When a user purchases a laptop, of course he wants to use all the possibilities that it provides. The topic of today's article, How to turn on WiFi on a laptop in Windows 7 or 8, I did not choose for nothing. It would seem that there is nothing complicated here, but if you do not know some of the nuances, then this procedure will not seem so trivial.
Problems can arise and, fortunately, they are quickly and easily resolved, you just need to know exactly how. Just in this article we will talk about some pitfalls that may occur when you turn on Wi Fi.
Is there wifi at all
The first thing we need to do is find out if your computer or laptop has Wi-Fi. Modern laptop computers, laptops, netbooks, telephones and other devices have Wi FI. You can check if your device has one in Google, but I can assure you right away that if you purchased it a long time ago, then the built-in receiver simply may not be there.
When will you search specifications your device, look for the Wi-Fi inscription of the same name. For example, a description of an Asus laptop:
Physical activation of Wi Fi
Some laptops have a slider that you need to move to turn Wi-Fi on or off. To give you an idea of what I'm talking about now, look at the image:
Near it there may be inscriptions: "OFF" or "0" - off / off, as well as "On" or "1" - on / on. It is usually located on the right or left of the laptop, and it can also be on the front of it.
There are laptop models where, to enable or disable Wi-Fi, you need to click on the corresponding button, which is in the image below (button on the left):
Often laptop manufacturers make this button backlit: for example, when Wi-Fi is on, it is on, if it is off, the laptop will not highlight this button.
Although this is not always the case, that is, this button is not highlighted when turned on, thus you yourself must determine whether your Wi Fi is enabled. To do this, pay attention to the indicators on the front of the laptop. If you turn on Wi-Fi, then the indicator that is responsible for this device should light up, thus letting the user know that it is now possible to use it.
Function keys (Fn +)
On laptops from different manufacturers this procedure slightly different. Let's take a look at the hotkeys you might have on your laptop:
- Acer. We hold down the keys: "Fn + F3".
- Asus. The combination "Fn + F2".
- HP. Here we press "Fn + F12".
- Lenovo. Desired buttons: "Fn + F5".
- Samsung. Either "Fn + F12" or "Fn + F9".
The above were the ways turn on WiFi on the most popular laptop models. However, it cannot be guaranteed that you have exactly one of these laptops.
The Fn button may simply be missing. Then carefully examine all the keys on the keyboard. One of them should have an icon drawn WiFi networks, press it and the network will turn on.
Below you can see what the wi-fi icon looks like:
On the screenshot you can see that on this laptop you need to press "Fn" + "F2".
Turn on Wi-Fi in Windows
If you did the above methods, but you did not succeed in connecting to Wi Fi, do the following: go to the "Start" menu - "Control Panel" - "Network and Internet" - "Network Control Center and general access". On the left, click on the item: "Changing adapter parameters".
Right-click on: "Wireless network connection"And select" Enable ".
If there is no such item, but there is "Disable", then Wi-Fi is enabled in Windows.
After that, Wi-Fi should work, but if it didn't help, or there was some kind of error, or there is no network with that name, the question arises: "How to turn on WiFi on a laptop then?" Read on!
If our laptop cannot automatically connect to the desired network, then the problem may lie in the fact that the signal receiver device is disabled in the device manager. Now I will show you how to fix it on Windows example 7.
Go to the Start menu, right-click on Computer and select Properties.
In the window that opens, click on the left "Device Manager".
From here you can see: what components in the laptop can be controlled - activate or deactivate the required device. We find the one whose name contains the word Wireless... Click on it with the right mouse button and select the "Engage" item.
By the way, if next to the service icon there is yellow triangle With exclamation mark, this means that the laptop does not have a driver for this device... In this situation, use another device (computer, laptop, netbook, tablet, etc.) through which you download the drivers for Wi-Fi, transfer to the laptop and install them.
Other nuances of turning on Wi-Fi
Above, I described in detail how to turn on WiFi on a laptop. But so that you see the full picture of how to turn on and how to connect to Wi-Fi, strongly follow the link further, since in this article I am talking about other nuances that may arise in your case. The article "" was written on a "live" example, so it will be extremely useful for you.
If you are not familiar with installing drivers, then we read: "". To find the driver, go to the official website of the manufacturer of your laptop, enter the model in the search for the site. Then look for a driver for Wireless in the list.
I do not exclude that users who are reading this article do not know the Wi-Fi password. If you do not know him, then you will not be able to enter the protected network. To find out how to view the password for Wi-Fi, I recommend reading: "". I also assume that some will ask about hacking, yes, you can hack, but I will not write about it.
Situations are different and there is no need to exclude the possibility that none of the above tips will help you. What to do then? Luckily for you, there is a third party software which you can safely use. Its meaning is that after installation, this program at each Windows startup will automatically turn on and by pressing a certain key combination, perform certain actions. For example, turn on Bluetooth or WiFi.
There are a huge number of such utilities, I can cite SoftSwitch as an example. In addition to the above functions, it also knows how to turn on the camera and TouchScreen. For each of these functions, there is a certain combination of keyboard buttons, which you can familiarize yourself with if you decide to download this creation of programmers. Find this program in Google it will not be difficult for you, since it is licensed Free Soft ( free license). Download it, install it and enjoy!
And I have this issue perhaps that's all. Thanks for reading and I sincerely hope I helped you.
For clarity, watch the video:
To connect the Internet on a laptop via a wireless network, you need not only a WiFi module, but also a working access point. To do this, you will need to buy a router at home, and to access the Internet, sitting somewhere in a cafe, it will be enough to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop and enter a password for the desired network: installing an access point is the task of the owners of the establishment.
WiFi module is installed in almost all modern laptops, and it's easy to check if your device has such a function. This will require:
- Open the "Control Panel";
- Launch "Device Manager" (you can use the search bar);
- Expand block " Network adapters».
The existing device with the word “Wireless” in the name means that your laptop supports wireless internet.
Enabling Wi-Fi on a laptop using the keyboard
Most often, "Wi-Fi" can be turned on with hot keys, usually two, pressed simultaneously. Different laptop manufacturers may change their combination, but the main Fn key, as a rule, is always there. The second key required to turn it on has a special WiFi icon and is located on the keyboard in the F1-F12 function row.
For more information on how to enable Wi-Fi on a laptop of a particular brand, see the following table.
In devices of the previous generation, "Wi-Fi" is enabled by a special slider on the laptop case, but the network icon remains the same.
How to enable Wi-Fi on Windows 10
On laptops with "top ten" "Wi-Fi" can be enabled either in the system parameters or using the notification area, and the second method is more convenient and faster:
1. On the taskbar, open system notifications.
2. Click the "Network" tab.
3. Turn on WiFi by clicking on the corresponding thumbnail.
To enable Wi-Fi on Windows 10 using the options menu, you must:
1. Open "Parameters" and select the "Network and Internet" block.
2. Click on the WiFi menu and enable the status slider wireless network.
After these steps, the laptop will start searching for all available wireless networks. If it is already in memory, it will connect automatically; if the access point for your device is new and protected (you will see a lock icon), you need to select it and enter the password to connect to the Internet.
WiFi connection on Windows 7 and 8
For laptops in the past versions of Windows the algorithm for software inclusion of "Wi-Fi" is different.
1. Go to "Control Panel" - "Network and Internet", or right-click on the computer icon in the notification bar next to the clock.
2. Select "Network and Sharing Center".
3. Click on the "Change adapter settings" menu.
4. Use the right mouse button to turn on the wireless network.
When the "Wi-Fi" module starts working, you need to select an access point (the list will open by clicking on the WiFi icon in the notification area) and, entering the password if necessary, connect to it.
If the Internet does not turn on via Wi-Fi
If Internet access on a laptop still does not appear after all of the above, connect the network cable to the computer directly, open Device Manager through the Control Panel, select the Network Adapters tab, find your Wifi module in the list and try to update the driver. After that, unplug the internet cable and restart your laptop.
If you still cannot turn on the Internet after that, there may be problems on the provider's side, or incorrect router settings, or the "wi-fi" module is faulty. The cost of repairs in the service center ranges from 1,000 to 2,000 rubles, but you can also do with an external one. WiFi module- on Aliexpress, such devices cost about 150 rubles.
Not every user knows how to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop if any unforeseen problems arise. Novice users are lost when they fail to activate Wi-Fi using standard methods.
We will try to consider all possible ways enable Wi-Fi and provide solutions to the most common malfunctions that can be exposed to the laptop's wireless network adapter.
The simplest method of activating a wireless network on a Windows laptop is to use the keyboard shortcut provided by the manufacturer.
Here are examples of these combinations for the most common laptop models (in most cases, it is the keyboard that is used, in rare cases - a special switch):
- HP (HP Probook, Satellite, Pavilion, 4535s and others) - Fn + F12;
- Acer ( Acer Aspire and others) - Fn + F3, similarly for Packard Bell;
- Asus - Fn + F2;
- Lenovo (G580, G50, G500, G570 and others), including Ideapad - Fn + F5;
- Samsung - Fn + F12 or F9;
- Dell (Dell Inspiron and others) - Fn + F12 or F2;
- MSI (MSI) - Fn + F10;
- Toshiba - Fn + F8;
- DNS - Fn + F2;
- DEXP - Fn + F12;
- Sony Vaio - using a mechanical switch.
This method will not always work, so let's move on to considering software methods.
Through the system tray
The second method to enable Wi-Fi is to manually activate the adapter through the system tray.
To use the option, just click on the network icon in the lower right corner of the system and click on the Wi-Fi icon. The wireless module turns on and automatically starts searching for available networks for connection.
It is quite possible that instead of the above window, the system will display another one with limited functionality, where the key with which you need to turn on Wi-Fi will simply be absent.
If, for some reason not clear to the user, such a window appears, then proceed to the next method.
In the control center
The previous method might not work for several reasons - for example, the wireless adapter was disabled in Windows settings 10 or Windows 7.
To fix this, you need to follow these instructions step by step:
- Press the Win + R key combination on the keyboard and in the Run window that opens, enter through command line the phrase "ncpa.cpl". We press on Enter or "OK".
- We are looking for the "Wireless Network Connection" block in the "Network Connections" window that opens. If it is grayed out and the status bar displays Disabled, then the wireless adapter has indeed been disabled by the system.
- To activate, right-click on the highlighted block and click on the "Enable" button.
- Successful activation will be accompanied by the activation of the adapter and the display of its name in the status bar.
- We return to the first method we considered - the button for activating the Wi-Fi should appear in its proper place.
Didn't this method help either? There is nothing wrong with that, just move on to the next method.
Enabling via Device Manager
This is very rare, but sometimes the network adapter can be disabled in the system device manager. This usually happens after some kind of failure has occurred that is beyond the control of the user.
It is extremely simple to determine whether the wireless network adapter is actually disabled through the device manager - go to the second method described in this article, open the "Run" window with the Win + R command, enter the appropriate request, click on "OK" and see the network window in front of us. connections. If there is no wireless adapter at all in this window, then the problem really lies in the device manager.
If none of the above methods worked, then there is likely a problem with your wireless adapter drivers.
Updating Drivers
An outdated or missing driver may become the main reason of why there is no access to Wi-Fi or distribution via Wi-Fi Direct does not work. Installing or reinstalling a suitable driver will not take a large number time - just go to the manufacturer's website, find the used laptop model and download required driver from the list of proposed.
conclusions
Do not panic if it is impossible to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop - you need to sequentially check everything possible reasons the occurrence of a similar problem, ranging from the most probable.
Video instruction
We have attached detailed instructions in video format. It clearly reflects the process of applying each of the above methods.
Hey! Let's figure it out today with the inclusion of Wi-Fi on laptops that run on Windows 7. For some reason, many people ask such questions. But as a rule, Wi-Fi on a laptop is turned on by default. That is, if the driver is installed, then you can immediately connect to Wi-Fi networks. There is no need to make special settings, and it is not necessary to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop in a special way. No, there are, of course, different cases and problems when you cannot connect to Wi-Fi without dancing with a tambourine. Now we will understand everything in detail.
If you are faced with the problem of turning on Wi-Fi, then the status of your Internet connection will most likely be as follows:
If the network icon is simply crossed out with a red cross, then there are no available for Wi-Fi connections networks.
Before moving on to any instructions, let's figure out what turning on Wi-Fi on a laptop and turning on Wi-Fi on Windows 7 (in the operating system) , these are two different things. Therefore, I will divide the article into these two points. This will make it much clearer and easier to understand this issue. What is our main goal? That's right, connect to a Wi-Fi network. You can do it! Follow the instructions.
Before moving on to any settings and bothering yourself with unnecessary information, try connecting your laptop to a Wi-Fi network right now. For this instruction:. Perhaps you already have everything included, configured, and you will connect without problems.
If something does not work out, then see this article to the end, or possible connection problems that I described in the article at the link above.
Turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop: with a keyboard shortcut, or a switch on the case
Almost every laptop: Asus, HP, Acer, Lenovo, Del, etc., has either a dedicated switch or keyboard shortcut that turns Wi-Fi off and on. To be honest, I don't know about other laptops, but on my Asus, pressing the FN + F2 key combination turns off all wireless modules. The pop-up window says "all wireless device on". Which means all wireless interfaces are on or off. At the same time, Wi-Fi does not disappear.
These keys, or switches, should only be checked in extreme cases, when nothing else helps. And manage wireless connections from under Windows. Since the combination of special keys does not always work, or they work, but not as they should.
On the same laptop Asus, to turn off or turn on Wi-Fi, you need to press the key combination FN + F2.
On laptops DEL, this is the key combination Fn + F2, or Fn + F12. On the HP- Fn + F12. Lenovo- Fn + F5 (or, look for a dedicated switch on the laptop case)... If you have Samsung, then these are the keys Fn + F12, or Fn + F9. And on Acer- Fn + F3.
As I already wrote, a special switch can also be used to turn on Wi-Fi. Take a look at the case of your laptop. And the key that is used in combination with Fn usually has an antenna painted on it.
It is better not to touch these keys at all. As I wrote above, they do not always work adequately. And there is little sense from them. Everything is smooth, in most cases, pressing the keys just tells the system what to turn off Wi-Fi adapter.
Turning on Wi-Fi in Windows 7
Let's now figure out how to manage wireless adapter in the operating system itself. Let's start with the most important. And most importantly, it is an installed, correctly working Wi-Fi driver (Wireless adapter). If there is no driver, then no matter how hard we try, we will not be able to turn on Wi-Fi. But first things first.
First, let's check if we have the adapter enabled. To do this, right-click on the internet connection icon (in the lower right corner), and select Network and Sharing Center... On the left, select Change adapter settings.
If near the connection "Wireless network connection" written "Disabled" then right-click on it and select Turn on.
After these steps, the status of the Internet connection should change. And if there are Wi-Fi networks available for connection within the radius, then they will be displayed in the list, which can be opened by clicking on the icon itself. You will be able to select the desired network and connect to it.
If you do not have a "Wireless Network Connection" connection, then most likely you do not have the driver for the Wi-Fi adapter installed. Install the driver and everything should work.
How to check if the Wi-Fi adapter is working in the device manager?
You can also go to Device Manager and see if there is a wireless network adapter and how it works. To open the device manager, do this: go to Start, then Control Panel... Selecting a section Hardware and Sound... In the tab Devices and Printers click on Device Manager.
In the manager, open the tab Network adapters... The Wi-Fi adapter has something like this name: "Atheros AR9485WB-EG Wireless Network Adapter"... You can navigate by word Wireless... You should have something like this:
If you see an arrow-shaped icon next to the driver, then right-click on the adapter itself and select Engage.
If there is no adapter at all in the device manager (usually there is only one driver network card) , then you need to install the driver. Again, you can watch the article.
That's all. Wi-Fi settings in Windows 7.
After you nevertheless connect to the wireless network, another surprise may await you - the Error "Without access to the Internet" I wrote about the solution to this problem in a separate,.
