A laptop that won’t connect to Wi-Fi, or keeps dropping the connection, makes everything from work calls to streaming a struggle. The cause could be the router, a Windows setting, a driver or the laptop’s Wi-Fi hardware. These steps help you narrow it down.
Is it the laptop or the network?
Check whether your phone and other devices connect properly in the same spot. If everything is struggling, the problem is probably the router or your broadband, so restart the router and check your provider’s service status. If only the laptop has trouble, the fixes below should help.
Quick fixes
- Check airplane mode and the Wi-Fi switch. Some laptops have a function key or physical switch that turns wireless off.
- Restart the laptop and the router. Unplug the router for 30 seconds before plugging it back in.
- Forget the network and reconnect. In Wi-Fi settings, choose your network, select Forget, then connect again with the password.
- Move closer to the router to see whether signal strength is the issue.
- Reset the network settings. In Windows, go to Settings, Network & internet, Advanced network settings, then Network reset. This reinstalls your network adapters, so you’ll need your Wi-Fi password afterwards.
Update or reinstall the Wi-Fi driver
Out-of-date or corrupted drivers are a common cause of dropouts. Download the latest wireless driver from your laptop maker’s support website. If that doesn’t help, open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter, choose Uninstall device and restart. Windows reinstalls it automatically.
Stop Windows switching Wi-Fi off
To save battery, Windows can turn off the Wi-Fi adapter, which sometimes causes it to drop out. In Device Manager, open your Wi-Fi adapter, go to the Power Management tab and untick “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”.
Improve a weak signal
- Place the router somewhere central and raised, away from thick walls, mirrors, fish tanks and microwaves.
- Most routers offer two bands. 2.4GHz reaches further, while 5GHz is faster but has a shorter range. Try both.
- In larger homes, a mesh Wi-Fi system or a good extender can remove dead spots.
- Ask your broadband provider whether your router is due an upgrade, as older routers can struggle with newer devices.
Wi-Fi drops after sleep?
If the connection only drops after the laptop has been asleep, the power-saving fix above usually solves it. Updating the Wi-Fi driver and BIOS also helps, as manufacturers often fix sleep-related bugs in updates. Until it’s sorted, turning Wi-Fi off and on again from the taskbar is a quick workaround.
Use a cable where you can
For video calls or online gaming, a wired Ethernet connection is more reliable than Wi-Fi. If your laptop doesn’t have an Ethernet port, a small USB adapter does the job.
When it’s a hardware fault
If the Wi-Fi adapter has disappeared from Device Manager, the laptop only connects right next to the router, or problems started after a drop or a screen repair, the Wi-Fi card or its antenna cables may be faulty. On many laptops the Wi-Fi card can be replaced, and a small USB Wi-Fi adapter is a handy short-term fix.
How we can help
We fix Wi-Fi problems on laptops and desktops, replace faulty wireless cards, and can set up or improve home and office networks. See our laptop repair page, or business IT support for offices and shops.
In short: work out whether the problem is the network or the laptop, restart everything, update the Wi-Fi driver and stop Windows switching the adapter off. If the adapter is missing, or the signal is only weak on this laptop, the Wi-Fi card may need replacing.
Need a hand? PC Masters offers a free diagnosis over the phone, a £59 same-day call-out across Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Harpenden and Leighton Buzzard, No Fix, No Fee, and a warranty from 1 month up to 36 months. Book online or call 0800 145 5521, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm.