And youDell laptop won't connect to wifi, Do not worry. There are solutions to fix Dell laptops won't connect to WiFi.
Why won't my Dell laptop connect to WiFi?The reasons are varied and sometimes it is difficult to know where the problem lies. Usually, you cannot connect your laptop to WiFi because the WiFi service on your laptop is turned off or something is wrong with your wireless network adapter. Also, the WiFi problem itself is one of the reasons why you cannot connect to WiFi.
But no worry. You can follow the methods below to solve your problem.
Try these fixes
- Diagnose the cause of your problem through troubleshooting
- Be sure to enable WiFi on your laptop
- Make sure the WLAN autoconfiguration service is running
- Update the driver for your wireless network adapter
- Uninstall incompatible apps
- Manually connect to a wireless network
Solution 1 - Diagnose the cause of your problem by troubleshooting
Since there are several possible reasons why Dell Laptop WiFi is not working, it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. In this case, it will take you a lot of time and patience to troubleshoot and fix your problem. Luckily, you can at least determine if your problem is with your Dell laptop or the wireless router.
One of the quick and direct ways to check where your problem lies is to connect other devices to your WiFi. For example, you can connect your smartphone and other laptops and PCs to your WLAN.
- If none of the other devices can connect to the WiFi, the problem seems to be with your WiFi router. There should be something wrong with your WiFi network and that's why the devices aren't connecting. Your wireless router may disable SSID broadcasting, or your wireless router may not work at all. For further advice you should contact the manufacturer.
- If other devices can successfully connect to WiFi but your Dell laptop cannot, then there is likely a problem with your laptop. Try moving your Dell laptop closer to the wireless router so it will have stronger signals and hopefully connect successfully.
If this doesn't help, don't worry. Try the next solution.
Solution 2 – Make sure the WiFi feature is enabled on your laptop
Your Dell laptop will not connect to WiFi properly if WiFi service is not enabled on your computer. Therefore, make sure that the WiFi function is activated.
There are two ways to enable WiFi on your laptop:
Way 1: Turn on the WiFi button
Some laptops, e.g. B. Dell and HP laptops have a switch on the edge of the laptop or a key combination (e.g. Fn+F5) to turn on the WLAN service. You may accidentally turn off the WiFi service by changing the button or pressing the shortcut key, so please check and turn on the WiFi function.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (1) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (1)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/img_59f17e7c46827.jpg)
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (2) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (2)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-106.png)
Way 2: Configure your network settings
Needed time:3 minutes.
If you don't have a WiFi switch on your laptop, you can turn on WiFi in your computer's settings.
- Open the Control Panel.
TypSwitchboardin the search box on your desktop and clickSwitchboardin result.
- Open network and clearinghouse.
ChooseView through small iconsÖView through large icons, then clicknetworks and shared resources.
- Go to Change adapter settings.
ClickChange adapter settingson the left.
- Activate your Wi-Fi connection.
Right-click on your WiFi connection (namedW-lanÖWireless Network Connection) and selectAllow.
- Or reactivate your WiFi connection.
When the connection has been activated, you will seeDeactivateby right-clicking on it. In this case you can chooseDeactivate, SoreactivateIs.
- Restart your Dell laptop.
Restart your laptop and reconnect to wifi to see if it works.
If this method doesn't solve your problem, don't worry. There is one more thing to try.
Solution 3 – Make sure the WLAN AutoConfig service is running
The WLAN AutoConfig service (or Wireless Configuration in Windows XP) provides the logic required to configure, detect, connect to, and disconnect from a wireless local area network (WLAN). If this service is disabled, all wireless adapters on your computer will not work properly. Therefore, you need to make sure that the WLAN AutoConfig service is running properly.
That's how it's done:
1) Press the key on your keyboardWindows-Logo-TastejRsimultaneously to bring up the Run box.
2) Typservices.mscand clickOK.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (8) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (8)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-94.png)
3) Scroll down and double clickAutomatic WLAN configuration.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (9) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (9)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-95.png)
4) Be sure to set thestartup typeAAutomatically, and theService StatusesRun. then clickUsejOKto save the changes.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (10) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (10)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-96.png)
5) Reconnect your Dell laptop to WiFi and see if that works.
Solution 4 – Update your wireless network adapter driver
A missing or outdated network adapter driver can cause your laptop to fail to connect to WiFi. To rule this out as the cause of your problem, you need to update your network adapter driver to the latest version.
UseNote: Since your Dell laptop cannot connect to WiFi, you can try an Ethernet connection or download the driver to a USB drive on another computer.
There are two ways to update your network adapter driver:a rusejautomatically.
- Update your driver manually: You can go to your network adapter's website, look for the latest version of your adapter, and then download and install it on your laptop.
- Update your driver automatically: If you don't have the time or patience, you can do it automatically withsimple driver.
Important: If Windows cannot access the Internet, you can download Driver Easy from another computer. Then install it on this computer. Thanks toOffline-Scan-FunktionPowered by Driver Easy, you can download and install the network driver even without internet.
Driver Easy will automatically detect your system and find the right drivers for it. You don't need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don't need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don't need to worry about making a mistake during the installation.
With the FREE or Pro version of Driver Easy you can update your drivers automatically. But with the Pro version it's just 2 clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee):
1)Disposeand install Driver Easy (you can use an Ethernet connection or theOffline-Scan-Funktion).
2) Run Driver Easy and clickscan now. Then Driver Easy will scan your computer and detect problematic drivers.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (11) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (11)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-97.png)
3) Click on theTo updatenext to the device name to automatically download the driver (you can do this with theFREIversion), then install it on your computer.
or clickRefresh allto automatically download and install the correct version of all problematic drivers (you can do this withPro-Versionand you will be prompted to update when you click itRefresh all).
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (12) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (12)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-100.png)
4) After the update, restart your computer for it to take effect.
Now connect your laptop to WiFi and check if it works properly.
Still no luck? Do not lose hope. Proceed to the next solution.
Solution 5 – Uninstall incompatible apps
If your Dell laptop won't connect to Wi-Fi after installing new apps or programs, the reason may be that the incompatible app is preventing your laptop from connecting to Wi-Fi. So you need to uninstall the apps to fix your problem.
Many people have reported thisSmartByteIt is the culprit of the connection problem, so try uninstalling it if you have this program installed on your laptop.
To uninstall an app:
1) Press the key on your keyboardWindows-Logo-TastejRsimultaneously to bring up the Run box.
2) Typappwiz.cpland clickOK.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (13) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (13)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-102.png)
3) imPrograms and FeaturesList, select the app you want to uninstall and clickuninstall.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (14) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (14)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-101.png)
4) ClickAndto verifyUser Account Control.
5) Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
Restart your computer and connect to WiFi.
Solution 6: Manually connect to a wireless network
If the above methods didn't solve your problem, you can try to connect to your WiFi manually on your Dell laptop.
Follow these steps:
1) TypSwitchboardin the search box on your desktop and clickSwitchboardin result.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (15) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (15)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-87.png)
2) ChooseView through small iconsÖSeen by big icons, then clicknetworks and shared resources.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (16) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (16)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-89.png)
3) ClickSet up a new connection or network.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (17) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (17)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-103.png)
4) ChooseManually connect to a wireless network, then clickNext.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (18) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (18)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-104.png)
5) Enter the required information and clickNext.
![[Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (19) [Solved] Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi - Driver Easy (19)](https://i0.wp.com/images.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/image-105.png)
6) Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Then restart your computer and connect to WiFi to see if it works.
That's all. I hope this post helps to solve the problem that Dell laptop won't connect to WiFi. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave us a comment below.
- Dell
- W-lan
FAQs
How do I fix problem with the driver for the wifi adapter? ›
In the search box on the taskbar, type device manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results. Expand Network adapters, and locate the network adapter for your device. Select the network adapter, select Update driver >Search automatically for updated driver software, and then follow the instructions.
Why is my laptop the only device not connecting to Wi-Fi? ›Here are some of the most common issues: Your device is in airplane mode or has Wi-Fi turned off. Your router is down. You're entering an incorrect Wi-Fi password.
How do I enable Wi-Fi on my Dell laptop BIOS? ›- Tap the F2 key while powering up the system.
- Once in the BIOS please click on Power Management.
- You will then click on Wireless Radio Control.
- Once here please ensure that the Control WLAN radio option is selected.
- Please click Apply and then Exit.
- Click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Dell Wireless, and then click Dell WLAN Card Utility. ...
- Click the Advanced button. ...
- Click to check Access Point (infrastructure) networks only. ...
- Click the Add button. ...
- Type the Network Name or SSID next to Network Name (SSID):. ...
- Click OK.
- Click OK.
- From the Start Menu, navigate to Settings.
- Click Network & Internet.
- You should be in the status tab by default. ...
- Click Reset now.
- Click Yes to confirm and restart your computer.
- Your computer will now restart and your network adapters and configuration will be reset.
- #1) Not Showing Available Networks. One telltale sign of a bad Wi-Fi adapter is failure to show available networks. ...
- #2) Dropped Connections. ...
- #3) Slow Speeds. ...
- #4) Not Lighting Up. ...
- #5) Pop-Up Error Messages.
The easiest way to update your Wi-Fi driver and software is to download and install the Intel® Driver & Support Assistant. This tool identifies your adapter and updates your driver to the latest version, if needed.
How do I manually install a wireless driver? ›- Open the Device Manager (You can do this by pressing the Windows but and typing it out)
- Right click on your wireless adapter and choose Update Driver Software.
- Choose the option to Browse and locate the drivers you downloaded. Windows will then install the drivers.
- Method 1: Forget Network.
- Method 2: Enable/Disable Airplane Mode.
- Method 3: Uninstall Network Adapter Driver.
- Method 4: Flush DNS and Renew/Reset IP.
- Method 5: Reset Network.
- Method 6: Run Network Troubleshooter.
- Method 7: Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter.
In the search box (located in the upper-right corner), type adapter. Under Networking and Sharing Center, click View network connections. All the network adapters that are installed on your laptop are listed. Look at the Wi-Fi adapter listed.
Why can't my device connect to Wi-Fi but others can? ›
It's probably just a momentary network issue, which is an easy fix. Try turning off the Wi-Fi on your device, then re-enabling it — or unplugging and replugging your Wi-Fi dongle. If that doesn't work, restart the device and try again. Then try restarting the router itself.
Why can't my laptop find Wi-Fi networks? ›Here are some quick troubleshooting steps for connecting to a wireless network. Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on with your device, refer to Steps of enabling and disabling Wi-Fi. Make sure Airplane mode (flight mode) is turned off. Try to remove previously saved Wi-Fi networks, search, and reconnect.
How do I reset my network adapter? ›- Type ipconfig /release and press Enter.
- Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
- Type ipconfig /renew and press Enter. (This will stall for a moment.)
- Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter. (Don't restart yet.)
- Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
...
Laptop: | WiFi Switch Location: |
---|---|
Dell Inspiron 6000 | Fn / F2 |
Dell Inspiron 8600 | Fn / F2 |
Dell Inspiron 9300 | Fn / F2 |
Dell Latitude D400 | Fn / F2 |
Enable WiFi with a function key
Another way to enable WiFi is by pressing the "Fn" key and one of the function keys (F1-F12) at the same time to toggle wireless on and off. The specific key to use will vary by computer. Look for a small wireless icon as shown in the below example image of an F12 key.
- Click Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Device Manager.
- Click the Plus Sign (+) next to Network Adapters.
- Right-click the wireless adapters and, if disabled, click Enable.
- Open Control Panel.
- Click on Network and Internet.
- Click on Network and Sharing Center.
- Under the "Change your networking settings" section, click the Set up a new connection or network option.
- Disable/enable Wi-Fi Adapter: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options. ...
- Reset all Wi-Fi network adapters: Go to Settings > Network & Internet and choose Network reset > Reset Now.
- After either option, you may need to reconnect to your network and re-enter the network password.
Wi-Fi antennas are generally located in the screen portion of the laptop; look for a compartment nearest that part of the underside of the laptop. In some Dell laptop models, the Wi-Fi card is located under the keyboard.
Why Windows 10 Cannot connect to Wi-Fi? ›Windows 10 can't connect to Wi-Fi
Press Windows + X and click on 'Device Manager'. Now, right click on network adapter and choose 'Uninstall'. Click on 'Delete the driver software for this device'. Reboot the system and Windows will automatically reinstall the drivers.
Can you replace a wireless network adapter? ›
WIFI cards are "plug and play" components which means that they can be removed and replaced easily.
Which network driver is for Wi-Fi? ›Use Windows Device Manager to know which WiFi drivers are used by your system. Right-click the Windows Start button. Select Device Manager from the list. Select Network Adapters in the Device Manager window and click the carat (>) next to it to view the list of all the network adapter devices in the system.
How do I install a new Wi-Fi driver in Windows 10? ›Select Start or the search box in the task bar. type "device manager" and open Device Manager. Within Device Manager, find Network adapters and expand it to see all the currently installed adapters. Right-click or long press on the Qualcomm adapter and select Update driver.
How do you manually update a network driver? ›- In the search box on the taskbar, enter device manager, then select Device Manager.
- Select a category to see names of devices, then right-click (or press and hold) the one you'd like to update.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
- Select Update Driver.
1. Download the drivers in a computer that has access to internet and save in an USB memory. 2. The installation of drivers doesn't need internet, all you have to do is unchecked the box as shown in the following image and you will be able to install the drivers without any future issue.
How do I get my wireless driver back Windows 10? ›- Simultaneously press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard. Select Device Manager.
- Expand Display Adapters.
- Double-click your Intel® display device.
- Select the Driver tab.
- Click Roll Back Driver to restore.
Manually Install Device Drivers on Windows
Open the Start menu and search for device manager. Select the top result. When Device Manager opens, expand the branch for the device you want to install. Right-click the device and select Update driver from the menu.
Touch and hold or right-click the network icon in the notification area of your taskbar (located in the lower right-hand corner), and then touch or click Troubleshoot problems and follow the instructions. Run the Dell Network Adapter Diagnostics (when you have some Internet connection on the affected computer).
How do I reset and reinstall network adapter? ›- Right click the Windows logo in the lower left corner.
- Choose Device Manager.
- Double click Network Adapters and then right click on the network adapter to reinstall. The exact name will vary from computer to computer.
- Choose Uninstall. ...
- Click OK.
- Restart the computer.
- Method 1: Forget Network.
- Method 2: Enable/Disable Airplane Mode.
- Method 3: Uninstall Network Adapter Driver.
- Method 4: Flush DNS and Renew/Reset IP.
- Method 5: Reset Network.
- Method 6: Run Network Troubleshooter.
- Method 7: Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter.