How to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop keyboard. Update drivers for Wi-Fi. Keyboard shortcuts to turn on wi-fi

The topic of this article is how to enable a wireless WiFi adapter on a laptop. However, we will not only talk about this. We will look at how to install it on a PC, as well as how to determine which Wi-Fi module is currently working. This will give you a better understanding of how the technology works, as well as how to handle similar equipment.

This, in turn, will allow you to easily and quickly solve various network connection problems that may arise during the process, as well as troubleshoot all sorts of problems yourself, without calling a technician. This is a fairly broad topic, so let's look at all the questions in order. The best place to start is with how to connect a wireless WiFi adapter on a laptop.

How to connect a Wi-Fi adapter to a laptop

First of all, it is worth noting that laptops usually use two brands of wireless adapters:

Atheros.
Broadcom.

Of course, there are others. But these are the ones that have received the most recognition and distribution. But no matter what module you have installed, they all have the same connector. In order to remove or connect the WiFi adapter, you will have to disassemble your laptop. The module itself is easy to disconnect or connect, since it is located in a special mini PCI slot. An antenna is also connected to it to enhance reception.

All Wi-Fi modules have this connection interface and are therefore interchangeable. There are also external models that connect to a computer's USB port. However, it is worth noting that due to their compactness, there is not enough space for a full-fledged antenna. And the connector itself is not capable of providing the required speed. This means that data transfer using a USB adapter will be much slower than when using an embedded device with a mini PCI form factor.

But at the same time, USB models are easier to use, since connecting them is much simpler. You don't need to disassemble your laptop to do this. It is, of course, recommended to use built-in hardware, because it is more stable, faster and does not take up USB ports.

So, in any case, we move on to the question of how to install a wireless Wi-Fi adapter on a laptop. After connecting it to the appropriate interface, we need to install the drivers.

How to enable WiFi adapter: Video

How to install software for Wi-Fi adapter

If you bought a WiFi adapter separately, then the device should include a disk with the necessary software. Insert it into the DVD drive and install the necessary drivers. It is worth noting that after connecting the new module to the computer, after loading the latter, the system will automatically detect the new hardware and ask you to install the driver. If you are using Windows 7 or 8, then, as a rule, the operating system itself will find the necessary software and install it. However, it is still recommended to install it manually from disk. If there is no disk, then you can download everything you need from the Internet, you just need to know the equipment model. You will find this information on the box or in the instructions for the equipment.

How to determine which WiFi adapter is currently installed in a laptop? Everything is extremely simple here. To do this, simply open Device Manager. This is how it is done. Press two keys at the same time - Windows + R. In the window that appears, write mmc devmgmt.msc and press “Enter”. This is the command to launch Device Manager. All installed devices on the computer are displayed here.

We are interested in the “Network equipment” branch. Let's open it. Wireless WiFi devices, as a rule, contain in the name the device model and the following phrase - Wireless Network Adapter (translated as Wireless Network Equipment). Here we look at what devices are currently in use. You can also disable them in Device Manager.

To disable a device, open information about it by double-clicking with the left mouse button. Next, go to the “Driver” tab. To disable or enable, press the corresponding button. You can also do this by simply right-clicking on the desired device. In the menu that appears, simply select the required action.

How to find out which WiFi adapter is in your laptop from the moment of purchase? This is also done in Device Manager. But this information can also be obtained on the official website of the PC developer. Just go to the site and indicate your model in full. Thus, you will receive detailed information about all laptop devices, including the WiFi adapter. Here you can also download the latest drivers.

How to install a driver for a WiFi adapter: Video

How to enable WiFi adapter on laptop

Turning on the Wi-Fi module on a laptop is as easy as shelling pears. First of all, install the drivers and necessary software. Next, simply press and hold the Fn key without releasing it and press the WiFi button. It is marked with the corresponding icon. Some models have a separate button. In this case, just press it.

If after these steps the module does not turn on and the system does not start searching for available connections, you should open the Network and Sharing Center and check the status of the wireless connection. Click the network icon in the tray (bottom right corner of the desktop). Select the appropriate item.

In the menu that opens, go to the “Change adapter settings” section. Find the Wireless network (or wireless network connection) shortcut. If it is gray, right-click on it and select “Enable”.

There is a built-in connector that connects to Wi-Fi. But what to do if, after turning on a brand new laptop with an operating system installed on it, connecting to the router to receive communication does not work? You need to “rummage through” the settings by connecting Wi-Fi itself. We will look at classic methods for checking the ability of an adapter built into a laptop to connect and present methods that help you change Wi-Fi settings and configure it in versions of Windows 7-10.

We enable Wi-Fi in the laptop by hardware

Hardware-type tools will help you enable the connection. To do this, you should use buttons designed for connecting to wi-fi - this is the simplest option. If it doesn’t work, it’s worth checking to see if the driver on the laptop has failed.

Turn on wireless connections using laptop buttons

Some versions of equipment equipped with an element that makes it possible to use wi-fi require its separate activation: not every device automatically starts a wireless network. Some devices require the use of two keyboard buttons, some are equipped with one key for adapter launch. On older versions of laptops there is an independent button on the body, and not on the keyboard, made in the form of a slider.

If the user examined the laptop's casing but did not find a stand-alone slider, he should. As a rule, to turn on the transmitter, allowing you to join a wireless type of network, use the function buttons F (from the first to the twelfth).

You need to look at the symbols drawn on these keys. One of these keyboard elements has a Wi-Fi icon embossed in the form of an antenna.

Important: To connect to the Internet, which is a wireless type, the Fn+F5 combination is often used, so you should first look at these keyboard elements.

Checking and installing drivers for Wi-Fi

If the methods described above failed to enable an element designed to connect to a network wirelessly, the adapter may have been disabled by software - it was disabled in the operating system options. The user can launch the adapter using the classic Windows settings using two methods.

Method 1

This method involves using a center designed to manage network access. To start the device that connects the laptop to Wi-Fi, the user should use the combination Win + R, and then, when the window opens, type “ncpa.cpl”.

This request will bring up a section that allows you to change connector parameters.

Attention! In older XP versions, this item is indicated differently: you will need to find a section for a network type connection.

In the section, the user needs to find a column/option that provides information about the connection to the network, which is a wireless type. If this column is gray, the element connecting to WiFi is turned off. To start its operation, you need to click the button on the right and assign the option to be enabled. After this, you should try to connect to an available network.

Method 2

This method involves using a manager, which is designed to monitor the operation of devices. In the manager, connectors are disabled infrequently: usually the termination of the connector’s functioning is caused by a malfunction of the laptop (especially inexpensive but convenient models like).

Important: If the Wi-Fi connector built into the laptop is turned off, then in the graph displaying connections related to the network type, the icon corresponding to wireless connectors will not be visible.

To enter the dispatcher, the user should press Win + R on the keyboard that is built into his laptop. In the window that opens, to execute it, you need to enter devmgmt.msc and confirm the request.

When the dispatch window opens, in the column displaying adapters, look for the one whose name suggests “Wi-Fi” or “Wireless”.

Then you need to select the option in the menu that enables the connector: it is called up by right-clicking the touchpad on the device name.

Attention! If you get an error at startup, check the drivers: they will have to be reconnected, updated or reinstalled.

Additional method

Setting up WiFi on a laptop with Windows 10

Unlike the eighth option, the tenth (for example, ) does not have a panel that drops down on the right, namely, it cannot be “summoned” by clicking on the “network column” located in the system type tray (it is located next to the clock and date).

Because of this, users who used a different version of Windows may get confused when setting up Wi-fi. This is also due to the fact that in the tenth version of the operating system the user receives only a list of connections that are accessible to the connector built into the laptop and are within its accessible radius.

In order to correctly configure Wi-Fi in the tenth version of the operating system created by Microsoft, and not mess up other settings, the first thing you should do is find a shortcut in the system tray. The icon will display a list of those networks that are open for connection.

Attention!If after clicking on the network list icon is not visible, click on the line that can show available connections. After the user clicks on the inscription, a panel will appear on the right.

When the network is found, click on it: if it is protected, enter the password and confirm. After this, a message indicating a successful connection will appear. In order not to enter the password every time, you should tinker a little with the settings.

Select the option that gives access to additional options. When the window opens, click on the section leading to the center, which is intended to indicate grid parameters. Find the connection in the center, click on it and select the option that leads to its network properties.

Important: After completing the steps, you should note those functions that the user considers necessary in order to work comfortably with Wi-Fi.

Thus, the user is free to connect to any non-password-protected network visible to the device. This column is located in a tab designed to control connections that are of the wireless variety.

Also, the owner of a laptop that runs on “ten” has the opportunity to open automatically triggered access for . This section is located in the tab that displays network connectors.

To start automatic access, the laptop user will need to click on the section for network connections, go to properties and check the corresponding box.

Interesting:The same column displays other options regarding network settings.

In the center, where it is possible to work with connected network devices, the laptop user has the opportunity to program the router and “create” a new connection, which belongs to the category of those that connect wirelessly. There you can also set up a network VPN designed for accessing work data from a distance.

The user can also create a local group and enable/disable the Firewall.

Setting up Wi-Fi on Windows 8-8.1

To make the settings on a laptop that runs on the eighth version of Windows (for example), you need to find the network shortcut in the tray and click on it using the left button of the touchpad (a double short press on the paddle built into the laptop will also work).

This action will “announce” the list of connections available for the laptop connector, which belong to the wireless variety. Afterwards, you need to click on the Hotspot to which the user wants to connect, and then confirm the action by clicking on the line with the same name. A field will appear in which you need to enter a password that gives access to the network point.

Attention! In order for the laptop user to be able to see the text of the password that he wrote, he will need to click on the icon made in the form of an eye, which is located on the right side of the field. It should be remembered that the printed text is visible only if you “pinch” your “eye”.

When the password is printed, the user will need to click on “next”. If the password characters are entered correctly, the connection will be established in a maximum of a minute. Connecting to the network takes longer only when the Internet is slow.

A sign that everything is connected is the changed appearance of the network shortcut, which is located in the tray. It’s convenient that Windows 8 (for example,) sets all the configurable parameters that are necessary for a new connection “automatically,” excluding the password.

When the system comes online, it will “ask” you to determine the network type. The request concerns whether the user wants a printer or other peripheral device to be connected immediately, without requesting access. The user will also need to indicate whether he wants the information on his laptop to be available to others.

Attention! If you click “yes,” then information exchange between connected PCs and MFPs (wireless printing) will be available on the network under the user-selected name. It's convenient for the office. If you click on “no”, the network will only work with the Internet.

Changing indicators

All in the same tray, on the “network” shortcut, you need to use the right key of the touchpad, and in the optional window that pops up, click on the section, which is the center that allows you to interact with network settings.

In the center you will need to find the name of the “hotspot” and click on it to bring up an option displaying its status. In this window, click on properties related to the network connection. There you need to check the necessary boxes regarding the settings.

People all over the world purchase new models of computers or laptops every day for their personal use. But not all professional users know how to set up its operation, install various programs, and connect their device to the World Wide Web.

In this article we will try to look at step-by-step instructions on how to enable Wi-Fi on a laptop and computer. The principle is the same for all laptops; we will look at how to enable Wi-Fi on several of the most common laptop models, as well as separately on Windows. So. Everything is in order.

How to enable Wi-Fi on HP laptops

At the initial stage, you need to look at the current state of the connection to the wireless network on the laptop. To do this, look at the icons; they may differ on some HP laptop models. The icon can be at the top of the panel (F12 key with an image of an antenna) or on the taskbar in the lower right corner. If you have an antenna icon and it lights up, then Wi-Fi is connected, if it doesn’t light up, it’s turned off. On some models there may be an “X” next to the “mast” icon. In this case, the connection is disabled.

Having decided on the Wi-Fi connection, if it works, then you can safely access the Internet, if not, then proceed to further actions.

How to enable Wi-Fi on Asus laptops

Specific control of the Wi-Fi module is a distinctive feature of this model. Basically, connection and disconnection occurs using a special mechanical switch. The switch is in active mode - Internet access is active, and if in inactive mode, it is turned off.

How to enable Wi-Fi on Windows

Now let's look at how to access the Internet in Windows. There are several flavors of Windows. You may have Windows 7 or 8, Windows XP or Vista installed on your laptop. We will focus on two: Windows 7 and Windows 8, since they are the most popular at the moment.

How to enable Wi-Fi on Windows 7

And so what you need to do to enable Wi-Fi on Windows 7:

The very first thing we need to do is go to the “Start” menu and select “Control Panel” there. Select the “Network and Internet” subsection in it. There are also several subsections here, but we need the “Network and Sharing Center”. We find it and go in.
A separate window will open, where we find the “Change adapter settings” tab and click on it.
Another window opens. Find the “Wireless Network Connection” shortcut. Right-click on this shortcut and in the “connect/disconnect” command that appears.
A list of networks will open, where we select the one we need and click connect.

As a rule, the network is protected with a key, so another window will open where you will need to enter a password in a certain field.

If you did everything correctly, an icon will appear in the lower right corner of the desktop indicating that Internet access is active.

How to enable Wi-Fi on Windows 8

Turn on Wi-Fi on Windows 8:

As when connecting a network to Windows 7, initially we perform the same steps: “Start” -> “Control Panel”.
After we get to the above tab, select “switch to classic view” and find “Network Connection Control Center”. You will see a list of programs where we find “Wireless network connection”.
Next, using the right mouse button, click on the above program and select the “Property” command. In this folder there should be "Obtain an IP address automatically". If the mark is checked, then click the “OK” button.
Then we need to go back to the Network Connection Management folder. Here again we find “Wireless network connection” and again, using the right mouse button, select the command “Connect - Disconnect”.
After this, an additional window “Connect to a network” will open in front of you, where we select the network we need and click the “Connect” button.

If you did everything correctly, the corresponding icon will appear in the taskbar.

How to enable Wi-Fi on a desktop computer (PC)

And finally, let’s look at how you can connect Wi-Fi on a personal computer. There are no problems with laptops, they use a wireless connection, but with PCs it’s a little more difficult. Not everyone wants to run wires from their computer across the entire house or apartment. There is also a way out of this situation. You need to purchase and install a Wi-Fi adapter on your PC.

The computer uses the following types of adapters:

External. Such adapters are connected to a computer using a USB port.
Internal. This view is a little more complicated. They are connected to the motherboard via PCI-E 1X or PCI connectors.

Most people prefer an external adapter. These are mainly people who rarely use the local network. For them, the main thing is to have access to the Internet. There is nothing complicated about connecting it. We just need to plug it into a USB port and install the drivers. Each adapter comes with a driver disc. After installing the drivers, we search for a wireless network and connect to it.

Wi-Fi technology is very widely used in the life of a modern person, as it allows you to easily and quickly solve the problem of connecting to the Internet without using conventional wires. This is especially true when using laptops, which can be used to access the Internet in any convenient place thanks to the presence of a built-in Wi-Fi adapter.

That is why the situation when Wi-Fi does not work on a laptop leads to significant inconvenience and even some problems. There are many reasons why Wi-Fi may not work on a laptop computer. It is simply unrealistic to solve the most serious of them on your own without the help of specialists, but there are quite a lot of them that can be eliminated on your own. Let's look at them.

Is the problem with your laptop or router?

A fairly common problem that a laptop has stopped connecting to the WiFi network is not a problem with the laptop itself, but with the settings of the router that distributes the network. Thus, the laptop can be configured correctly, but Wi-Fi still does not turn on precisely because it has nothing to connect to.

To rule out the possibility that the problem is related to this, you should try to connect to the network from any other device that is equipped with a Wi-Fi adapter - from another laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc.

If Wi-Fi does not work from another gadget, then the problem lies in the Wi-Fi router distributing the Internet. If the connection is successful, the problem is in the laptop and before solving it, you first need to determine why Wi-Fi stopped working.

Hardware enable adapter

Based on such diagnostics, you can accurately determine that this problem arose precisely because of the laptop. When Wi-Fi does not work on it, you can try using several methods.

The first one is to check if the wireless adapter on your laptop is enabled. Almost all modern models have light indicators for the operation of the WiFi module and there are special key combinations to enable it in hardware.

Typically, a lit indicator indicates that the module is turned on. If the indicator does not light up at all or lights up in red, then Wi-Fi is not working precisely because of the wireless network adapter. It must be turned on.

Most often, such indicators are located directly on the keyboard, side or front panel of the device case. Sometimes they are located on the monitor body or near the touchpad.

To enable the module of such a network, press the key combination Fn and one of the system keys F1-F12. The specific combination depends on the laptop manufacturer. Usually, the corresponding antenna icon is located on the desired key. If it is not there, then to turn on Wi-Fi you should try pressing the standard combination for a particular model:
Fn+F3 for Acer;
Fn+F2 for Asus, Dell or Gigabyte;
Fn+F5 on Fujitsu devices;
Fn+F12 on HP laptops.

After pressing the corresponding keys, we check whether the wireless connection module operation indicator lights up or whether it stops glowing red. After this, you should try to connect to the network again. If this does not help, move on to the next step.

Software enablement

When Wi-Fi stops working and turning it on in hardware does not give positive results, you also need to turn it on in software, which is done directly from the operating system the laptop is running.

To programmatically enable WiFi that has stopped working on Windows 7, 8 or 10, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:

1. On the notification panel, which is located near the clock, select the network connection status icon;

2. From the list that opens, select “Network and Sharing Center” or “Network Settings” depending on the version of the operating system;

3. The next step is “Changing adapter settings.”

Among the list of all existing connections, you need to pay attention to the color of the “Wireless Network Connection” icon. If your WiFi does not work and the wireless adapter is disabled, the connection icon will not be highlighted. In this case, right-click on its icon and select “Enable” from the context menu that opens. The color of the connection icon should change.

In this case, the wireless network adapter turns on, all you have to do is find the one you need in the list of available wireless networks and connect to it.

If, after such actions, Wi-Fi, which has stopped working, continues to be inactive, you need to move on to the next method of solving the problem.

Driver installation and update

Quite often, the wireless Wi-Fi connection does not turn on due to the lack of a driver or when it is very outdated. To determine whether the driver is installed, you need to select “Properties” from the context menu of the “My Computer” icon, which is located on the desktop or in the “Start” menu. Next, in the window that opens, select the “Device Manager” command from the menu on the left.

In the new window that opens with a list of connected devices, you need to find the name of the laptop’s wireless network adapter. Usually its name is “Wireless Network Adapter” or “Wireless Network Adapter”, along with which the device manufacturer should be indicated: Realtek, Atheros, Qualcomm or something else.

Having found the desired item and right-clicking on it, select “Properties” from the context menu. In the window that opens, there should be an item “Device is working normally.” But even if there is a mark indicating the normal operation of the device, this is far from a guarantee that the correct driver version is installed and Wi-Fi is turned on correctly. To check it, in the window with the properties of the wireless device, go to the “Driver” tab and pay attention to the “Development date” and “Vendor” items.

If the supplier is Microsoft or the program development date is several years behind the current one, go to the official website of the laptop manufacturer and download the latest official version of the driver.

The same should be done if there is no wireless adapter among the list of installed devices.

If the wireless communication module is present in the list of devices, but is marked with a yellow exclamation mark, this means that the device is disabled, as a result of which the network has stopped working. In this case, opening the device properties window, you need to click the “Engage” button.

Another reason why Wi-Fi stopped working on a laptop may be that the energy-saving mode is enabled, which prevents the wireless connection from working. To disable it, you need to do the following:
1. Open Control Panel;
2. Select the “Power Options” icon;

3. In the window that opens, select the “High Performance” or “Balanced” mode.

External obstacles to the signal

It's also worth noting that a broken wireless network can also be the result of more than just laptop problems. The wireless signal is affected by some external factors that may weaken it. Ceilings, walls, floors and similar obstacles significantly degrade the signal quality of the access point and laptop.

As you know, the signal quality on a personal computer is displayed in the form of several marks - the more of them, the higher the quality of the signal. If the wireless connection level is displayed as 1 or 2 marks, then you don’t have to try to use WiFi - in this case it will not work normally.

In this case, you need to move the router closer to your workplace, move the workplace closer to the Wi-Fi router, or buy a new, more powerful router.

If all else fails

If none of the tips above help, you can use a simple, but often effective solution: restart both your computer and your wireless router. Please note that after a reboot, the router turns on for up to 5-10 minutes before it starts distributing the network. Be patient. Also, despite the opinion of many skeptics, sometimes the troubleshooting function found in the Windows operating system helps solve problems with a wireless network.

Thus, most of the existing solutions to problems related to the fact that Wi-Fi has stopped working on a laptop have been listed above. Almost all such methods and recommendations can be used by anyone who is faced with a similar problem, since this does not require any special skills.
If nothing helps, and the wireless network does not start working, there is only one option left - go for help to a quality service center, where they can solve any problems with the laptop.

If the article did not help solve your problem and Wi-Fi still does not work, write in the comments, I will try to help.

Without a working WiFi adapter, the laptop will not be able to connect to the wireless network. If you find that the Wi-Fi module is disabled, you can easily enable it yourself in hardware and software.

What is a WiFi adapter

A Wi-Fi adapter is a module in a laptop that is capable of recognizing signals from routers, establishing a wireless connection to the Internet. A WiFi adapter is available on any modern laptop as a built-in board.

If you want to connect to wireless networks from your computer, you can purchase an external WiFi adapter that connects to the system unit via a USB interface. In any case, the software configuration of the equipment will be the same, only the methods of hardware activation of the device will differ.

Hardware enable

To turn on the Wi-Fi adapter on a laptop, find the corresponding hardware button on the case or use a hotkey combination. You can usually find out the current state of the module (on or off) using the indicator. If it is not lit, then you need to turn on WiFi on the laptop.

Most often, the combination of the Fn button with one of the keys in the F1-F12 row is responsible for turning it on. On ASUS laptops, for example, the Fn+F2 combination is used. When these two keys are pressed simultaneously, all wireless modules of the laptop are activated, including Wi-Fi.

Combinations for enabling Wi-Fi on laptops from various manufacturers:

Acer – Fn+F3.
ASUS – Fn+F2.
Dell – Fn+F2.
Gigabyte – Fn+F2.
Fujitsu – Fn+F5.
HP – Fn+F12.

The pictograms will help you determine the appropriate key. Usually, an antenna is drawn on the desired button that distributes a signal.

On some laptop models, you can turn on the WiFi adapter using a separate button on the case. It can be located directly below the display. On older models there is a two-position switch, which is located on the side of the laptop.

Software enablement

If, after turning on the WiFi adapter in hardware, the wireless connection icon with a list of available connection points does not appear in the tray, you will also have to activate the module programmatically. You can enable Wi-Fi in the system settings.

On Windows 8 and Windows 10, WiFi is disabled/enabled with a special switch, which is located above the list of available points or in the system parameters.

An icon should appear in the notification area; when you click on it, a list of wireless networks available for connection will open. If the list indicates that there are no available connections, make sure that Wi-Fi is configured on the router. If the wireless connection icon does not appear in the tray, make sure that the WiFi adapter is working without errors.

Possible problems when turning on

There are several reasons why the Wi-Fi model cannot be turned on:

The Fn button does not work, therefore the key combination does not work.
The adapter drivers are not installed, the system does not detect the device.
The WiFi module has failed and requires replacement.

Using a keyboard shortcut is usually not the only way to enable the wireless module, but if you try to get the adapter to work using a button combination and nothing works, you should check the software status.

On some laptops, for the Fn button to work correctly, a special utility must be installed in the system. For ASUS laptops this is ATK Hotkey Utility. You can find suitable software on the manufacturer's website. The Fn button may not work for other reasons, but this is a topic for a separate large article.

The most common reason why a Wi-Fi adapter fails to turn on is missing hardware drivers.

Drivers can be installed automatically or manually. It is recommended to use manual installation by first downloading the software from the manufacturer’s website. If you manually install a driver of the appropriate version and bit depth, the problem with turning on the adapter should disappear.