1-F12) for a symbol indicating the Wi-Fi standard. And by pressing the Fn key along with this icon, you can start the device. Exact location this button or the switch can be found by reading the laptop manual. Similar keyboard shortcuts are made to quickly turn off the Wi-Fi signal during an airplane flight, and can have an airplane symbol on the laptop keyboard. It all depends on the manufacturer and model of the device.

Another reason for adapter failure may be recent repairs or cleaning of the laptop from dust. It is possible that the card may have been damaged or connected incorrectly during assembly. Under such circumstances, it is necessary to either change the adapter to a working one, or correctly install it in the slot intended for this. You should also pay attention to the wires going to it. It is possible that one of them could have been damaged when assembling the laptop after servicing.

There are times when a laptop does not see all Wi-Fi networks, while other computers and gadgets connect normally to the router. The first thing, of course, is to try rebooting the router. To do this, you need to disconnect it from the power supply for 20-30 seconds and wait until it boots up completely.

If this simple method did not help and the computer still stubbornly refuses to connect to Wi-Fi, then you need to proceed as follows:

First, you can try changing the encryption type in the wireless network configuration of the adapter or router. It’s also worth trying to change the number of the channel on which the signal is broadcast.
You can also rename the network, giving it a simpler name consisting of ordinary Latin letters.

Another problem due to which Wi-Fi on a laptop does not connect may be viruses in the operating system and technical malfunctions of the network card. Such a malfunctioning adapter is capable of displaying list of networks, but do not connect to them. For example, due to damaged software embedded in its controller.

However, the source of the problem can be not only a laptop, but also an incorrectly configured and operating router. To solve problems connecting to a wireless network, you need to:

Reset the router software to factory default settings. And enter new values into its settings.
Check what firmware is installed on the router and how up-to-date it is. If the router software is outdated, then you need to download a newer version and update the device.

It is recommended to periodically monitor the availability of new firmware and update the router when new software becomes available. This can not only improve its performance and remove some errors in its operation, but also provide reliable security.

In addition to connection difficulties, there are also indirect problems that create a lot of trouble when using a Wi-Fi network. One of these inconveniences may be the slow speed of information transfer over a wireless network. And her reasons are:

A very large number of users connected to a Wi-Fi access point.
Incorrect router placement. A router located far away or poorly installed in a room may not reach the Wi-Fi signal to the computer, especially if it is a laptop with which people often move from one place to another. To do this, it is better to place the access point where there is an equal distance to it from all corners of the room or house.
Interference from other sources. Signal quality often suffers due to sources of other wireless networks emerging nearby. They can cause interference and slow down your connection speed. This has a particularly strong effect when such a source is a more powerful router installed at the neighbors’ place. Another reason could be nearby office buildings equipped with many such access points.
Low-quality or cheap router issued by your provider. Many companies that provide Internet access purchase inexpensive equipment to save their costs. This allows you to reduce the connection price, but creates some inconvenience for the user. Therefore, before concluding a contract, it is better to consult with technical support and purchase a more powerful router.

The data transfer speed is also affected by constantly turned on torrents and media files and online games viewed on the network. If you need to get maximum connection speed, then at this time it is better to disable all traffic-consuming applications.