InfoTech ExpressSolution

Networking

Can't connect to Wi-Fi at all

When the network is not even listed, the fault is between the laptop and the router — usually the adapter, the password or the band, not the internet.

Easy15–25 min6 steps

Read before you start

Do not factory-reset the router unless you have the provider's login details — a reset wipes the settings your connection needs and can leave you offline for days.

This guide is for you if

  • No Wi-Fi networks appear in the list
  • The network appears but the password is rejected
  • It connects, then drops within a minute

Step by step

Work top to bottom

0 of 6 steps done

  1. Check airplane mode and the physical switch

    Many laptops have a function-key Wi-Fi toggle or a hardware switch that silently turns the radio off. Turn it on and watch for the wireless light.

  2. Forget the network and rejoin

    Choose "Forget" on the network, then connect with the password typed fresh. Most rejected-password problems are a saved profile with the old password in it.

    Type the password into a note first so you can see it, then copy it in.

  3. Restart the router properly

    Unplug it for a full 30 seconds, then let it boot for two minutes before trying again. That clears more than a quick off-and-on.

  4. Test with a phone

    If the phone sees and joins the network, the fault is this laptop. If the phone sees nothing either, the router or the provider is the problem.

  5. Reset the adapter in Windows or macOS

    Turn the Wi-Fi adapter off and on in settings, then use the network reset option. This reinstalls the adapter driver stack in one go.

    You will need to re-enter the Wi-Fi password afterwards.

  6. Try the other band and a closer distance

    Some older laptops cannot see 5 GHz networks, and some newer routers hide the 2.4 GHz one. Stand next to the router and compare what appears.