Why can't other devices see wi-fi. The computer does not detect a Wi-Fi wireless network. WiFi on laptop and router

It would seem, what could be easier than connecting a router to a computer? Things are just for a couple of minutes. But sometimes the result can be completely unexpected, for example, the computer does not see the router, and it is impossible to enter the settings of the router parameters. What to do in such a situation? For those who want to try to fix the problem on their own, here are some simple tips. But first, a few words about the possible causes of the failure.

Why the computer does not see the router: possible reasons

As for the reasons, there can be quite a lot of them, from a banal incorrect connection to equipment malfunctions, including the router itself and the corresponding ports on the computer (physical breakdowns or software failures of the device itself will not be considered in detail).

However, the main prerequisites for the computer not seeing the WiFi router, depending on the situation, are the following:

wrong connection;
incorrect access parameters;
lack of network card drivers;
inoperability of the Wi-Fi module;
hidden network.

What if the computer does not see the router on a direct connection?

Let's start with a situation where a user is trying to connect to the router for the initial setup via a cable directly. It seems that all the cables are connected correctly, but still there is no connection. Well, the router does not see the computer, even if you crack it. What should I do?

First of all, if you are sure that all cables are connected correctly, check if the address of the router itself is entered correctly in the web browser. In most cases, this is 192.168 with the last two digits 0.1 or 1.1 (for some non-standard models, other addresses may be used).

The entrance address can be found on a special plate located on the back of the device. There is also a username and password that must be entered when entering the settings.

If everything is entered correctly, but the router is not visible, it may be helpful to simply reboot the router by pressing the On / Off or Power buttons for 10-15 seconds. However, it is best to unplug the router completely from the mains, keeping the same interval. If, after that, the computer does not see the router, you can try to reset the router settings to the factory settings. To do this, there is a small hole in the bottom of the case, in which there is a barely noticeable Reset button.

Checking if the connection is correct

If the previous actions did not have an effect, you should check the correctness of the direct connection.

Try plugging the network cable into a different connector on the router, or do the same on your computer's network card. If that doesn't work, the cause may be damage to the cable itself. In this case, just replace it and try again to enter the settings.

Connection Diagnostics and Ethernet Ports Test

Also, the situation when the computer does not see the Wi-Fi router may be due to the breakdown of the ports themselves. As already mentioned, use a different port or "ring" the one to which you are connecting.

However, the reason may also be in the network adapter. In this case, you should make sure that all the necessary drivers are installed for it in the system (and correctly). If the device is marked with a yellow exclamation mark in the appropriate manager, the drivers must be reinstalled. Also, as an option, you can use a complete removal of the device followed by a reboot of the system when the driver is installed automatically. In the case of non-standard equipment, you must use original discs or specify the location of the driver installation file on the hard disk manually.

To get more detailed information, you need to diagnose the connection. It is performed from the adapter parameters section, which is located in the network connections menu located in the standard "Control Panel". If problems are found, the system will inform you about their elimination.

Checking network attributes

Finally, the reason that the computer does not see the router when using a wireless connection may be set to hide the network in the settings.

In this situation, you need to connect to the router directly with a cable, enter the wireless settings and uncheck the box to enable SSID broadcasting (for TP-Link models). In other devices, this can be a point of hiding the network name, setting just hiding the network (SSID), or something else like that. After that, it is advisable to restart the device using the method described above. In addition, it would be nice to restart the main computer system (as they say, you never know what).

Conclusion

In most cases, the above methods will help correct the connection situation. If none of these solutions helped, in order not to replace the equipment, you will need to flash the device. Doing it yourself at home is quite problematic, so it is best to contact some service center. If, however, such actions do not give a result, you will have to make a complete diagnosis of the router not the subject of faults, but if they are detected, replace the device.

But, as practice shows, most often there is an incorrect entry of addresses and parameters when entering the settings, breakage of cables and ports, the absence of drivers for network cards and wireless modules, as well as the set parameters for hiding networks. So at least one of the proposed methods will help.

1. Reboot the router and check if the cables are connected correctly

When using a cable for connection, check which ports are connected to the network connectors. The internet cable provided by your ISP must be plugged into a separate slot. Usually it is located at some distance from other ports or is indicated by a different color (often blue).

Then reboot the router. This step should be performed regardless of whether you are connecting to the router - using a wire or wirelessly (WiFi). To reboot the device, use the “Power” or “On / Off” button on the device itself. Press the button to turn off the router, and after 10-15 seconds, press the button again to turn it on. If there is no separate reset button on the rear panel, unplug the device from the mains by unplugging the power supply. After 30-40 seconds, turn on the device again, and after it boots up, check if the computer can see the router.

2. Run connection diagnostics

Start Windows Control Panel on the computer that is having difficulty connecting. In the Network Control Center, select the menu item marked in the screenshot.

Find the required network adapter, right-click on it and run diagnostics. Windows will try to identify the problem with the connection. If the problem is successfully detected and corrected, the system will inform you that the problem has been fixed. Then reconnect and the computer will see the router.

Important! Network diagnostics can take several minutes. It is recommended that you do not interrupt the troubleshooting process.

3. Use a different connection type

If the previous steps did not help, try connecting to your home network in a different way. If using a cable connection, connect via WiFi and vice versa. This method allows you to localize the error and for its further correction. Among the shortcomings, it can be noted that desktop PCs are rarely equipped with a WiFi adapter, so often this method can only be used on a laptop. For diagnostics, you can use a second computer. This will help determine where the error occurs - on a computer or a router.

4. If using WiFi, check the openness of the network name

The computer may not find home WiFi if the network is configured as hidden. These networks do not broadcast their SSIDs to surrounding wireless devices. You can connect to a hidden network after entering its name and authorization (if encryption is available). You can check the current WiFi settings in the web interface of the router. Connect to the router with a cable and make sure that the connection is established (the computer can see it). Turn the router over and on its underside look at the address for entering the admin panel, as well as the username and password. Go to the specified address in your browser, enter your account information and find the wireless settings.

Among the settings there will be a checkbox responsible for the visibility of the name of the wireless network. In routers of different manufacturers, it is called differently, for example, "Make network hidden", "Hide SSID", "Hide network name". On TP-Link routers, the required item is called "Enable SSID Broadcast", and you can find it in the "Wireless Mode -> Wireless Settings" menu. Change this setting, restart your router, and try to reconnect.

5. Make sure the Ethernet port on the computer is working

Connect the internet cable directly to your computer, without using a router. If Internet access appears, then the computer does not see the router due to problems with the router itself. Otherwise, if Internet access does not appear, the error may occur due to problems with the computer's network card. It is recommended to reinstall the network card driver or replace it.

6. Replace the network cable

Failure of a network cable is one of the common reasons why a computer does not see a router. Cable breakage is usually associated with physical damage that is not always easy to spot. The cord can be damaged by children or pets, it can be crushed by a door or pinched by a baseboard. Try using a different Ethernet cable to connect your computer to the router.

7. Insert the network cable into another port of the router

The failure of one of the LAN ports of the device may be the cause of the problem. Modern routers are equipped with multiple Ethernet ports, usually four. Disconnect the network cable that connects the router to the computer from the used input and connect to the adjacent one. If the computer still does not see the router, try plugging the cable into a different port. If the connection is successful, the corresponding LAN indicator on the router will light up.

Many users sooner or later face this problem. There may be various reasons why Wi-Fi does not work on a laptop. Perhaps you recently installed a new operating system, bought a new router, or upgraded an old one and others.

In general, if you also find yourself in such a situation, and you are unable to connect your laptop to a Wi-Fi network, then in this article we will look at several ways that should help you connect your laptop to Wi-Fi.

Let's start with the simplest - reboot the router... To do this, you need to unplug the power supply from the outlet, wait 10 seconds and turn it back on. Then reboot your operating system.

Network diagnostics

Make network diagnostics... Although many people will be rather skeptical about this advice, sometimes it can also help. Right-click on the wireless network icon in the tray and select "Troubleshooting"... Windows will check and if it detects a problem, it will suggest solutions.

If after the diagnostics the message appears:, then in a separate article you can read about ways to solve this error.

If after that, the laptop still does not see Wi-Fi, check is the laptop Wi-Fi enabled.

Find on one of the F1-F12 buttons the wireless network icon, mine is F2. Also, on the button itself, near the power button or touchpad, there should be a light indicator, which indicates that the wi-fi is on. Specifically, in my case, if the wi-fi is disabled, the indicator light is on. To enable it, press the combination Fn + F2.

You also need to check that the network card is turned on. To do this, click on the wireless network icon in the tray with the right mouse button and select "Network and Sharing Center".

In the next window, click "Change adapter settings".

If you have "Wireless network connection" highlighted in gray, right-click on it and select "Enable".

After that, the icon should become colored. This indicates that the network adapter is on and the laptop can connect to the Wi-Fi network.

Driver Verification

Check the network adapter drivers... Click "Start" and write to the search bar "Device Manager" and follow the link found.

Expand the list "Network adapters"... The required adapter will be called something like: model name and "Wireless Network Adapter" (may be written Wi-Fi).

First you need to make sure it is turned on. Therefore, right-click on it, and if there is an item in the menu "Engage", click on it.

Now make sure that there is no yellow exclamation mark or red cross next to the adapter. If you have it as in the picture below, then everything is fine with the installed drivers. If you have one of the mentioned signs (in the picture I indicated with an arrow how it might look), you need to install or update the driver.

If you had a disk with a laptop with drivers for installed devices, use it and reinstall the driver. If this does not help, and the laptop still cannot connect to Wi-Fi, go to the official website of your laptop manufacturer, download the drivers for the network adapter from there and install them.

You can read about installing drivers in the article:.

Also, to update or install missing drivers, you can use.

Checking the WLAN Autoconfiguration Service

This service is responsible for the wireless network adapters, and if it is not running, the adapters will be unavailable, respectively, the laptop will not be able to connect to Wi-Fi.

We go to the "Start" menu and write to the search bar "Services". We pass on the corresponding item.

Then in the list we look for "WLAN Auto-Tuning Service", click on it with the right mouse button and, if it is disabled, click "Run".

Checking router settings

Router settings can get confused, and not always through the user's fault. Perhaps the network password was simply changed.

If your wireless network icon is muted, and there is a yellow asterisk next to it, click on it with the mouse, select a network and try to connect to it, having previously found out if the access password has changed. The reason may be this.

Also take a look at the Network Information (LAN) section. You may need to change the settings here according to your ISP.

For those who get an error when trying to connect, the article on the link can help.

I hope at least one of the tips helped you solve the question: why the laptop does not connect to Wi-Fi, and now your device is successfully connected to the network.

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Why can't my laptop see wifi? Typical Causes

There are several simple reasons why the laptop cannot see Wi-Fi. For example:

The router is not turned on - turn on the router;
No Wi-Fi coverage - get closer to the source;
Your router is "buggy" - we reboot it;
The W-Fi receiver is not turned on - turn it on.

However, there are also more serious connection disruptions. These include:

Wi-Fi is slow, why?

In addition to the fact that the computer does not see the "Wi-Fi", the problem of a slow connection is also relevant. There are several reasons:

It is difficult for a modern person to imagine his life without the Internet, and even wireless. But it so happens that the laptop does not see the wifi network, why this happens and what to do then, let's figure it out in detail!

Why the laptop does not see the wifi network: possible problems and their solutions

Let's go from the most probable to the most difficult - by way of exclusion. Let's get started.

The most common

So why the laptop does not see the wifi network - this can happen due to the fact that there is no wireless Internet at all!

Let's make sure that there is wireless Internet in the coverage area, for this, using other devices: a tablet, smartphone, laptop or PC, we will check if they see wifi on the laptop. If yes, follow on, if not, then he does not see wifi,.
We found out that there is an Internet, but the laptop does not see the Wi-Fi network, why - it means that something is wrong with our device, as a rule, and there are extremely banal solutions.
See if the adapter is turned on, usually highlighted on the keyboard by an indicator:

off - looks like the screenshot below.
turn on with the keys, according to the layout of the device, + from to.
after that, the search for networks should begin with a notification in the tray and a yellow asterisk at the antenna, see the screenshot.
if everything works and the laptop sees a Wi-Fi network - enjoy your surfing, otherwise further
let's try to run troubleshooting - right-click on the antenna → "Troubleshooting"

the procedure in most cases helps, otherwise we are looking for another reason why the laptop does not see wifi.

The driver is an important component!

We urge you not to forget that the driver is the link between the hardware and the OS. Without this talented negotiator, everything works quite crookedly or does not work at all - this may be the answer to the question - why the computer does not see the Wi-Fi network. Whether laptop or desktop, external or internal connection of the adapter, the solution is common.

In the taskbar, you can see another icon - a crossed-out monitor, see the screenshot.

If Windows 7 or 8, follow:
"Start" → right-click "Computer" → "Properties"
" Device Manager"
Expand "Network adapters"→ looking for "Intel (R) Centrino", "Atheros ..." are also possible, etc.

It should be like on the screen, with the absence of any marks
if there are red or yellow marks, right-click and select "Engage"- most likely a driver update will be required.

If Windows version 10, follow:

We see that the drivers are not installed:

go to the manufacturer and load the appropriate drivers.
install → system restart
check if it works - we'll finish it, otherwise we are looking for other reasons.

We adapt - an adaptation!

There is such a word adapter - here it is that neither is the main opportunist, in the name of the appearance of internet, and if it is disabled - nothing will be seen!

Let's check if:

He sees everything, but not what is needed!

Why the computer does not see my Wi-Fi network, but catches everyone else - and it happens. Here it is already necessary to deal with the settings of the router. Let's take a look at the Asus models, and for the rest we will write them in commands. First, connect to another existing Internet - for example, you can distribute it from your phone.

Now, on TP-Link equipment:

What's in a name…?

The words of the classic A.S. Pushkin. Do not think that this is a joke, sometimes there is an SSID conflict, your computer does not see wi-fi, and everyone else does. Believe it or not, his change and Voila are enough!

Let's change it using the example of an Asus router with screenshots.