WIFI Not Working

Check the lights on your wireless router

Most WiFi routers have a row of lights on the front, indicating the status of network connections. A solid green light usually means everything is working, while an orange or red light indicates something is wrong.

wifi router lights not working

(Image Source: D-Link)

While each router has a different set of lights, most will have an Internet or Wide Area Network (WAN) light. This light indicates the status of your Internet connection. If this light is red, blinking, or off, you need to check if the network cable connecting your router to your modem is properly connected.

Restart your router and modem

Restarting the router and modem is one of the first things to do when the WiFi is down. To turn these devices back on, unplug the power cord from the back of each device and wait at least 30 seconds before plugging them back in.

After waiting 30 seconds, connect the modem first. Then wait another 60 seconds before reconnecting your router. Finally, wait another two minutes before testing the WiFi.

install wifi

Check if your WiFi works on other devices

To find out if the problem is with your computer or your router, you should try to connect to the WiFi network from another device, such as a smartphone. This will tell you if your problem is with your router or with your computer.

Make sure there are no internet outages in your area

If you can still connect to the internet with a device, you should check for an internet outage in your area. This will let you know if the problem is with your network or if it is a problem that you cannot fix on your own.

internet outage map

(Image Source: Spectrum)

All you have to do is search for "outage map" and the name of your Internet Service Provider (ISP), such as Comcast, Verizon, or Spectrum. You may also want to contact your ISP to confirm if there is an outage in your area and ask for help getting your WiFi back on.

Connect to your wireless router using an Ethernet cable

If your other devices can connect, but your WiFi still isn't working on your computer, you should try connecting them directly to your router using an Ethernet cable. This will let you know if your router is the problem or if something is wrong with your computer.

You can do this by plugging a separate Ethernet cable into any of the ports provided on the back of your router.

connect wifi router on ethernet 1392x928 1

A woman's hand connects a blue network cable to the socket of a Wi-Fi wireless router on a white wooden table. A wired Wlan router connected to the Internet on a table in the home or office. background view.

If you still can't connect to WiFi after connecting your computer directly to the router, try connecting directly to the modem. If you still can't connect to the Internet, the problem could be with your router or modem.

Reset your router to factory settings

If you still can't connect to WiFi after connecting your computer directly to the router, try connecting directly to the modem. If you still can't connect to the Internet, the problem could be with your router or modem.

If you find that your WiFi router is not working, you can always restore it to factory settings. Unlike a reboot, a factory reset removes network names, WiFi passwords, and other custom settings. Therefore, before doing a factory reset, be sure to write down the default username and password of the router, as well as any changes you have made to the router's settings.

To reset your router to factory settings, use a paper clip or other small, thin object to press the reset button on the back of the router. Press and hold the button for 30 seconds or until you see the router lights flash multiple times.

router reboot

After resetting the router and modem, you can change the WiFi network and password to what it was before. To find out how, check out our step-by-step guide on how to change your WiFi network name and password.

If that still doesn't work, check out our step-by-step guide on how to update your router's firmware.

Remove any obstruction blocking your WiFi signal

Your WiFi may not work because your router is in a bad location. To get the best WiFi signal, be sure to put your router in a central location. Avoid placing your router near other electrical devices or metal objects, which can obstruct your WiFi network.

wifi-boosters

Make Sure WiFi is Enabled on Your Computer

There’s a chance that your WiFi is not working because it has been disabled on your computer. This can happen if your WiFi adapter is faulty or your drivers are outdated. You will know if your WiFi has been disabled if you can’t see any available WiFi networks in your area.

To enable WiFi on a Windows 10 computer, open the Start menu by clicking the Windows-shaped logo in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Then select Settings and click Network & Internet. Next, scroll down and select Change adapter options. Finally, right-click on Wi-Fi and select enable.

how to enable WiFi on Windows

To enable WiFi on a Mac, click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences. Then click Network and look for the Wi-Fi option in the left sidebar. If you don’t see this option, click the plus sign in the bottom-left corner of the window and choose Wi-Fi from the pop-up menu.

wifi disabled Mac

Finally, make sure to click Apply when you are done.

Use Your Computer’s Diagnostics Tools

Windows and Mac computers both have internet troubleshooting utilities built-in. These tools can help you find the source of your network problems and fix them.

To troubleshoot internet problems on a Windows 10 computer, go to Settings> Network & Internet. Then select Status in the left sidebar and click Network Troubleshooter. Next, select WiFi in the pop-up window and click Next.

windows 10 troubleshoot network problems 1

To run a wireless diagnostic on a Mac, hold down the Option key on your keyboard while clicking the WiFi icon in the Apple Menu Bar at the top of your screen. Then select Open Wireless Diagnostics from the drop-down menu and select Continue.

mac wireless diagnostics 2

With this tool, you can then choose to monitor your connection or go to the Summary page to get tips on how to fix your WiFi connection.

computer-repair

Resolve IP Address Conflicts

An IP address conflict occurs when two devices are using the same IP address at the same time. Each device in your network needs to have a unique IP address. Otherwise, your network can’t identify it.

To resolve an IP conflict on a Windows 10 PC, open the Windows Search Box by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen. They type CMD into the search bar and click Open. Next, type ipconfig /release into the command line and press Enter on your keyboard.

ipconfig release

Once the command finishes, type ipconfig /renew and press Enter. Finally, click the Exit button on the window and restart your computer to see if your WiFi is working.

To resolve an IP conflict on a Mac, all you have to do is put your computer to sleep for a few minutes. To do this, click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen. Then select Sleep from the drop-down menu. Finally, wait a few minutes, and see if your WiFi is working.

Flush the DNS Cache

Flushing your DNS cache will reset your computer’s database of recently accessed websites. Caching makes visiting websites faster, but your cache might get infected with malware, which can cause your browser to lead you to the wrong address.

To clear the DNS cache on Windows, open the Windows Search Bar and type CMD into the search bar and click Open. Once the Command Prompt app opens, type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter on your keyboard.

flush dns command prompt

If this doesn’t work, go to Settings> Network & Internet> Status. Then select Change adapter options and right-click Wi-Fi. Then click Properties and select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Next, select properties and check the boxes next to Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically.

Then click Advanced and select the DNS tab at the top of the window. Finally, uncheck the box next to Register This Connection’s Address in DNS.

register this connection's address in DNS wifi not working

On a Mac, go to the Applications folder and open Utilities. Then open the Terminal app and type sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder. Next, press Enter, type your administrator password, and press Enter again. Finally, quit Terminal and restart your computer.

flush DNS mac

You won’t see your password as you type it in, so make sure you enter the correct password for your computer. You won’t see any confirmation that the command worked either.

Update Your Network Adapter Drivers

Your computer’s network adapter drivers allow it to communicate with your router and other devices within your network. If your drivers are outdated or corrupted, you might be able to connect to your WiFi network, but not the internet.

To manually update your network adapter drivers on a Windows 10 computer, open the Windows Search Box by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Then type Device Manager into the search bar and hit Enter on your keyboard.

Next, expand the drop-down menu under Network Adapters by clicking the arrow key next to it. Then right-click on your network adapter and select Update driver.

update drivers windows wifi not working

Once you click this, choose Search automatically for updated driver software to let Windows handle the process for you. After the installation is complete, restart your computer and check if your WiFi is working.

On a Mac, drivers are updated automatically when you update your operating system. To check if your system is up to date, go to System Preferences> Software Update and click Update Now. If you don’t see this button, your drivers are already up to date.

mac software update update now

Forget and Re-Add Your WiFi Network

Your computer will automatically remember all the WiFi networks and passwords you have used. Forgetting a network and re-adding it to your remembered networks will delete a few temporary files that could cause your WiFi to stop working.

To forget a WiFi network on a Windows 10 PC, go to Settings> Network & Internet. Then select WiFi in the left sidebar and click Manage known networks. Finally, select a network and click Forget.

windows network settings manage known networks1

You can then add the network again by clicking the back button in the top-left corner of the Settings window. Then click Show available networks and select your network from the list. Finally, enter your WiFi password and click Connect.

To forget a network on a Mac, go to System Preferences> Network. Then select WiFi in the left panel and click the Advanced button in the bottom-right corner of the window. In the Preferred Networks window, select the network you want to forget and click the minus sign below.

forget network mac

To add your network again, click on the WiFi icon in the Apple Menu Bar at the top of your screen. Then select the network from the drop-down menu and enter your WiFi password.

Reset Your Network Settings

If you’ve tried all the previous steps, and your WiFi still isn’t working on your computer, you might want to reset your network settings. This will remove all your network adapters and reinstall them to factory conditions.

To reset your network settings on a Windows computer, go to Settings> Network & Internet. Then select Status in the left sidebar and click Network reset. Next, click Reset now and wait for your PC to restart.

windows settings reset network settings wifi not working

Once your computer restarts, you will have to enter your WiFi password again, even if it was set to connect automatically before. You might also have to reinstall certain network programs, such as VPN software or virtual switches.

To reset your network settings on a Mac, hit the Command + Shift + G keys on your keyboard at the same time. Then type /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ into the text box and hit Enter on your keyboard.

Next, select the following files:

com.apple.airport.preferences.plist

com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plist

com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist

NetworkInterfaces.plist

preferences.plist

You can select all of them by holding down the Command key while clicking them. Then drag all these files to another folder on your computer. Next, delete the files from the SystemConfiguration folder and restart your computer.

reset network settings mac

Once you restart, these files should reappear in the SystemConfiguration folder. If your WiFi still isn’t working, you can always move these files back to the SystemConfiguration folder.

Run a Traceroute to Find Out Why Your WiFi Is Not Working

To find out why your WiFi isn’t working properly, you can run a traceroute to see where your connection is dropping off. This will show you a map of your network connections, along with how long it takes data to travel to a destination URL or IP address.

To run a traceroute on a Windows computer, open the Windows Search Box by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Then type CMD into the search bar and click Open.

When the Command Prompt app opens, type tracert followed by a space and then any URL or IP address. For example, you can type tracert 8.8.8.8 to run a traceroute to Google’s DNS servers. Then hit enter on your keyboard and wait for the traceroute to finish.

traceroute-google-dns-vpn wifi not working

Once the traceroute is finished, look for any error messages, asterisks, or abnormally long round trip times in the second through fourth columns. If there are errors in the beginning of the test, the problem might be with your hardware, such as your router or computer.

To run a traceroute on a Mac, open a Finder window and select Applications from the left sidebar. Then go to the Utilities folder and open the Terminal app. Next, type traceroute followed by a space and any URL or IP address.

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