How do I get my laptop to connect to Wi

Issues with connecting to Wi-Fi typically occur when you're first trying to connect to a new network or after you've deleted a Wi-Fi connection and are trying to connect again.

How to Fix It When a Laptop Isn't Connecting to a Mobile Hotspot

Cause of Laptop Not Connecting to Wi-Fi

There are many potential causes when a laptop won't connect to Wi-Fi. The most common one relates to correctly authenticating with the target network.

Other possible causes include faulty Wi-Fi network configuration, a malfunctioning modem or router, corrupt or failing network hardware or drivers, or antivirus software or firewall blocking your connection.

How to Fix Laptop Not Connecting to Wi-Fi

This issue applies to laptops running Windows, Mac, or Linux. These fixes may also work for other devices like smartphones or tablets.

Does your laptop not connect to Wi-Fi when other devices will? If this is the case, you can step the first step below. You should only restart your modem and router if no device can connect to the network. Otherwise, you'll need to troubleshoot the laptop itself.

1. Restart your modem and router. When left running for long periods, a modem and router can fail and either drop its internet connection or drop the Wi-Fi network. A reset will often repair this issue. If all your devices still can't connect to Wi-Fi, you may need to do a hard reset of your router or reconfigure your router.
   

2. Ensure Wi-Fi is turned on. If your laptop has a hardware switch to control Wi-Fi, make sure this is on.
   

   If you've configured your Wi-Fi adapter so that it doesn't automatically connect to your Wi-Fi network, you'll need to connect manually.

3. Move your laptop closer to the Wi-Fi router. If you can't reposition your laptop, make sure your router is in the best location in your home so all devices can connect to it.
   

4. Check your Wi-Fi network connection password. If your password is wrong (or someone changed it), you won't be able to connect.
   

   Don't see the Wi-Fi connection at all? Add a new Wi-Fi network, select your home Wi-Fi, and type the correct password to connect.

5. Reboot your Windows laptop or reboot your Mac. You can reboot a Linux laptop from the command line.
   

6. Change your laptop's Wi-Fi channel. Most users keep their Wi-Fi adapter working on the 2.4 GHz band, but the 5 GHz band may be required to connect to your network.
   

7. Reset your Wi-Fi driver. Doing this will clear the network cache and hopefully remove any connection errors.
   

8. Update your Wi-Fi driver. Network connection issues often result from outdated Wi-Fi drivers, and an update can resolve this. To simplify this process, you could use free driver updater tools to update all drivers on your laptop at once.
   

9. Release and renew your IP address. You'll do this using the IPCONFIG command, which will drop any IP address your router has registered for your device and create a new one. It could clear any issues your router may have in allowing the connection from your old IP address.
   

10. Run the network troubleshooter. You can access this by right-clicking the network connection and choosing Diagnose, Repair, or Diagnose and Repair. On Mac, this tool is called the Wireless Diagnostics app. These built-in troubleshooting tools will often automatically resolve any Wi-Fi connection problems.
    

11. Disable your antivirus or firewall software. You'll also want to try disabling the Windows firewall and turning off Windows Defender.

FAQ

• Why won't my laptop connect to hotel Wi-Fi?

  If your hotel limits the Wi-Fi connection to one device only and you've already logged on with another gadget, try disconnecting on that device and connecting to hotel Wi-Fi using the laptop. If you have two Windows laptops, you could share the connection by turning a laptop into a Wi-Fi extender; go to Settings > Network & internet > and toggle on Mobile hotspot.

• Why won't my laptop connect to free Wi-Fi?

  Some public networks require agreeing to terms of service on an authorization page to connect; open a web browser if this page doesn't automatically launch or forget the network and try reconnecting. Select the Wi-Fi icon > Open Network Preferences > Advanced > and choose the minus sign beside the name to delete a network on a Mac. Or, right-click the network icon in the taskbar and select Network and internet settings > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks > Forget to forget a network in Windows 11. 

  You can connect your PC or laptop to the internet through a Wi-Fi connection if you have a wireless router connected to broadband internet and an operating system that fully supports wireless networking, such as Windows 8, 10 or 11.

  If your wireless router was professionally installed by an internet service provider, chances are it's already been set up with an SSID and password encryption. In such a case, you can most likely skip straight to the final step. If you're installing it yourself, you can proceed with the guide as normal. Here's what to do:

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  1. Power up the wireless router and use an ethernet cable to connect to one of the network ports on your internet service provider's modem.
  2. Open the network setup wizard in Windows. (Your router's manufacturer may have their own software or web client to assist the setup process. Consult your owner's manual for more details.) Depending on the version of your OS, this process varies:
  • In Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, select Start, start typing Network and Sharing Center, and then choose it in the list.
  • In Windows 10, select Start, then select Settings/Network & Internet/Status/Network and Sharing Center.
  • In Windows 11, select Start, type Control Panel, then select Control Panel/Network and Internet/ Network and Sharing Center.

  Once the wizard is accessed:

  1. Select: Set up a new connection or network/Set up a network/Next.
  2. Enter your username and password when prompted. Many routers use the term admin as a default for both. Again, check your router's manual if you don't know the default username and password.
  3. Pick a name, also called an SSID, for your network, once you access your router's configuration page. Try to think of an original name that will distinguish your Wi-Fi from your neighbor's Wi-Fi.
  4. Choose the type of security you want. WPA2 and WPA3 are more secure than WEP, but not all devices support WPA3. Create a unique password for your network. There will be hints on your router configuration page to tell you how to set up a password. Make sure to keep a hard copy of your password hidden somewhere in case you forget it.
  5. Locate and click on the internet icon for Windows 8, 10 or 11 in the notification area to the right of the taskbar. The icon will resemble a signal meter, like you would see on a cell phone. Choose the wireless network you just set up and enter your password.

  Now That's Interesting

  Wi-Fi is often assumed to be short for Wireless-Fidelity. However, no such thing exists. The user-friendly term was created by a marketing firm to refer to the user-unfriendly technology known as IEEE 802.11.

  Why my laptop is not connecting to Wi

  Check the basics on your PC Make sure the physical Wi‑Fi switch on your laptop is turned on. (An indicator light usually shows when it's on.) Make sure your PC isn't in airplane mode. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, select Settings, then select the Network icon.

  Why won't my laptop connect to Wi

  There are many reasons why your laptop can't connect to free Wi-Fi. Some of these reasons include the router being down, you entering an incorrect password, your laptop being too far from the router, and your device may not support the Wi-Fi network it is connecting to.