Roman Davis

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3 minute read

Laptop WiFi Not Turning On in Windows 11: A Frustrating Problem Solved

I still remember the day I upgraded to Windows 11 on my trusty laptop. I was excited to experience the new features and improvements, but little did I know that I was in for a frustrating surprise. My laptop’s WiFi refused to turn on, leaving me disconnected and clueless. If you’re facing the same issue, don’t worry, you’re not alone. In this post, I’ll share my personal experience, practical tips, and troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the problem.

The Frustration Begins

It was a typical Monday morning when I booted up my laptop, eager to start my day. But as I tried to connect to the internet, I realized that my WiFi was not working. I tried restarting my router, checking the physical connections, and even rebooting my laptop, but nothing seemed to work. I was getting desperate, and my productivity was suffering. I spent hours scouring the internet for solutions, but most of the fixes didn’t work for me.

The Cause of the Problem

After some research, I discovered that the issue was not unique to my laptop or Windows 11. Many users were experiencing similar problems, and the root cause was often related to the WiFi adapter or the Windows 11 settings. In my case, the WiFi adapter was not enabled, and the Windows 11 settings were not configured correctly.

Practical Tips to Troubleshoot the Issue

If you’re facing the same problem, here are some practical tips to help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

  1. Restart your laptop: Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve the issue. Press the power button, and let your laptop restart.
  2. Check the WiFi adapter: Ensure that your WiFi adapter is enabled. You can do this by going to Device Manager (Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager), expanding the Network Adapters section, and checking if the WiFi adapter is listed.
  3. Update your WiFi driver: Outdated drivers can cause connectivity issues. Go to Device Manager, expand the Network Adapters section, right-click on the WiFi adapter, and select Update driver.
  4. Reset your WiFi settings: Go to Settings (Press the Windows key + I), select Network & Internet, and click on Advanced options. Click on Reset WiFi settings to restore the default settings.
  5. Disable and re-enable your WiFi adapter: Go to Device Manager, expand the Network Adapters section, right-click on the WiFi adapter, and select Disable device. Wait for a few seconds, and then enable it again.
  6. Check for firmware updates: Firmware updates can resolve connectivity issues. Check with your laptop manufacturer or the WiFi adapter manufacturer for firmware updates.
  7. Run the Network Troubleshooter: Go to Settings, select Network & Internet, and click on Troubleshoot. Select the WiFi option, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Advanced Troubleshooting Steps

If the above tips don’t resolve the issue, it’s time to dig deeper. Here are some advanced troubleshooting steps:

  1. Run the Command Prompt: Press the Windows key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin). Type the following command and press Enter: netsh wlan show interfaces
  2. Check the WiFi adapter status: Go to Device Manager, expand the Network Adapters section, right-click on the WiFi adapter, and select Properties. Check the status of the adapter.
  3. Check for conflicts with other devices: Other devices on your network can cause conflicts with your WiFi adapter. Try disconnecting other devices and see if the issue resolves.
  4. Reset your Windows 11 settings: Go to Settings, select System, and click on Recovery. Click on Reset this PC and follow the on-screen instructions.

The Solution: Enabling the WiFi Adapter

After trying all the above tips, I finally discovered the solution. I went to Device Manager, expanded the Network Adapters section, and right-clicked on the WiFi adapter. I selected Enable device, and voilà! My WiFi was working again.

Conclusion

Laptop WiFi not turning on in Windows 11 can be a frustrating problem, but it’s not insurmountable. By following the practical tips and advanced troubleshooting steps outlined in this post, you should be able to resolve the issue. Remember to restart your laptop, check the WiFi adapter, update your WiFi driver, reset your WiFi settings, and disable and re-enable your WiFi adapter. If all else fails, try running the Network Troubleshooter or resetting your Windows 11 settings. I hope this post has been helpful, and you’re back online in no time.

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