☐ Airplane mode off? Check the taskbar icon and Settings → Network & Internet → Airplane mode
☐ WiFi toggled on? Look for a physical switch on your laptop's edge or try Fn + F2 (or similar function key)
☐ Close enough to router? Move within 15 feet and test again
☐ Router working? If your phone works on WiFi, the router is fine — skip to laptop fixes below
☐ Tried restarting? Turn laptop fully off, wait 30 seconds, turn back on
Your phone connects fine. Your laptop won't. Before you call tech support or buy a new computer, run through this checklist. Most people fix the problem in under 10 minutes.
Laptop Software Fixes
Your saved network profile may be corrupted.
Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi
Click "Manage known networks"
Select your network → Forget
Reconnect and enter password fresh
Success rate: Fixes about 30% of cases
Right-click WiFi icon in taskbar
Open Network & Internet settings
Change adapter options
Right-click WiFi adapter → Disable
Wait 10 seconds
Right-click → Enable
Success rate: Fixes temporary glitches instantly
Windows may be turning off your WiFi to save battery.
Press Windows + X → Device Manager
Expand Network adapters
Right-click wireless adapter → Properties
Power Management tab
Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
Click OK
Success rate: Fixes intermittent disconnections
Windows + X → Device Manager
Expand Network adapters
Right-click wireless adapter → Uninstall device
Check "Delete driver software" if shown
Restart computer
Windows reinstalls a fresh driver automatically.
Success rate: Fixes driver corruption issues
Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Run each command, press Enter after each:
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
Restart computer.
Success rate: Fixes deep network configuration problems
Nuclear option — wipes all network settings.
Settings → Network & Internet → Status
Scroll down → Network reset
Click Reset now
Reconnect to all networks afterward
Success rate: Last resort, fixes stubborn issues
☐ Physical WiFi switch — Look on laptop edges for a small slider
☐ Function key combo — Usually Fn + F2, F3, or F12 (look for WiFi icon on key)
☐ Device Manager status — If adapter shows yellow triangle, driver problem
☐ Test USB WiFi adapter — $15-20 adapter bypasses internal hardware, confirms if adapter is failing
If multiple laptops fail but phones work:
☐ Restart router — Unplug 30 seconds, plug back in
☐ Check channel congestion — Log into router, try channels 1, 6, or 11 for 2.4GHz
☐ Update router firmware — Check manufacturer website
☐ Disable MAC filtering — Router settings → Access Control
☐ Check DHCP pool — May be out of available IP addresses
Open Command Prompt and run:
Check your IP address:
ipconfig /all
If IP starts with 169.254.x.x → DHCP failed, router not assigning address
Test router connection:
ping 192.168.1.1
If fails → Problem between laptop and router
Test internet connection:
ping 8.8.8.8
If router ping works but this fails → Router's internet is down
Check adapter status:
netsh wlan show interfaces
Shows signal strength, connection state, channel info
Get live help: Talk to a tech expert who can walk through diagnostics with you in real time.
Chromebook users: These diagnostic tools work for Chrome OS connectivity issues.
Try a USB WiFi adapter: Bypasses internal hardware for under $20. If it works perfectly, your internal adapter is failing.
Why does my phone connect but not my laptop? Phones use simpler, locked-down WiFi systems with fewer configuration options. Laptops run full operating systems with drivers, power management, and settings that can become corrupted or misconfigured.
How do I know if my WiFi adapter is failing? Try a USB WiFi adapter ($15-20). If the USB adapter works perfectly but your internal adapter doesn't, the internal hardware is failing.
Should I update or reinstall my WiFi driver? Try updating first. If problems continue, do a clean reinstall by uninstalling the driver completely and letting Windows reinstall it fresh on restart.
What does a 169.254.x.x IP address mean? Your laptop failed to get an IP address from the router (DHCP failure). The router either isn't responding or has run out of addresses to assign.
Why did my WiFi stop working after a Windows update? Windows updates sometimes install incompatible drivers. Try rolling back the driver in Device Manager → Network adapters → Right-click adapter → Properties → Driver tab → Roll Back Driver.