Very often there are cases when Wi-Fi on a laptop turns off by itself. Now we will figure out why the Internet over Wi-Fi disappears, and how to solve this problem. If you went to this page, then you most likely already have such a problem. We connect our laptop to Wi-Fi, the Internet works, but sometimes it disappears itself. There is one important point: Wi-Fi does not turn off at all, but simply goes into the "No Internet access" or "Limited" status (and a yellow exclamation mark appears)... Well, the internet doesn't work. Although, there are times when the computer is completely disconnected from the wireless network. This problem is not uncommon on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. So it doesn't matter what operating system you have on your laptop.
As a rule, the Wi-Fi connection is lost periodically, or after waking up from sleep mode. There are times when the Internet stops working for a few seconds and then reappears. In any case, this creates a lot of inconvenience. You have to wait, restart your laptop, download files, watch movies, etc.
An important point! We will consider solutions when the Internet is disconnected only on one laptop. That is, the rest of the devices that are connected to your router continue to work normally. If the Internet disappears on all devices, both via Wi-Fi and cable, then this is already a problem with the Wi-Fi router, or some kind of problem with the Internet provider.
If you have a problem only on one computer, then now we will try to solve it.
Why does Wi-Fi connection on my laptop drop?
The main reasons for the disconnection with the router:
- Interference on the channel on which your Wi-Fi network is operating. Or, the wireless signal is weak.
- Disable Wi-F adapter to save power (Wi-Fi disappears when resuming from sleep mode)
- Unstable operation of the Wi-Fi adapter driver.
- Problems in the operation of the router
I will show using the example of Windows 7. If you have Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 and the Internet also disappears every 5 minutes (may be more or less)then these tips will work for you. Windows 10 is full of driver problems. Therefore, if the connection is broken in the top ten, I would first of all recommend experimenting with the drivers of the wireless adapter and try to follow the recommendations from this article:.
Disabling Wi-Fi due to interference and weak signal
Our home wireless network operates on a specific channel. As a rule, there are many other, neighboring networks in the radius that can interfere. Interference may also be from other household appliances. And in conjunction with a not very stable wireless signal, this can lead to a disconnection of the Internet on a laptop. A yellow exclamation mark "without Internet access" may appear, and after a while it will work again.
Also, a disconnection may occur due to a bad signal, when you move away from the router, and on a laptop, where the signal strength is displayed, one or two divisions remain. In such cases, the connection may be lost altogether. If the Internet is constantly cut off in those rooms where the signal of the Wi-Fi network is weak, then we need to strengthen the signal of our network so that the connection is more stable. I wrote about this in the article:.
In terms of interference issues, this is where you need to experiment with the channel your network is running on. You can try using a special program to find the most free channel, and set it in the router settings. Or, just set some kind of static channel in the router settings. How to do this, I described in detail in the instructions: If you already have a static channel, then set Auto.
This is how a channel change looks like on a Tp-Link router:
Please note under what conditions the disconnection from the Internet occurs. This can be, for example, moving around the house, or only in certain places (rooms). Then it will be easier to find the cause and eliminate it.
What to do if the Internet disappears after waking up from sleep mode
This happens because Windows disables the Wi-Fi adapter in sleep mode to save energy. And when you exit sleep mode, the adapter can no longer work normally, and you need to reboot the laptop. Also, problems are often observed when the laptop is running on battery power. We need to disable the disconnection of the wireless adapter, and set the maximum performance on battery and mains power.
Let's set up the power scheme first. Press the keyboard shortcut Win + R... Copy the command control powercfg.cpl in the "Open" line, and click on the button Ok.
A window with power plans will appear. I advise you to choose Balanced... Next, click on the link opposite this plan Setting up a power plan.
Then we open Change advanced power settings... Looking for a section Wireless adapter settings, open it, and install Maximum productivity when operating on mains and battery power. Push Apply and Ok.
Prohibit turning off the Wi-F adapter to save energy
Turning off the adapter will not save us a lot of electricity, but problems in its operation may appear. Therefore, you need to prevent Windows from turning off the adapter.
Click Win + R, copy the command mmc devmgmt.msc and press Ok.
Device Manager will open. Find and open the tab Network adapters... Then, right click on the Wi-Fi adapter (its name should contain the words "Wi-Fi", "Wireless") and select Properties.
Go to the tab Power management, and uncheck the box Allow this device to turn off to save energy... Click Ok.
We reboot the laptop and check how the Internet will work over Wi-Fi.
Internet may be lost due to driver issues
If the Wi-Fi adapter driver is out of date, or the wrong driver is installed, a variety of wireless problems can appear. Open the device manager as I showed above (press Win + R, and execute the command mmc devmgmt.msc)... Open the tab Network adapters... Find your wireless adapter (the name will be "Wi-Fi", 802.11n, or "Wireless")... There may be a yellow exclamation mark next to the adapter. This means that the device is not working properly.
Even if there is no warning icon, try updating the driver for this adapter. Perhaps this will fix the Wi-Fi disconnect issue. Only update not through device manager (the system will say that the update is not needed), and download the driver from the official website of your laptop manufacturer. Mandatory for your model and your operating system. Download and install the driver. I wrote in more detail about installing the driver in the article.
You can also try to select one from the already installed driver versions, remove the driver, or roll it back. I described all these actions in more detail using the example of Windows 10 in a separate article:.
What to do if the Internet periodically disappears on all devices?
If your Internet connection disappears simultaneously on all connected devices, then the problem is already in the router. I wrote about this at the beginning of the article. On computers, the connection status becomes "without internet access".
And on mobile devices (smartphones, tablets), the internet just stops working. And after such failures, you always need to restart the router, only after that the Internet starts working again. Moreover, such breaks usually occur at moments when a heavy load is on the router: we are downloading something (especially from torrents), watch online videos, play online games, connect some other devices to Wi-Fi, etc. And basically, this problem is observed on inexpensive routers.
This is understandable, they simply cannot withstand the load and "fall". Only reboot saves. My friend has exactly this (which is from the provider Kyivstar)... After connecting the smartphone and laptop, everything works well. Just turn on watching online video, after a while the Internet disappears.
What can be done:
- Connect the Internet without a router, directly to the computer, and check the work. To eliminate breaks on the provider side.
- Updating the router's firmware often helps. We have instructions for all popular router manufacturers on our website.
- Disable torrent clients on devices (if any)... They create a load due to which the Internet disappears.
- If you have the Internet via a 3G / 4G USB modem that is connected to a router, then such disconnections are most likely on the side of the provider.
- Well, and buying a more powerful router.
It seems to have missed nothing. Write in the comments how you managed to get rid of this problem.
What could be easier than connecting to a WiFi wireless network? It is enough to enter the password and wait for the connection to be established. This usually happens, but what if the connection is limited (no Internet access) or the connection is not established at all? Let's talk about the reasons for such failures and how to deal with them.
Why Windows 8 doesn't see or connect to WiFi networks
A computer or laptop running Windows 8 does not see the Wi-Fi network for the following reasons:
- wiFi adapter is not installed, disabled, or defective;
- the system does not have a wireless driver;
- airplane mode is enabled on your computer;
- there are no wireless access points in your area;
- an access point (wireless router) nearby is disabled, incorrectly configured, or malfunctioning;
- communication standards of the computer and the access point are not mutually supported;
- there is a device nearby that is interfering with the radio signal;
- wiFi adapter is in monitoring mode.
If the network is visible, but the connection is not created or is limited:
- internet access for this network is not configured or is prohibited;
- network connection is limited by the administrator;
- the access point cannot process the request due to congestion;
- the wrong access point settings are being used.
Restoring the connection to the wireless network
Checking the network adapter
Desktop PCs do not ship with WiFi network adapters, so you will have to buy and install an adapter separately to connect to wireless networks. For example, such as in the picture.
You don't need to buy a Wi-Fi adapter for a laptop - it is already inside.
WiFi must be turned on for the laptop to see and connect to wireless networks. On some models, a switch or button on the case is provided for this.
Others use the Fn + F1… F12 keyboard shortcut. The key with the antenna image is responsible for turning on the wireless adapter.
Once enabled, the WiFi adapter should appear in the Windows 8 Device Manager. To check this, launch the Manager from the Windows (Start) button context menu
and expand the list "Network adapters". If your adapter is on this list, then the system recognized and installed it. If it appears as an unknown device, go to the website of its manufacturer and install the driver.
If the adapter is plugged in but the system cannot see it, make sure it is enabled in the BIOS.
The option that is responsible for the built-in WiFi is called OnBoard Wireless LAN or WireLess LAN support ... Its value should be “Enabled”.
Among other things, make sure the wireless adapter is not in monitor mode. Although those who use this mode are always aware of this (it requires the installation of a special driver).
Checking the access point
If your PC or laptop does not see your home access point, try connecting to another one. For verification, you can use public networks, for example, in cafes or in parks, or private - at your friends. To check your stationary computer without leaving home, you can temporarily create a virtual access point on another device.
If wireless networks are not detected anywhere - problems should be looked for in the adapter or WiFi settings on the computer, and if there is no connection to only one access point - the problem is probably there.
Diagnostic steps (if the previous step did not solve the problem, proceed to the next):
- Make sure the access point is turned on and transmitting a signal (identified by the glowing wireless indicator).
- Make sure there are no electromagnetic interference devices near the router and computer, such as cordless phones, microwave ovens, high-power power cables. Try moving the access point closer to your PC to improve signal strength.
- Power off and back on the router. If problems persist - reset the settings: with a sharp object - a toothpick or paper clip, press the recessed Reset button, which is located on the back or bottom of the device. After this manipulation, all settings will be restored to the state as after purchase.
- Change the broadcast frequency channel. Connect the computer to the access point via a cable, enter the wireless settings menu, find the option " Channel »And switch to another channel. Perhaps, on some of them the connection will be restored.
- In the same menu, check the "Hide SSID" setting and, if it is active, mark "No". Hiding the SSID disables broadcasting of the network name - such a network is not displayed in the lists of available connections. Also enable support for wireless standards b / g in case the Wi-Fi adapter on your computer works on one of them, and the access point works on another, for example, "a", which "b" and "g" do not support.
- If many devices are connected to the AP at the same time, it may become unresponsive due to overload. At home, such situations are unlikely, but they often happen in organizations. Try to connect to a different, less congested network, or try again after a while.
Checking Windows 8 settings
Airplane mode
WiFi may disappear due to the fact that the user has activated the "Airplane" mode in Windows 8 - in this mode, the network adapter is turned off and the computer does not see any wireless networks. The network icon in the system tray will help to determine that the problems really arose because of this - it takes the form of an airplane.
To exit Airplane mode in Windows 8, open the pop-up Charms bar and click the Settings charm.
Next, click "Change computer settings".
Make sure that Windows can see WiFi again, and the network icon in the tray is back.
Network diagnostics
Windows 8 has a tool that automatically diagnoses network connectivity problems. It's called Windows Network Diagnostics. This tool sees and removes many obstacles for WiFi operation, for example, when there is a connection, but the computer does not access the Internet (connection is limited) or the Internet is there, but access to sites is limited.
When the connection is restricted, the network icon in the tray is marked with an exclamation mark.
To run the Windows 8 Network Diagnostic Tool, right-click on the network icon and select “Diagnose Problems” from the menu.
The utility will check all network connections on your computer and determine what is restricting Internet access. Local problems that can be corrected will be fixed automatically. And if the connection cannot be restored, for example, due to problems with the access point or problems on the provider's side, the information will be displayed in a window marked "Not fixed".
If there are multiple connections on the PC, of \u200b\u200bwhich only one is limited, or the diagnostic tool does not see a problem, only the selected network can be diagnosed. To do this, go to the "Network and Sharing Center" and go to the "Network Connections" folder (click "Change adapter settings" in the navigation bar).
Open the context menu of the restricted connection and click "Diagnostics".
WLAN autoconfiguration service
Connectivity problems also occur after stopping network services by accident or unknowingly. The WLAN autoconfiguration service is responsible for WiFi in Windows 8. If the wired Ethernet connection is not limited by anything, and the system simply does not see the wireless networks, start testing with this service.
- Start the Services application: open the context menu of the Windows (Start) button and click Run.
- Next, type in the "Open" line the command services.msc and click OK.
- Find WLAN autoconfiguration in the list of Windows 8 services, open its menu and select Properties.
- If the service is stopped, click "Start" and select "Automatic" from the "Startup type" drop-down list.
For the WLAN AutoConfiguration Service to start, another service, Windows Connection Manager, must be running. Find it in the same list and set similar settings to it.
The rest of the parameters of WiFi connections on a PC do not require manual configuration. All data for access to the Internet - IP, gateway address, DNS, etc., the network receives automatically from the DHCP server of the access point.
Perhaps again someone will say something like: "Serge, what are you, what articles for kindergarten!"
But no, everything is serious and useful. I agree that connecting to a wireless Wi-Fi network on Windows 8, as well as on the 7, should not cause any problems. But this is only at first glance. When everything is turned on and configured on a laptop (or router). Launch the laptop, connect, and you're done.
Limited: yellow exclamation mark next to connection status in the notification bar
This is probably the most common Wi-Fi problem in Windows 8. After connecting, a yellow exclamation icon appears next to the icon on the notification bar. Internet does not work.
It's strange that Microsoft has been unable to fix this problem in one of the updates for such a long time.
There are many working tips for solving this problem in the article. If you have the same problem, then see the article and try different tips. First of all, try replacing the wireless adapter driver (the first method in the article, the link to which is above)... Judging by the comments to the article, the recommendations are working.
Afterword
I am currently working on Windows 7. Windows 8 I have installed as, for writing articles. To be able to check something, take screenshots, etc.
Perhaps I am not aware of all the problems that can arise on Windows 8 (Windows 8.1) when connecting and working with wireless networks. If you have any useful information on solving such problems, then you can share it in the comments.
Also, ask your questions. Let's figure it out together. Good luck!
Recently, I began to notice that the more people buy various equipment with WiFi - routers, modems, access points, TVs, tablets, etc. - the more problems arise with the wireless network: the signal disappears or it is very low, the data transfer rate jumps or it is very small, the devices periodically fall off and can no longer connect. There are many reasons why Wi-Fi turns off, and it can be both software settings and a hardware malfunction. In general, a wireless network itself is a very capricious thing, the stability of which depends on many factors and conditions. Today I will talk about the most common problems and failures due to which the WiFi signal can be poorly received or even disappear.
WiFi signal suddenly dropped
- turned on the router. Try restarting it by turning off the power for a couple of minutes and turning it on again.
- If you have a laptop or tablet, check the battery charge. On many mobile devices, the Wi-Fi module can be forcibly disabled to save energy. Moreover, on Windows 8 and Windows 10 laptops, this option is often enabled in the adapter properties.
Also, it is worth checking the settings of the power supply scheme used.
- Walk about 2 meters to the router. No signal? Then you need for the test a known working device with a wireless network interface - a tablet, smartphone, phone, etc. If it works without problems, and your laptop cannot connect, then most likely there is a problem with the adapter driver. Try reinstalling or updating it.
Didn't help and WiFi disconnect on the laptop anyway? Carry it to the service.
By the way, on laptops and tablets, there is often a case when, due to poor contact, the antenna turns off during shaking. In this case it is necessary to open the case and solder it back.
If the test device also does not see the home network, then the problem is on the side of the router. Try to reset it to factory settings using the "Reset" button and set up again.
Doesn't help - bring it to repair.
Poor or unstable Wi-Fi signal level
The reason for the deterioration of the quality of the wireless home network is most often the presence of several more access points in the vicinity. This is another common reason why Wi-Fi turns off. lately in apartment buildings this is a direct punishment of some sort. Almost every apartment has a router and every entrance has a dozen or so networks. In this case, there are two ways out: correct and cheap.
—Correct optionbut more expensive. Why? And because you have to buy equipment operating at a frequency of 5 GHz, since now it is already relatively inexpensive. An inexpensive dual-band router will cost about 3 thousand rubles. For example, a Totolink A2004NS router.
I think it is clear that a computer and a laptop will need to buy more and additional adapters - that's a couple of thousand more. But with smartphones and tablets, things are worse - some already have support for the 5 GHz band, but simpler and cheaper ones will have to be left in the old range. But there will be no more problems with channel overlap and interference from neighbors.
- The cheapest option is time consuming and hemorrhoid. First, it will be necessary to constantly scan the range with the inSSIDer program in search of a free channel, and then set it in the router settings.
Secondly, you still have to drag most of the devices closer to the modem or router anyway, because even if the selected channel is free, interference can come from busy neighbors. And you can't get away from it. Only cover the house with foil in 5 layers.
I have no networks in my neighborhood, but WiFi still turns off. Why?
In this case, the most common reason is the wrong location of the access point in the apartment. To provide it with the maximum coverage, it must be located as close to the center of the home as possible. If you have points where Wi-Fi from the router still does not finish off, then you need to install an additional device - a repeater.
The quality of the wireless network signal is greatly affected by:
- drywall (walls made of it or their finishing with drywall)
— reinforced concrete walls (reinforcement is critical)
- water. Very often in houses or apartments they like to put a large, large aquarium against the wall. After that, in the next room, a whistle dance with a network can begin and the owner will be asked the question "why does Wi-Fi turn off ?!"
— electronic devices... If there is a lot of electronics (TVs, microwave ovens, radio stations) and the like in the space between the router and the computer (laptop, tablet, smartphone), then you will immediately notice a deterioration in the quality of work.
Do not forget that the reason why WiFi turns off can be software or hardware router malfunction.
In my memory, there is one case with D-Link DIR-615 K2. The owner complained to me - "Wi-Fi is missing!" I checked the settings - everything is correct. But after a while, the access point simply turns off. And everything works fine through the LAN ports of the router. The solution was a simple firmware update, after which the problem was safely eliminated.
Another case was with a device from QTech, where the contact of the internal antenna fell off the table when it fell off. The manufacturer regretted the solder. We opened it, soldered the antenna and WiFi does not disappear. Although, if you are not friends with a soldering iron, then if you suspect that Wi-Fi disappears due to a hardware malfunction, take the device to the service center.
As practice shows, the greatest problems for users when working with Wi-Fi and routers are not the connection process or even the setup process. The biggest problem is the moment when, after setting up, the Internet regularly disappears, a message about an interrupted connection constantly pops up, or you simply cannot open any website on a laptop. In this article, we will try to find out what causes such problems, and what to do if Wi-Fi is turned off on a laptop.
The reasons for the automatic disconnection of the network are quite common
What can be more frustrating than experiencing interrupted connections while working on a laptop? Just now, everything was fine, and you were quietly watching the movie online, and now the playback stopped, the movie was paused, and the Internet was completely gone. You can face a similar problem for a variety of reasons. The most common are the following:
- Your laptop has battery saving mode enabled. This leads to the fact that after the set intervals of complete inactivity of the device, the wireless connection is terminated automatically, the Wi-Fi adapter stops exchanging packets with the router and thereby saves battery power.
- The router through which you connect to the network is too far away or there are obstacles between it and the laptop. The result may be a weak received wireless signal, which leads to regular disconnections. This happens, as a rule, automatically and unnoticed by the user.
- The internet signal received by the router via cable or cellular network and converted into a wireless Wi-Fi signal is too weak. At such moments, you can observe that the laptop is still connected to Wi-Fi, but the Internet refuses to work. Also, a weak signal transmitted through the cable may cause the wireless connection of the router and laptop to turn off automatically.
- The router through which you access the Internet is unstable, constantly freezes, and spontaneously reboots. In this case, Wi-Fi in your laptop is automatically turned off until you turn on the router again, restore its software, or until a forced reboot.
- Your laptop has an incorrect or outdated wireless adapter driver. As a result, the adapter's operation becomes unstable, and it may spontaneously interrupt the connection or not find available networks at all.
Here we have listed only the most common problems that users regularly encounter. But at the same time, many do not know what to do next and how to get rid of problems.
Battery saving mode
We definitely recommend that the first step is to check if the power saving mode is activated in your computer. It is a built-in feature of the Windows operating system that monitors how you use (or not use) certain system elements and certain PC components. If any of them is idle for a long time, it is automatically turned off by the system. Windows does this in order to save battery power, which is sometimes the only power source for a laptop.
To turn off the battery saving by interrupting the wireless connection, you need to open your PC's Control Panel, find the Power Options category and select the Power Scheme Setup, which is currently the default on your system. Everything you need is under the link Change advanced power settings. In the small system window that opens, go to the following path: Wireless adapter settings\u003e Power saving mode and change the values \u200b\u200bto Maximum performance. Click Apply and close all windows. This procedure will get rid of the situation when the Internet is disconnected at the request of the operating system.
Weak router signal
As a rule, a weak signal from a Wi-Fi router can be the reason for the regular disappearance of the network connection. Since the signal of a router is the most common radio wave, a variety of factors affect its power, which can affect the quality of the connection. Not always the distance between the laptop and the router is the main reason for the decrease in signal strength. It can also be additional obstacles located between the receiver and the wireless signal transmitter. For example, in a large room with several rooms or offices, walls separating the laptop and router can significantly reduce the quality of the connection. In such cases, you should think about revising the location of the router or expanding the radius of the network using special amplifiers.
Also, the quality of the connection may be affected by the presence of electrical appliances, which inadvertently interfere with the propagation of radio waves. As a result, a connection loss error is regularly displayed on the display.
Metal objects between the Wi-Fi router and laptop also noticeably reduce the stability of the connection in the wireless network through which you access the Internet. Consider this when organizing your home LAN.
Weak network signal
If the signal is too weak from the Internet provider via cable or cellular network, the router may become unstable, disconnecting the access point and interrupting the connection with devices connected to it. In such a situation, it is better to contact the provider's support service, describing in detail the essence of the problem. If we are talking about a mobile router and about its operation in places of uncertain signal reception, where a message about network search is displayed on the display of the router or mobile device, an external antenna can improve the reception quality. To clarify information on the coverage of specific settlements with a network, you should also contact the provider's representatives.
Unstable operation of the router
If you observe unstable operation of the router, which leads to the regular disconnection of the wireless connection, we recommend that you restart the device several times and closely monitor its further operation. Or go to its control panel, check for software updates and install them if necessary. Since the router runs under a special operating system, it, like any other, can accumulate system errors, work unstable and require periodic updates.
A full reset of the router's settings can also help. We recommend doing this only if you know the parameters of its settings for your provider and can re-configure it yourself after the reset. Otherwise, contact your provider through the official website or by calling the hotline.
Driver crash
If the driver of the wireless network adapter has not been updated in your laptop for a long time, or you began to observe problems with disabling Wi-Fi after the last reinstallation of the operating system, it may well be that an outdated or not the most suitable driver is installed. We recommend that you find out the manufacturer of the network adapter installed in your laptop and download the latest driver. We recommend doing this by all means on the official website of the manufacturer.
Conclusion
Whatever the reason for disabling Wi-Fi on your laptop, one of the following troubleshooting instructions can help you get your network back on track. If you have tried all the instructions in this article, but none of them helped to identify the cause and get rid of the problem, you should contact the service center to test your router and network adapter in your laptop, since the problem seems to lie a little deeper.
