The guide outlines how to fix the wifi when it is broken, with easy troubleshooting steps to follow, and how to fix and optimize wifi in Windows 10.
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How to fix the wifi: troubleshooting steps
1. Check you are not in offline mode
This is the first step in how to fix the wifi. When asked about the most secure browser, some users answer in forums: It is everyone with offline mode. If you use Firefox with it, you prevent the creation of websites; The browser is still loading local HTML files. Malicious programs do not infiltrate themselves in this way – hence the security advantage.
The rest of your programs and equipment are working fine. To deactivate the offline mode in Firefox, press the Alt key in the program and click on “File”; remove the check mark next to “work offline”. Alternatively, it can be deactivated by restarting the browser.
If only individual Internet programs are failing, try going online with a different browser. If all installed browsers do not work, load the offline installer files of other browsers onto a USB stick or an external hard drive on a second device; from there you install it on the problem device.
2. Reset your browser
Extensions that are incompatible with one another and poorly set settings mean that the browser does not work as expected. It may not start anymore – a botched configuration also leads to sporadic or permanent refusal to open the page. A reset refreshes the browser, accelerates it and eliminates interference in how to fix the wifi.
For example, Firefox users open about: support and click on “Clean Firefox”. With Internet Explorer, you can open the Internet options using Windows-R and inetcpl.cpl and click on “Advanced> Reset”. Chrome lovers click on “Advanced” at the bottom under chrome: // settings and press “ Reset settings to original default values”.
If Firefox no longer starts, renew it via Windows-R and firefox -p via the Profile Manager. IE users who have problems calling the Internet options via inetcpl.cpl, press Windows-R and add to the run dialog that opens (do not change upper and lower case!): Rundll32 inetcpl.cpl ResetIEtoDefaults
3. Check if the LAN / WLAN card is still activated
If the network chip is deactivated in the Windows administration “Network connections”, none of your programs can be accessed on the Internet so you need to address this in how to fix the wifi. Check this via Windows-R and ncpa.cpl . A new window opens in which you right-click on “Ethernet” or “WLAN” (possibly with a different name) and select “Activate”. You can also switch on the grayed out connections with a double-click.
4. Press the WLAN button on the notebook
Some notebooks have a WLAN button, which can be used to (de) activate the wireless function and this should be one of the early things to check in how to fix the wifi. You may have accidentally touched the key. In the event of a problem, search for it and press it again, possibly together with an Fn key.
If the WLAN cannot be repaired, it is advisable to bring the device online via LAN cable – which does not always work with flat notebooks, since many similar smartphones and tablets do not have a LAN socket and may require an adapter. The other way around the tip: If you do not come online via wired LAN, test the network access with available wireless WLAN access. If your PC does not have WLAN, upgrade the technology using a USB WLAN stick (use an IEEE 802-11-n, or better, a faster IEEE 802.11-ac model).
5. Check to disable airplane mode in Windows
Since Windows 8, Microsoft systems have brought the airplane mode with them, which switches off the wireless connections WLAN and Bluetooth. This ensures lower power consumption and longer battery life. This mode is advisable in the aircraft, as passengers are required to switch off radio connections / devices, but sometimes can be on when you don’t want it — so this is a quick troubleshooting step in how to fix the wifi.
6. Check server availability
Cannot be ruled out in how to fix the wifi: If only a certain website is currently unavailable, to find out whether online access generally causes problems across all sites, try to navigate to a website other than the one you want.
If you want to inspect an inaccessible (but existing) page, a backup is helpful – browsers often create one in HTML format with Ctrl-S. If such a backup is missing, type in Google cache: URL . Replace the URL part with the web address. The search engine shows a cached version of the page. Alternatively, you can visit an idle site via archive.org – the service archives the web with snapshots and displays older web versions surprisingly well (unfortunately not everything, so the saying is not true, the Internet never forgets).
If you have network problems, request a new ip address like 192.168.1.1 from your router.
How to deactivate airplane mode in case of internet problems:
Windows 8.1: Show dock bar at the bottom, for example with Windows key and C > click on “Settings> Airplane mode”> flip the switch at “Airplane mode” at the top (it changes position from right to left; available WLANs then appear in the right Charms bar sidebar)
Windows 10 (tested with 1809):Show info center, for example with Windows-A> click on the tile “airplane mode” (so that it is no longer highlighted in color)> if the tile is missing, click on “expand” beforehand.
Alternative procedure for Windows 8.1 / 10: click on Airplane symbol in the system tray (next to the Windows clock), then flick the “Airplane mode” switch at the top (Windows 8.1) or, in Windows 10 1809, click on the “Airplane mode” tile.
7. Turn on services
Windows services are mini programs without their own user interface that provide certain functions and some of them load before logging on. Some are responsible for ensuring that the Internet can be used, so you should check their status in the next step of how to fix the wifi. If you have switched off too many services in the heat of the tuning battle, this can paralyze the Internet connection.
Switch on what you need again: Start the service administration by pressing Windows-R and entering services.msc . Open the properties by double-clicking on the entry “DHCP client”. If necessary, you can revise a “deactivated” setting here – by selecting the “automatic” start type (alternatively: manual). You should “Start” the service with a click.
If the Windows update function fails, ensure that the “Windows Update” service is active. Then the update search will no longer result in an error message whose vague 0x – (…) code does not help normal users.
8. Restart Windows
A Windows restart helps against numerous problems: instabilities, sluggish Explorer starts, malfunctions after update installations (which require a reboot to apply the changes) – and you can also take the next step in how to fix the wifi in this way.
You may not know what caused an internet problem, but it is usually more important that the PC is “back in” in the data network. Under Windows 7 select the restart option from the arrow menu on the right in the start menu, from Windows 8.1 press Windows-X and go to “Shut down or log off> Restart”.
9. Deactivate and activate the driver
In order to go online, PCs need a driver: Depending on whether a LAN or WLAN chip should open up trips to the WWW, the respective control software must be installed. A look at the device manager gives you an overview of the available drivers as a troubleshooting step in how to fix the wifi.
Start it with Windows-R and devmgmt.msc , double-click “Network adapter” to expand it . After right-clicking “Deactivate” you can find a possibly problematic driver in the context menu (depending on the system, the command to be clicked is called “Deactivate device”). If necessary, restart Windows and “Activate” (depending on the system: click “Activate device”) the driver again.
9b. Uninstall and restart the driver
Instead of deactivating the LAN / WLAN driver, uninstall it. Windows will set it up again after a restart.
In the Device Manager, right click on the appropriate network adapter entry, for example with Atheros or Realtek in the name. Depending on the operating system, select “Uninstall” or “Uninstall device” – but do not check the box next to “Delete the driver software for this device” (if offered). Windows is now offline and hopefully online again after restarting.
9c. Reinstall network card driver
If a network card driver is missing, the browser or FTP clients display error messages. Install the driver: Open the website of the network chip / PC manufacturer, load the current version from the support / service area and double-click the setup file. Follow the wizard and finally restart Windows.
When downloading, make sure to obtain a driver suitable for the operating system. You may already have the driver offline on CD – assuming a CD / DVD drive, you can install it from there. This is useful if there is no download option due to the lack of a second PC. However, the driver may be out of date.
9d. Update network card driver
If you suspect that the network driver is responsible for occasional Internet failures, update it! The device manager offers the function “update driver software” / “update driver” – but this does not always lead to success.
If the problem device has a LAN and WLAN module, you can do the following: Establish the web connection using working technology. Download and install the latest driver associated with the problematic component. To ensure that Windows uses the preferred connection type, deactivate the other: via the Network Connections window ( enter Windows-R, ncpa.cpl ) or the Device Manager (Windows-R, devmgmt.msc enter).
9e. Restore old driver
The driver update for the network chip makes the situation worse? The Windows Device Manager allows you to downgrade: Call it up with Windows-R and devmgmt.msc . Go to “Network adapter” and double-click the properties of the LAN / WLAN adapter. Switch to the “Driver” tab and select “Previous Driver”.
10. Check hosts file
If individual web pages cannot be called up, it is worth taking a look at the hosts file as the next step in how to fix the wifi: it blocks page calls throughout the browser or redirects to other pages. If you or a program insert addresses, the respective pages are blocked. This ensures more security – if, for example, your security program prevents malicious content from being accessed using the immunization function. Conversely, malware blocks the websites of antivirus companies from being accessed (or a hijacker uses a hosts file to force you to land on a phishing page if you type a URL correctly).
Check the hosts file and undo changes if necessary: You can simply look at it with a text editor of your choice that you usually start. For example, start the editor with administrator rights if you want to edit the file – in order to delete unwanted lines: Press the Windows key, search for notepad , press Ctrl-Shift-Enter and Alt-J and open with Ctrl-O the file % systemroot% / system32 / drivers / etc / hosts
Delete dodgy entries and save with Ctrl-S.
11. Check firewall rules
Firewalls prevent hacker attacks and prevent programs from accidentally connecting to the Internet. This is useful, for example, if you want to use a program but prevent it from contacting the manufacturer (“calling home”). Incorrectly configured, the fire protection walls, also known as personal firewalls, PFW, and desktop firewalls, block too much – such as the browser, so you should check this in how to fix the wifi. The Windows firewall not only allows targeted blocking, but also blocks all connections with a few exceptions (whitelist) if desired; this blocks many unwanted Internet access attempts, but if the whitelist is poorly maintained, desired programs are affected by the blockage.
If you have installed a firewall, call up its interface and the settings via it. You can usually find an access option at the bottom right of the screen, in the notification area – click on the associated firewall notification area symbol. Is there no dedicated firewall, but a security suite (including internet security) used? Often there is a firewall module in it – check and correct the configuration! If offered, use a reset switch to reset the firewall settings to the factory settings.
You get to the Windows firewall settings via the Run dialog: Open it with Windows-R and type firewall.cplone. You can call up the most extensive firewall settings view by clicking on “Advanced Settings” on the left; alternatively via Windows-R and wf.msc . To reset the Windows firewall, click in the firewall.cpl window on the left on “Restore defaults”.
12. Try the troubleshooting assistant
Since Windows 7, the operating system has been looking for stumbling blocks and removing them from the way. One of the various troubleshooting wizards can be found for Internet repairs: In Windows 7 / 8.1, go to “Detect and fix problems> Connect to the Internet” in the Control Panel. Follow the wizard for how to fix the wifi in some common problems.
With newer Windows 10 versions, the link in the control panel is missing. Here press Windows-R and add:
shell ::: {C58C4893-3BE0-4B45-ABB5-A63E4B8C8651}
This also works with Windows 7 / 8.1; the command is directed to the control panel “troubleshooting”, where you go to “connect to the Internet”.
Although the name implies that this is about setting up a dial-up, ISDN, or DSL connection, it is not an Internet setup wizard. Instead, the routine switches on the network adapter in the ncpa.cpl window, if deactivated.
13. Request new IP via command line
If you have network problems, request a new IP address from the router as a more technical step in how to fix the wifi. You do this with the command line program Ipconfig. Enriched with parameters, Windows gets a new IP via DHCP. To start the command line, press Windows-R and enter cmd . Type the following lines, which you confirm individually by pressing the Enter key:
ipconfig / release
ipconfig / renew
14. Router restart
The problem does not seem to be due to network end devices such as PC or notebook? Start at the router: Open its user interface (web interface) by entering the associated local IP address in the browser address bar. With a FritzBox the address fritz.box works . Do not be Fritz box, determine the IP needed via command line: Start it with Windows-R and cmd , type ipconfig , and use the listed behind “Default Gateway” number sequence.
Look for login in the router menu and click the restart button as the next step in how to fix the wifi. While the router is restarting, network devices have no Internet connection – important if one PC causes problems and another does not, because the restart interrupts any download on the second device. If you have changed a router setting, start here: Undo the intervention – if you can no longer find the position in the menu, you can do it by resetting all router settings in the web interface.
15. Use another DNS server
DNS servers play an important role in Internet use: the servers are usually located at the Internet provider and convert typed URLs (web addresses) into public IP addresses. The PC / router controls the latter as a client. The D omain N ame S ystem is there so that you don’t have to memorize any IPs – you type in memorable addresses like computerbild.de, an invisible DNS server looks up the associated IP.
Sometimes a DNS server cannot be reached so that pages no longer load. Try a different DNS provider! Set the DNS IP and thus the provider in the router menu globally for all network devices. Windows and devices are usually configured in such a way that they use the DNS service provider set in the router. Conversely, if Windows is set to use a specific DNS IP, it will ignore the router’s DNS configuration.
To set / change the DNS server, press Windows-R and type ncpa.cplone. Double click on the LAN / WLAN adapter and go to the properties of the IPv4 entry. Make sure there is a dot in front of “Use the following DNS server address”. Then enter two addresses below; the lower one is used as a backup if the DNS server set above cannot be reached. Google, for example, is seen as fast, Symantec as an antivirus provider is committed to security; the Google DNS IPv4 DNS IPs are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
IP addresses may already be in the DNS fields: If you have not entered them yourself, a malware infection is likely. Then run a virus scan and undo the change; with luck, that already ignites the turbo, since a lame DNS server is a throttle. If the DNS server is switched off (for example by authorities after they have smashed a malware network), on the other hand, it does not slow down, but brings the network connection to a complete standstill. A setting correction also helps here.
16. End braking proxy / VPN tool
Proxy programs impose a different IP address on you, VPN applications do the same and improve protection with an encrypted tunnel. Thanks to the latter, you can surf relatively securely in WLANs that are not (WPA2-) encrypted.
In general, the following applies: Internet data traffic takes a detour if you use an anonymization service. Simple proxies in particular slow down noticeably – the combination of proxy and VPN servers that set up particularly cautious users slows down even more.
Check in the notification area (next to the Windows clock) whether an anonymizer can be seen here, as the next step in how to fix the wifi. Right-click on its symbol and select “Disconnect”, “Quit”, “Exit” or similar. Alternatively, you can call up the interface with a left-click and exit or deactivate the program / its obfuscation. Or you can uninstall the tool.
To free the browser settings from a manually entered proxy server, go to Internet Options for Internet Explorer (IE) and Chromium-based browsers. Background: The Internet options configure the IE; Chromium-based browsers such as Google Chrome or Opera use the stored proxy. You press Windows-R, type inetcpl.cpl and check the settings under “Connections> LAN settings”.
Firefox uses its own proxy management: After starting the browser, open the settings by entering about: preferences in the address bar . Type proxy into the search field in the upper right corner and click on “Settings”.
17. Use only one DHCP server
For various reasons, it makes sense to operate two routers in the home network. But this often brings chaos. By network devices to the router its MAC address ( M edia A ccess C Send ontrol), they get assigned an IP address from the router via DHCP broadcast from the DHCP server.
Two routers usually mean two DHCP servers ( D se Dynamic H ost C onfiguration P rotocol) – this is poison. If you have two routers, disable DHCP on one of them. Alternative: unplug one of the routers.
18. Emergency option: via hotspot or tethering to the network
The PC or the notebook has to be online? Many smartphones offer a tethering function that sets up a WLAN and allows other devices to use the cellular connection.
If you wish, you can even convert a PC or notebook, provided it is WiFi-enabled, into a WiFi router. This is possible with the Hotspot function, which turns the device into an access point (it receives the Internet via LAN and provides network access for other clients via WLAN). You can then connect other end devices with the WLAN generated on the PC / notebook side.
19. Contact your internet provider
Before you complain to the ISP, there are a few things you should do to make sure that the buck is not yours. If you are completely shielded from the Internet, a router with a cellular stick or a smartphone / tablet with LTE will help – the PC can then go online for a fee. If you visit the Internet provider’s support forum, you can see from the posts of other customers that they are also affected by a malfunction. If you write your own post, an employee of the provider will answer … with luck.
How to fix the WiFi internet connection: technical steps
The router in the home network has a central task: It should bring all connected devices to the Internet. It does not matter whether they are connected to the router via LAN or WLAN. If the On-line-Access via LAN works, but not via WLAN, so the cause of the error is initially not obvious.
You quickly notice the problem: you enter a website address, but the browser cannot display it. In addition, the WLAN symbol in the task bar has a small exclamation mark. When you call up the WLAN connection in the Network and Sharing Center, report to Windows that you has no internet access. But since the WLAN symbol appears in the task bar, you know that the wireless connection to the router is OK.
First, check if the error is with the On-line-Connection. The easiest way to do this is to connect a home network device to a LAN port on the router using a network cable. If online access works in this way, you have narrowed the problem down to the WLAN connection.
Next, open the WLAN connection in the Network and Sharing Center and click on the name of the WLAN network under “Connections”. In the next window you call up “Details”. Make sure that in the three lines for standard gateway, DHCP server and DNS server the internal IP address of the router is entered. If this is not the case, select the entry “Properties -> Internet Protocol Version 4” at the bottom right of the “Status of wireless network settings” window. The two options “Obtain an IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS server address automatically” must be selected in this menu.
This is the most convenient solution in the home network: the router then transmits the IP address of the DNS server to each client. He himself uses the DNS server of the Internet provider through which the On-line-Access takes place. You can check whether this is the case in the router menu. With the AVM brand box, for example, you will find the menu under “Internet -> Access data -> DNS server”.
An online lock for WLAN access may be set up in the router. This can be the case, for example, if you want to prevent your offspring from uncontrolled surfing on the Internet using a notebook. Such access blocks – in the case of the AVM, this function is called “child protection” – do not refer to a device, but to an IP or MAC address, which in turn is assigned to the individual network components in a device: A notebook receives one IP address for the network chip and another one for WLAN access – and each one must be blocked individually to prevent online access. Therefore access via LAN can work, but not via WLAN.
Check whether and which home network devices are possibly affected by an online block in the AVM box in the router menu under “Home network -> Network -> Devices and users”.
Windows 10: How to optimize wifi
When it comes to network and WiFi, at first glance Windows 10 hardly differs from its predecessors. But there is a lot that is new in detail – and a few pitfalls.
With Windows10 everything changed. Says Microsoft. As far as network and WLAN are concerned, that’s not entirely true. Nevertheless, home network professionals will also discover a lot of new things when they switch from Windows 7 or 8.1 to the new operating system. Many functions that were hidden deep in the control panel in the older Windows versions can be accessed more quickly under Win 10.
However, you will not be able to manage completely without network knowledge and a guide through the system paths, even under Windows 10 – especially if you want to troubleshoot problems in the home network or WLAN or have to ensure security in the network. We’ll show you the most important network tricks for Windows 10 and tell you which important tools you should have installed on the new Windows.
The most important network settings in Windows 10
This is why Microsoft invented the dock bar and the “PC settings” menu, where you will find the functions relevant for LAN and WLAN under “Network”. There are only a few menus there. However, for further network settings you have to go to the control panel again.
With Windows 10, the settings are easier to find and more clearly arranged. A new WLAN can be set up in just a few steps. For example, there are menus for WiFi, Ethernet, VPN and data usage. With Windows 8.1 these points are summarized under “Connections”. In addition, Windows 10 separates more clearly between the options that you reach through Settings and those that you bring into the Control Panel. The latter can be found in every menu under the heading “Related Settings”.
You can access the network settings in Windows 10 via the Windows icon at the bottom left and “Settings> Network and Internet”. The first thing you will see there are the WLANs with which your computer can contact. You can also access the WLAN overview by clicking on the WLAN icon in the lower right corner of the task bar. Use the box on the left, which says “WLAN” or “Available”, to switch the computer’s WLAN adapter on or off.
With the “Airplane mode” box on the right, you can deactivate all wireless technologies of the PC, in addition to WLAN, Bluetooth, 3G / 4G or NFC. The WLAN menu under Network and Internet in Windows 10 corresponds to the overview that you can see in the charm bar of Windows 8.1 after clicking on the WLAN icon.
Windows 10: How to connect to a WiFi network
Step 1: Click on the small WLAN icon in the lower right corner of the task bar. If it is marked with a small asterisk, Windows has detected WLANs that you can connect to. If the icon shows a small cross in a red circle, the WLAN adapter in the PC is deactivated. In this case, click on “WLAN”.
Step 2: You connect to a WLAN by clicking on it and going to “Connect”. The better the connection quality to the computer, the higher up in the list a WLAN appears. With unencrypted wireless networks, you will see a small exclamation mark in the WLAN symbol.
Step 3: Now type the WiFi password into the field “Enter network security key”. If the WLAN adapter in the PC and the WLAN router with which you want to connect support an automatic connection via WPS, the entry field for the password says that the connection can also be established by pressing a button on the router.
Step 4: Windows remembers every password, you don’t have to enter it again when you reconnect. If you don’t want that, go to “Manage WLAN settings> Manage known networks”. Go to the relevant WLAN and select “Do not save”.
Step 5: If the computer should automatically connect to the WLAN that currently offers the best signal quality, select the “Connect automatically” option for the relevant networks.
Windows 10 security risk? Use WLAN optimization
In the “Manage WLAN settings” menu, Windows 10 hides a new function that was previously reserved for Windows Phone: WLAN optimization. It has nothing to do with a better range or more data throughput for the WLAN adapter in the computer. Rather, you can use it to share the passwords of the WLANs that your computer knows for other Windows 10 users. If you do that, you will be allowed to use WLANs that your contacts have shared in return.
This simplifies logging on to public hotspots, for example. If many Windows 10 users have used a certain hotspot, it is entered in a database. As soon as you approach this WLAN, the computer logs in automatically so that you can surf via WLAN instead of, for example, via a cellular connection. This happens if you have activated the option “Connect to suggested public hotspots”. By the way, Windows 10 detects whether you are near a WLAN via the position service, which is activated by default when you use WLAN optimization. You can switch off the position service under “Settings> Data protection> Position”.
Passing on the password can also be convenient in a private WLAN: This allows visitors to log into your WLAN without having to write down the password for them. WLAN optimization is, for example, safer for a party or an event than distributing or even hanging up the password. Because the visitors do not see the password: It is encrypted and transmitted to the Windows 10 computer via a secure connection.
The WLAN optimization is activated by default if you have set up Windows 10 via the express settings. But under “Manage known networks” you must first enable each WLAN whose password you want to transfer and enter the password for it. Therefore, contacts cannot pass on the password of your WiFi network, because for this you would have to know the password, which is only available in encrypted form on your computer.
In addition, visitors who come to your wireless network via WLAN optimization can only use its Internet connection. However, they do not have access to the home network behind the router because the “network detection” function required for this is switched off by default.
How to connect to an unknown WiFi network
Step 1: Click on the WLAN icon on the right in the task bar. A “hidden network” appears in the WLAN overview. This WLAN does not broadcast its SSID. If you have the information, you can still log in.
Step 2: Click on the “Hidden Network” and click on “Connect”.
Step 3: Enter the SSID of the network and then enter the network key.
Step 4: Now define the profile for the network. Click Yes only if you are connecting to a home network router. In a public network you should not let your computer be discovered and therefore click on “No”.
Set up WLAN optimization
You have to go with that Microsoft Account must be logged into the computer. Then determine which contact groups should receive the WiFi password: All contacts that you have on Outlook.com, Skype and Facebook are possible. Select the WiFi you want to share. When you connect for the first time, activate the option “Share network with contacts” when entering the WiFi password. If you want to share a known WLAN, go to “Settings> Network and Internet> WLAN> Manage WLAN settings> Manage known networks”. Click on the WLAN and on “Share”. Here, too, you must then enter the password.
