Laptop Won't Connect to Wi-Fi? Work Through These Fixes

01Quick answer

If your laptop won’t connect to Wi-Fi, first check whether other devices in the home are online. If they are, the problem is on the laptop: Wi-Fi may be off, airplane mode may be on, it may be trying an old password, or its network driver may need an update. If nothing is online, restart the router and check with your internet provider. This guide is for Windows laptop and MacBook users who can’t connect, can connect but get no internet, or keep dropping off.

02Before you start

• Test with another device. Try your phone on the same Wi-Fi. This tells you whether to focus on the laptop or the router.
• Check the password. Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive. The default one is often printed on a label on the router, unless someone has changed it.
• Note what you see. “Can’t connect to this network”, a network that isn’t listed at all, or “connected, no internet” each point somewhere different.
• Don’t join unknown open networks to “test” your laptop. Use networks you trust.

03Why this happens

Usually simple to fix:

• Wi-Fi is switched off, or airplane mode is on, sometimes from a keyboard shortcut pressed by accident.
• The laptop is remembering an old password after the router or password changed.
• The laptop is too far from the router or behind thick walls.
• The router needs a restart.
• A VPN or security app is blocking the connection.
• The network adapter driver (the software for the laptop’s Wi-Fi hardware) is out of date.

Needs the manufacturer or a repair service:

• The laptop’s Wi-Fi option is missing completely, even after restarts and driver updates.
• Wi-Fi works on every other device but never on this laptop, near the router, with the correct password.
• The whole home has no internet, which is a job for your internet provider.

04Check the laptop first

1. Turn Wi-Fi on and airplane mode off. - Windows: select the network icon on the taskbar and check the Wi-Fi tile is on and airplane mode is off. - Mac: click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar and make sure Wi-Fi is turned on.
2. Restart the laptop. A restart resolves many temporary connection glitches.
3. Move closer to the router and try again.
4. Forget the network and rejoin it. This clears saved settings and the old password. - Windows: open Settings, Network & internet, Wi-Fi, then Manage known networks. Select your network and choose Forget. Then select it from the list and enter the password. - Mac: Apple’s support page explains how to forget a network from Wi-Fi settings. Then choose it again and enter the password.

   Did it connect? If yes, you’re done. If it connects but says no internet, go to the next section.

5. Turn off any VPN temporarily and try again. If that fixes it, check the VPN’s settings or contact its provider.

05When it connects but there’s no internet

1. Check other devices. If they also have no internet, restart the router as described in our router basics guide.
2. Restart the router and modem if you have separate boxes. Wait until the lights settle, then reconnect.
3. Run Windows network troubleshooting. On Windows 11, open Settings, System, Troubleshoot, Other troubleshooters and run the network troubleshooter, or use the Get Help app if your version sends you there. On Windows 10, it is under Settings, Network & Internet, Status.
4. On a Mac, Apple’s Wireless Diagnostics tool can check your connection. Hold the Option key and click the Wi-Fi icon to find it.
5. Update the network driver on Windows. Check Windows Update, including optional updates, or your laptop maker’s official support website, for a newer wireless driver.

   What you should see: pages loading normally. If the whole home is still offline, contact your internet provider.

06Common mistakes to avoid

• Typing the Wi-Fi password with Caps Lock on.
• Resetting the router to factory settings as a first step. That erases your network name and password and disconnects every device.
• Downloading “Wi-Fi booster” or driver tools from unofficial sites.
• Turning off your firewall or security software to test the connection.
• Forgetting that a VPN or proxy setting can block internet access.

07If it still doesn’t work

If Wi-Fi is missing from the laptop entirely, or the laptop can’t connect anywhere while other devices can, contact the laptop maker through its official support website or a qualified repair service. If the whole home is offline after a router restart, contact your internet provider. Have the laptop model, operating system version and the exact message you see ready.

Once you’re back online, other wireless devices may need attention too: see our guides to Bluetooth problems and connecting a printer to Wi-Fi.

08The short version

Test with another device to find where the problem is. On the laptop, switch Wi-Fi on and airplane mode off, restart, then forget and rejoin the network. If you’re connected with no internet, restart the router and run the built-in troubleshooters before contacting your provider.

09FAQ

Why does my laptop say “connected, no internet”?

The laptop has joined the Wi-Fi, but the router isn’t getting internet through to it. Restart the router and check whether other devices work. If nothing in the home is online, the problem is likely with your internet provider.

Why can’t my laptop see my Wi-Fi network?

The laptop may be too far away, Wi-Fi may be off, or the network may only broadcast on a band your laptop doesn’t support. Move closer and check that the router is on. If other devices see the network but your laptop doesn’t, update its wireless driver.

Why does my laptop keep dropping Wi-Fi?

Distance, interference from other devices, power-saving settings and outdated drivers are common causes. Try moving closer to the router and installing updates. Our router guide explains placement tips that help the whole home.

Is it safe to use public Wi-Fi?

Public Wi-Fi can be convenient, but avoid entering sensitive information on networks you don’t trust, and prefer sites that use HTTPS. The Wi-Fi Alliance explains current Wi-Fi security standards.