Why Won’t My Laptop Connect to WiFi?

Chris Campbell27 Jan 2022

We've all been there at some point. You take out your laptop to stream a movie, but when you open your browser, your laptop refuses to connect to the WiFi. So, what should you do now?

If you are unable to access a new browser, send emails, or stream a movie, your laptop is most likely not connected to the WiFi network. Nothing is more infuriating than a laptop that is unable to connect to WiFi, especially if you need to work online.

Why Is My WiFi Not Showing Up on My Laptop?

It might be aggravating when you want to access the internet on your laptop but your WiFi network does not appear.

In general, the following are some of the causes:

  • WiFi issue
  • Connection issue
  • Wrong WiFi router and laptop WiFi settings

The good thing is that you can quickly troubleshoot and fix your problem.

Turn on the WiFi service.

The issue is most likely caused by your Windows disabling the WiFi service. You won't be able to connect to WiFi if Windows disables it. There are two areas to investigate.

WiFi Switch Several laptops, such as Dell, Lenovo, and HP, contain a button to switch on the WiFi, or a key on the keyboard that you may use to toggle the WiFi switch like Fn+F5. Examine the switch or keys and activate your WiFi service.

Network Configuration If your laptop does not have a WiFi switch, you can verify it in your system.

  • Access "Network and Sharing Center" by right-clicking the "Internet" icon.
  • Select "Change Adapter Settings."
  • Enable WiFi by right-clicking it. (Note: If it's enabled, you'll see Disable when you right-click on WiFi.)
  • Reboot your laptop and connect to your WiFi network.

Enable the WLAN AutoConfig service.

Wireless security and connection settings may be configured using the WLAN AutoConfig service. Furthermore, when WiFi becomes accessible, it will automatically join a wireless network.

To enable it, perform the following actions:

  • Open the "Run" box by pressing the "Windows" logo + "R" simultaneously on your keyboard.
  • Type keyboard.msc, then hit the Enter key.
  • Right-click "WLAN AutoConfig" and choose "Properties."
  • Pick "Automatic" from the Startup type, then click "Apply" and "OK."
  • Reboot your laptop and join your WiFi network to see if your WiFi appears.

Activate SSID broadcast on your WiFi network.

The broadcast of the Service Set Identifier (SSID) is what renders your WiFi network visible on your network adaptor. When you disable SSID broadcast, your WiFi network will no longer appear in the list.

To activate your SSID broadcast, follow the steps below. Note that the interface may change across laptops:

  • Check your wifi router's IP address, username, and password.
  • Link your laptop to the web via an Ethernet wire. 
  • Launch your laptop's browser. 
  • In your browser, type the IP address and hit Enter.
  • Enter your User ID and Password, then click Login.
  • Navigate to "Wireless > Wireless Configuration."
  • Tick the box that says "Enable SSID Broadcast" and click "Save."
  • Reboot your laptop and connect to your WiFi network again.

Why Won’t My HP Laptop Connect to WiFi?

Wi-Fi networking is a simple way to connect to the internet. However, while using WiFi, many things may go wrong, and that can be annoying when the internet is sluggish, periodically fails, or can't connect. HP is a well-known brand among laptop users, but it doesn't imply they're perfect.

If your HP laptop is unable to connect to WiFi:

  • Take advantage of automated troubleshooting. HP and Microsoft solutions may be used to automatically check and resolve a wide range of wireless issues.
  • Remove and reinstall the wireless adapter driver. Uninstalling and reinstalling the wireless network adapter driver can remove registry settings and refresh configurations, allowing Windows to correctly configure and use the driver.
  • Install the latest wireless network drivers. Having the most recent driver for your wireless adapter might help you overcome problems with WiFi, particularly those involving performance or sporadic lost connections.
  • Check and reset your hardware.  Resetting the hardware on your wireless network in the correct order can alleviate a number of connectivity and performance issues.
  • Restore your system. If your HP laptop was previously connected to a wireless network but suddenly can't connect, use Microsoft System Restore to restore your system files to a date and time when you could connect to the WiFi.

Dell Laptop Won't Connect to WiFi

Don't be alarmed if your Dell laptop is unable to connect to WiFi. There are workarounds you can do on your own.

Troubleshooting will help you identify the source of your problem. Connecting other devices to your WiFi is one of the quickest and most straightforward ways to determine the source of your problem. You can, for example, connect your smartphone to your WiFi.  If none of the other devices can join the WiFi, the problem appears to be with your WiFi router. If all other devices can connect to WiFi but your Dell laptop cannot, the issue is most likely with your laptop. Move your Dell laptop nearer to the WiFi router to get better signals and, perhaps, a successful connection.

Make sure your laptop's WLAN function is turned on. If you do not enable the WLAN service on your computer, your Dell laptop will not connect to WiFi effectively. Check that the WLAN function is turned on. You may enable it by turning on the WiFi button or configuring your network settings.

Check that the WLAN AutoConfig service is active.  This implements the logic required to set up, find, join, and disengage from a WLAN. If you disable this service, all of your laptop's WLAN adapters will stop working.

Update the driver for your wireless network device. Your laptop may be unable to connect to WiFi due to a missing or outdated network device driver. To eliminate it as a possible cause of your problem, you should upgrade your network adapter driver to the most recent version.

Lenovo Laptop Won’t Connect to WiFi

Lenovo laptops provide unrivaled performance and a dependable consumer experience thanks to innovative features and a variety of connection possibilities. But what if you need to access the internet but your Lenovo Laptop can't connect to the WiFi?

  • Wi-Fi connection troubles might be complicated at times, but they can be fixed by using some of these tried-and-true solutions:
  • Investigate the connectivity problems.
  • Verify that the wireless switch is turned on.
  • Turn on the wifi adapter.
  • Update drivers for wireless network adapters.
  • Enable WLAN Autoconfig services.
  • Set up power management.
  • Add the wireless network manually.

One of the most infuriating tech problems is being unable to connect your laptop to your WiFi service. Once you follow the steps highlighted in this post, you'll soon have your device connected to your wireless network.

Chris Campbell

Chris Campbell

Thanks for reading! I'm Chris, an avid tech fanatic that enjoys keeping up with the latest laptop models. Hopefully my tips & tricks can help you out!

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