If you have recently installed or updated Windows 10, you may have some WiFi problems. We are here to help! Wireless network problems are especially frustrating because there are so many things that can cause them. Maybe you are missing a driver or your computer’s power options are not set properly. Have you checked the wireless switch (if applicable)? So many things can go wrong.
In this article, we will fix Windows 10 WiFi problems by exploring the most common problems. Start.
Table of Contents
Limited connection
Many Windows 10 users get limited connection message and it’s hard to figure out what’s causing it. It can be enabled by outdated drivers, Ethernet is faulty cable, your network adapter, or even the anti-virus software you use. The only thing you can do is to troubleshoot WiFi problems step by step and hope for the best.
We’ll try the most common solutions, but make sure to try the other fixes mentioned in this article if those don’t work.
Run the Network Troubleshooter
The first thing you should try is the built-in Windows 10 network connectivity troubleshooter. In many cases, WiFi problems can be resolved automatically.
The easiest way to access this resource is to enter solve in the search box and select Find and fix network problems right to buy.
This opens Network connections dashboard.
Let Windows diagnose network problems and apply any recommended fixes. If this doesn’t help, you should also troubleshoot the network adapter. Type network adapter troubleshooting in the search box and follow the same steps.
Reset TCP
If the troubleshooter finds an error that says WiFi does not have a valid IP configuration, you should reset TCP/IP. This is the most common solution to this problem, although outdated drivers can also cause it.
To reset TCP, type command prompt in the Windows search box. Before you launch the prompt, make sure to right click and select Run as administrator otherwise, some commands may not work.
Next, type the following commands separately by pressing enter after each one:
reset netsh winock
ipconfig /release
ipconfig / renew
reset netsh int ip
ipconfig /flushdns
Restart your computer and check if your wireless connection is working now. If not, continue to troubleshoot wifi with our tips below.
Check your anti-virus software
Having anti-virus software is important, but it can sometimes cause conflicts resulting in a limited internet connection message. Take note that Windows Defender, the antivirus that comes with Windows 10, won’t cause any problems with your wireless connection.
Most users report that third-party anti-virus software can block WiFi. So if you’re struggling trying to figure this out, try disabling your anti-virus software. If BitDefender, Avast, AVG, or a similar antivirus is really the culprit, uninstall it.
WiFi icon missing
In some cases, the wireless feature is disabled. You can’t find the WiFi icon, and if you dig deeper into your network settings, you won’t find the wireless section.
A lot of users report this problem especially after a clean install of Windows 10. This is usually due to missing or outdated WiFi drivers. The WiFi module can also be the culprit if you buy one, so make sure it’s connected properly.
That said, there are several solutions you can try.
Check for updates
Start looking at your drivers, especially if you just installed Windows 10. A lot of users install the operating system without connecting their computer to the Internet. As a result, Windows cannot automatically install any drivers during the installation process, so some drivers will be missing.
1. Navigate to the Settings panel and select Update & Security.
2. Next you need to check for driver updates by clicking See optional updates.
3. Click Update driver to see if you have anything to download.
In your case you should have a different driver than the one seen in this image. Hopefully, one of them is the WiFi driver. Make sure you are connected to the Internet via a network cable or your smartphone’s connection and download the driver.
Reinstall WiFi Driver
In some cases, the WiFi driver is corrupted and updating it won’t do anything. All you need to do is reinstall it. To do that, you need to uninstall the driver first and then check for updates using the previous solution or download it from the manufacturer’s website.
To remove an existing driver, go to Equipment management and find your WiFi driver in Adapters.
Select your wireless driver, double click to launch the Properties panel and navigate to Driver. There you will find Driver details This button will tell you everything you need to know about the driver.
You need this information if you want to download and install the driver from the WiFi card manufacturer’s website.
Now go back to the driver inside the device manager right click on the driver and select Device Uninstall right to buy. This will remove the driver from your computer so you can install it properly.
Once the driver has been removed, you can roll back Check for updates control panel we talked about above or the manufacturer’s website. Either way, install the driver and restart your computer.
WiFi disconnected after sleep mode
Is your wireless connection working fine until your computer goes into Sleep/Hibernate mode? Chances are you are facing a nasty power saving option that keeps your computer from returning your WiFi connection after it boots up. To fix this, type Resource plan in the Windows search bar and select Edit power plan. This will open your computer’s current power plan settings. Then click Change advanced power settings right to buy.
Move to Install the wireless adapterexpand it and change Energy saving mode arrive Maximum performance.
More WiFi Troubleshooting Tips
There are a few other ways you can try at this point if none of the previous tips fix your WiFi connection.
Configure your network adapter
Are you sure your network adapter is configured correctly? Go to the Network and Sharing Center and click Change adapter configuration to open the Network Connections page. Right click on your WiFi adapter and select Characteristic.
You need to find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Select it and click Characteristic button.
To be Get IP address automatically and Get DNS server address automatically selected options? If not, enable them.
Reset your router
Router configuration can sometimes interfere or conflict with your computer’s WiFi settings. This problem can appear over time or if you play with your router’s settings. Either way, you should try resetting it to default settings.
There are several ways to reset your router. In general, you can press the small, hidden reset button or go to your router’s configuration page and do it from there.
For more details on how to reset your router, see our dedicated article.
Check WiFi switch
Some laptops still have a switch to turn WiFi on or off. If that’s the case for you, make sure to check it’s set to ABOVE.
Device interference
Certain devices may interfere with the WiFi signal. Check the frequency parameters of microwave ovens, phones, speakers and other electronic devices. If they match the same frequency used by your router, you should try turning them off.
If your problem is caused by a home device, the solution is to move the router away from it.
The Last Resort – Update or Reset BIOS
If you have tried the wifi troubleshooting steps above step by step, you should try this solution.
Updating the BIOS used to be something that most people avoided at all costs, but these days with modern motherboards it’s pretty easy to do. Just make sure you read the instructions that came with your motherboard and back up your data.
Alternatively, you can also try resetting the BIOS to its default settings.
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, a lot of things can get your WiFi working properly. Hopefully, one of our solutions worked for you. If not, then you probably have a hardware problem and you should check the wireless module. Let us know in the comments how you fixed your WiFi problem!
