How to fix when Wi-Fi won’t connect 【 】

It’s frustrating when a Wi-Fi connection isn’t working and a lot of things can go wrong. We’ll walk you through some common troubleshooting techniques that can help, starting with the methods you should try first. Find out how to fix when Wi-Fi won’t connect

How to fix when Wi-Fi won’t connect

Double check Wi-Fi password

To start this list on how to fix when Wi-Fi won’t connect, we need to start with the basics.

To connect to most Wi-Fi routers, you will need a password. This password is set by the owner of the router or access point. If there is even a typo of one character in the password, you will not be able to connect.

Therefore, make sure you have the correct Wi-Fi password: request it again, if necessary, to verify it, or write it down twice on a piece of paper. Then re-enter it into the Settings app or the Connecting Device Settings app and see if that helps. If not, go to another step.

See if the connection requires a Wi-Fi login page

Some businesses (such as hotels, restaurants, airlines, and more) offer an “open” Wi-Fi network that restricts access through a Wi-Fi login page or portal in a web browser . These login pages allow you to log in with a special username and password provided by the company.

If you’ve connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot in your device’s Settings or Settings app, but don’t see any Internet access, try opening your browser on that device and visiting any website. If the company uses a login page, you will normally be automatically redirected to the login page where you can enter your credentials correctly.

Reboot your connecting device

If you’re having trouble connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot, another easy troubleshooting tip you can try is to restart or restart the device you’re trying to connect with.

Rebooting a device resolves many issues caused by temporary errors because it forces the device to reload its software and settings from scratch. After restarting, try to connect via Wi-Fi again. If it works, you’re ready to go. If it still doesn’t work, continue with another suggestion below.

«Forget Wi-Fi network and try again

We already mentioned double checking and re-entering the Wi-Fi password. As a next step, open the Settings app (Settings on iPhone, for example) and tap the name of the Wi-Fi network you’re trying to connect to, then select an option to delete or “forget” the saved settings from the Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi network. The way to do this varies depending on the device you are using.

After that, you can either scan for networks and try to connect again or enter the information for the Wi-Fi access point manually. This technique is particularly useful if the router has changed its Wi-Fi settings, but the device you’re using to connect to is still configured with older settings (such as an older password or different security settings).

Restart your Wi-Fi router or access point

If you’re still having trouble connecting to your Wi-Fi router, and you have control over the router or access point itself, you can try restarting it to see if that helps clear temporary bugs or error states that might be causing it to malfunction. . . Similar to rebooting the connecting device, rebooting your router forces it to reload its settings from scratch, which can resolve a variety of issues.

Just be aware that resetting your router could disrupt other people’s use of the network (perhaps streaming a TV show, backing up, gaming, video chatting, or otherwise), so be sure to warn them first.

No Internet access? check your modem

If you’re connected to your Wi-Fi hotspot but still don’t have Internet access, the problem could be with the modem (cable, DSL, wireless, or otherwise) that feeds the Internet connection to your Wi-Fi.

First, check with your ISP to see if there is an Internet outage in your area. If there is no outage, restart your modem (unplug it, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in) and make sure the Ethernet cable (if any) between your modem and your router is not damaged or disconnected.

Make sure Wi-Fi settings are compatible with your device

Many older Wi-Fi enabled devices do not support modern Wi-Fi connection security standards. So unless you have your router set to a backward compatible security mode, those older devices won’t be able to connect.

For example, the Nintendo DS (released in 2004) and not newer standards like WPA or WPA2. Similarly, some older devices can’t access the newer frequency bands used by some routers, so make sure your router supports legacy bands like 2.4 GHz if that’s the case.

Try a different frequency band

Most modern Wi-Fi routers support connections over at least two different frequency bands, with 2.4GHz and 5GHz being the most common.

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Some routers will automatically connect compatible devices to the highest frequency band, but others require you to connect to a different SSID for each frequency.

For troubleshooting, it’s important to know that 5GHz connections offer higher speeds but less range than a 2.4GHz connection. So if you’re having trouble getting a reliable signal on your router’s 5GHz band, try force a 2.4 GHz connection instead, or move closer to the router

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Consider the distance and interference; change the channel

Wi-Fi is useful, but not perfect. The Wi-Fi radio signal follows the , which means that the signal strength decreases exponentially (decreasing rapidly) as the distance between you and the router increases. If you have a signal strength issue, you can either move closer to the router or consider installing a larger antenna, a more powerful router, or a Wi-Fi repeater or range extender somewhere in your network.

Additionally, you might consider investigating possible radio interference from devices such as microwaves or other devices that use similar frequencies (2.5 GHz or 5 GHz in particular). In those cases, you can disable the interfering devices or surround them with a wired connection to a second Wi-Fi access point on the other side of the interfering device.

If you suspect interference, you can try setting your Wi-Fi to use a different channel, which may prevent certain types of interference, especially with other nearby Wi-Fi networks (run by neighbors or businesses).

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Try a different Wi-Fi adapter or device

At this point, it’s a good idea to see if you can connect to the Wi-Fi network using a different device than the one you’re having trouble with. If so, the problem is likely with the connecting device itself and not the router. It could also be an issue with the unique combination of your device and router, which usually comes into play in relation to your Wi-Fi settings, as we’ll cover below.

Also, Wi-Fi adapters sometimes go bad or have buggy drivers. If your device supports connecting other Wi-Fi adapters (such as internal PCe cards or USB adapters), you can try purchasing a new Wi-Fi adapter and replace the one currently in your device, or disable the old one and activate the new one.

Also if the new adapter works, then your original Wi-Fi adapter is not working properly. If the new adapter doesn’t work, then you’re looking at a bigger problem than other troubleshooting tips on this list might help.

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Try updating the driver for your Wi-Fi adapter

If you are using a Windows or Linux PC with a Wi-Fi network adapter (either built-in or not), updating the driver for the Wi-Fi adapter may solve your problem and allow you to connect to the Wi-Fi network. Phi. -Fi access point successfully.

To update a driver in Windows, you’ll need to find the latest driver for your adapter on the manufacturer’s website and follow the instructions in our guides for Windows 10 or Windows 11. To update a hardware driver on Linux, you’ll need to be more technically savvy, but we’ve written about that too. Once you’ve updated, restart your PC and try connecting again. If it works, then you’re good to go.

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Try a different router

And finally, if nothing else works, your router might just be bad. If so, you can contact the manufacturer’s support staff and request repair or replacement options.

Or if the router is older and you’re ready to upgrade anyway, it may be time to buy an entirely new model.

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