Today I decided to write an article on a very popular problem when the WLAN light on the router does not light up and there is no Wi-Fi network. That is, when the router stopped broadcasting Wi-Fi network. Owners of routers from different manufacturers face this problem: TP-Link, ASUS, D-Link, ZyXel, Tenda, Netis, etc. It doesn’t matter what router you have. If the Wi-Fi (WLAN) indicator on it stopped lighting and the Wi-Fi network disappeared, now we will try to figure out this problem.
On different routers (different manufacturers and models) The WLAN indicator looks different. But it is on almost every router. Typically, it blinks when data is being transmitted over the wireless network. The light bulb itself can be labeled "Wi-Fi", "2.4GHz", or "5GHz". Or maybe just an icon
In any case, when the WLAN indicator on the router does not light up or blink, this is no longer normal. As you already understood, WLAN is Wi-Fi. Wireless network.
Most often, the problem is the following:
- Accidentally pressed the button to turn off Wi-Fi, which is found on many routers. After pressing it, the router stops distributing the Wi-Fi network, and the WLAN light, of course, does not light up. At the same time, the router continues to work and distributes the Internet via cable. But the devices no longer see the Wi-Fi network, since it doesn’t exist.
- Some kind of glitch in the software. In this case, rebooting, resetting settings, or updating the router firmware helps. You also need to check the Wi-Fi settings in the router control panel.
- Router failure. I have seen cases more than once when a router stopped distributing a Wi-Fi network due to a technical breakdown. If all else fails, the Wi-Fi indicator still doesn’t light up, then you need to take the router in for repair. (possibly under warranty), or buy a new one. If this is your case, then take a look.
Let's check this very button that turns off Wi-Fi on the router. Let's also check what's in the control panel. Because this is most often the problem.
The WLAN light does not light up, the router does not distribute Wi-Fi. What to do?
First of all, we take our router in our hands and look for a button on it that is responsible for turning it on/off wireless wifi networks. Typically, this button is labeled "Wi-Fi", "Wireless On/Off", or simply with a wireless network icon
Some routers do not have such a button.
If you find this button, just click on it once. Wait a little and look at the WLAN indicator, it should light up. If this does not happen, then reboot the router (turn off the power for a couple of minutes), and try pressing the button again. You can press and hold for three seconds. It all depends on the router and settings. In any case, this should help, and the router should distribute Wi-Fi.
Checking the status of the Wi-Fi network in the settings
If you don’t find the button, or if the WLAN network does not appear after clicking on it, you can also check the status of the wireless network in the router’s control panel.
We connect to our router via cable, there are no options here, and go to the settings. If you don’t know how to do this, then look. It may happen that you will not be able to access the control panel, in this case, see the article. If you can’t log in and the recommendations don’t help, then most likely the router is simply broken.
If you are lucky and the control panel opens, then look for the “Wireless Network”, “Wi-Fi”, “Wireless” tab and open it. It all depends on the model of your router. Let's look at the most popular ones.
This is what Wi-Fi settings look like on routers TP-Link :
Please note that the checkbox next to "Enable Wireless Router Radio" must be checked. (Enable wireless broadcasting).
On routers ASUS Open the "Wireless Network" section, "Professional" tab. Opposite the “Enable radio module” item, the switch should be next to “Yes”.
On ZyXEL Keenetic, in the "Wi-Fi network" section there should be a checkmark next to the "Enable access point" item.
If you have some other router, then the page with the wireless network settings will not be difficult to find. If it doesn’t work out, write the model in the comments, I’ll give you a hint.
Nothing helps, the router does not broadcast the Wi-Fi network, the indicator does not light up
If you have already tried everything possible, but the router still does not start distributing Wi-Fi, and the WLAN light still does not light up, then most likely the router is broken. That is, the problem is not in the settings or software, but in the hardware.
What else can be done?
- Reset your router to factory settings. Find the “Reset” button on the router, press and hold it for 10 seconds. As a rule, the button is recessed into the case, so you need to press it with something sharp. If that doesn’t work, type a query in the search on our website (at the very top), for example, “reset settings on TP-Link.” We have instructions for all popular manufacturers. Or write in the comments, I’ll tell you.
- If you were able to access the router settings, then update the firmware. We also have many instructions for different routers on our website. Look for instructions for your model through the site search.
To be honest, these tips are unlikely to help. But, before you take your router for repairs, or go to the store for a new one, you need to try resetting the settings and updating the firmware. Well, also press the "Wi-Fi" button (if you have it), maybe there is still a problem there, and the WLAN indicator will start to light up, and the router will distribute the wireless network.
WiFi is a unique wireless communication technology that is incredibly popular all over the world. Nowadays there are very few people who prefer regular wired Internet. Connecting and setting up Wi-Fi is not difficult. But even in such a perfect system, sometimes errors occur due to which Wi-Fi stops working. The most common is a problem with connecting to the Wi-Fi router.
Some people are faced with a situation where the router is connected to the network and works, but does not distribute data: the computer cannot “see” the available network. Why does this happen? There may be several reasons for this:
lack of installed network drivers;
hardware type errors;
random shutdown of the connection to the computer - it is obvious why in this case the device does not work as it should;
Wi-Fi module malfunction;
Wi-Fi router malfunction.
There are other problems, but the ones listed above are the most common reasons why the device does not work. Therefore, we will focus on them.
Problem with drivers for network devices
Testing the WiFi module driver is carried out in the “Device Manager”. This section is located in the Start menu. You can also get to the section through the “My Computer” shortcut by right-clicking.
In the "Manager" you can see all the devices connected to the computer. We will be interested in network equipment. You need to switch to the branch with network drivers. If the branch is missing, this means that the drivers for the wifi adapter were not installed on the computer.
If there is a branch, the “!” sign may light up on one of the network devices. This means either the absence or malfunction of one of the drivers. Each of the problems is easily solved by simply reinstalling the software. Usually software located on the disk that came with your computer. The wifi adapter for device manager may be called Wireless Network Adapter. Also, everything you need can be downloaded from the Internet using a mobile connection (if another is not available at the moment).
How to check your wireless connection status
If everything is fine with the drivers, then the next step is to check the wireless connection. It can simply be turned off. Testing is carried out differently on different operating systems. But it all comes down to one thing: you need to get into the “Network Control Center”.
There is a universal method. You need to press Win+R, after which a window with a line will appear. In the line you need to type the command control panel and press Enter. This will open the "Control Panel". Here we go to “Network and Internet”, then to “Network and Sharing Center”. In the “Center” we will be interested in the “Change adapter settings” section located on the left. Clicking there will allow you to see the status of all connections that are available on the computer.
“Wireless connectivity” is what will be important to us. If the label is not colored, but gray, it means there is no signal. You can start the connection by double-clicking the left mouse button. After startup, the computer begins to search for all available connections.
If they do not appear, then you can try to perform system diagnostics. It is carried out through the “Network Center” and the “Change adapter settings” item. To the label " Wireless connection"You need to right-click. In the window that opens, click the “Diagnostics” field. The computer runs the test on its own. Based on the result of the check, the user receives advice on further actions.
What to do if a hardware error occurs
A hardware error would indicate a problem directly within the network card. In a word, if the computer does not see the adapter for connecting to Wi-Fi, it means that this Wi-Fi device is not functioning. There are two main reasons:
the device is broken;
There was a problem with the wifi drivers.
The second option has already been described by us. However, if Wi-Fi drivers are available, but the computer continues not to see the adapter, this means a breakdown. One of the most common causes of failure is the device burning out.
The cause of combustion may be overheating if the computer operates at its maximum capacity for a long time. If we are dealing with a laptop, then this happens even more often, since many users forget the device on a soft surface that blocks access to the hole through which air flows for cooling. This problem can be solved by simply replacing components with similar ones.
It is worth keeping in mind that a lack of experience in independently manipulating computers can lead to even more detrimental consequences. This is especially true for laptops that have a more complex design. The best way out from the situation there will be an appeal to service center, they will accurately determine the reason why the device does not work.
Hardware connection errors also include a disconnected antenna. Most often, this problem occurs in laptops or desktop computers that have been cleaned or repaired in some way. The specialist who carried out the procedure could simply have forgotten to connect the device, or he connected it incorrectly. This makes it impossible for the adapter to function normally, as it does not work normally and cannot normally catch the signal distributed by the router, even if it is close to the source.
A rather rare case is the antenna terminals becoming clogged with dust. This breaks internal contact. The solution to the problem is cleaning.
Why does the Wi-Fi router not distribute the Internet?
The connection problems described above relate to malfunctions in the computers themselves. But often there are problems that are related to the way the router works (or, more precisely, rather does not work) and does not distribute the Internet.
There are two main problems:
inability to establish a wireless connection;
lack of access when connected.
The listed failures can be easily resolved independently, without resorting to the services of specialists.
How to solve wireless connection problem
Testing how the router works begins by checking the status of the indicators that are located on the external panel of the router. During normal operation, the LED near the antenna pattern will remain lit or blinking. If there is no light at all, this means that the wireless module is not running on the router. On certain models there is a separate button that can be accidentally turned off by one of the family members.
The lack of a button makes solving the problem a little more difficult. You need to go to the “Wireless Network” section located in the router’s web interface. In the English menu this section is called “Wireless”. There is a checkmark next to the “Enable” box (in English – “Enable”). A click of the mouse can solve the problem.
It is possible that when the device does not distribute the Internet, the malfunction is related to the radio channel used. Most router models have an automatic configuration feature. If it is missing, you can try installing channel 1 or 6. They are the ones that should be suitable for our country.
It happens that it becomes impossible to connect to a wireless network, because the network displays a message about the incorrect password. It's worth checking the security settings in the web interface. The encryption type set must be AES. The general security standard is WPA2-PSK.
How to solve the problem if there is no access when there is a connection
Quite often it happens that the connection begins to take place, but the process itself takes a long time. The status shows the message “Receiving IP”. After some time the connection is lost.
This means that network clients cannot obtain an address because the DHCP server is disabled. You can check this through the settings in local network. You will need the LAN section, where there should be a checkmark next to the DCHP parameter.
Access problems may arise due to incorrect operation of DNS servers. Incorrect assignment of them for network clients or complete lack of assignment, as well as unstable operation of servers are the three main reasons.
The solution to the elimination problem is as follows. You need to use public DNS. They are provided by Yandex and Google. In the first case, you need to enter 77.88.8.8 in the settings, and for Google this value is 8.8.8.8. The data is entered on the computer in the Internet Protocol properties of any version of TCP/IP.
Conclusion
All of the above are troubles that you can get rid of yourself. In any other situations, it would be better to contact the provider’s technical support or professional technicians.
In this article we will tell you about such interesting case. Our computer has Windows 8. A specific problem arose with WI-FI.
Here we have such an asterisk on WI-FI, “no connection, there are available connections.”
We are opening WI-FI. We see an available connection. And in theory, when we click on it, we should have a connection, but we see that a circle appears that it is trying to connect and then nothing happens.
First of all, we go to the Network and Sharing Center. Click change adapter settings. And we thought that the problem was in the settings, but our settings are automatic.
Let's now try to do some troubleshooting. Then click Network adapters and click Next. We see that problems are being discovered.
The Select a network adapter for diagnostics window appears and we click Wireless network and click Next.
And we see that our problem is not fixed.
That is, the troubleshooting module did not help us at all. Nothing started working for us.
Let's now go to the control panel. This is the upper right corner - parameters - control panel.
Among the small icons we find the device manager. Click on it.
And here we see that in the device manager we have an unknown device with an exclamation mark. Let's try to remove this.
Let's now try to connect. Still nothing happens. This didn't help either.
Let's try to remove the WI-FI adapter. We take it and delete it.
Now let's try to search for drivers. Click Update hardware configuration. And he, of course, updated the hardware configuration, but now we will have to download the drivers from the website.
We came with you to the site. Now we are looking for laptops.
In the product search window, enter the brand of our laptop.
So we see that he found our laptop. Let's move on to it. And click next.
Below we see Networks and find the Ralink 802 Adapter. Load the drivers.
We see that our drivers have already been downloaded. Let's launch them.
The installation has started. Click Next. Archive it where we offer it to you, click Next.
And we see that the installation has begun.
The following window appeared:
And we click Delete all.
Removal is complete.
So, let's go to our drive C. Find the required driver. And click Setup.
Click Finish. This installed the drivers. Now we need to reboot our laptop. Now we will reboot it and then see if WI-FI starts working for us.
That's it, we've rebooted. The adapter has a yellow exclamation mark on. This means that the drivers did not fit or there are some problems.
And we clicked Search for software online. Now he is looking for software from us. Maybe he’ll find it and download it online.
That's it, the update has passed. So he said that he downloaded the drivers and that now the drivers for this device do not need to be updated.
But at the same time, we still have an exclamation mark.
Let's click Properties. We see that it writes “Failed to load driver.”
Let's try installing DriverPack. We find it and launch it.
He is now checking the configuration of our laptop.
It found uninstalled drivers. Let's click install drivers if found. We see that the drivers are called the same.
We see a window “Do you want to restart your computer now?” and we click Cancel. And still we go into a reboot.
As you can see, no matter what we did, the wireless network was not configured in any way. In our case, only reinstalling Windows helped. After Windows 8, we installed Windows 7. And WI-FI now works. And there were some problems with the operating system itself.
That is, if you have the same problem, then you can safely reinstall windows. We hope everything was clear and wish you good luck.
If you have any questions, we suggest you watch the following video:
Hello friends! Wi-Fi Internet Now you won’t surprise anyone, it is in almost every office, store, cafe and is actively appearing in homes. A large selection of routers and their low price only contribute to such an active installation of wireless access points. Almost everyone can afford to buy a router and install it at home, because it is very convenient and not expensive.
And if routers have become very popular, then the question of setting up, connecting, breaking, etc. of these same routers has become relevant. If I have already written a lot of articles on connection, settings and various errors, which you can read in the “ “ category, then today I want to talk about the most popular failures Wi-Fi router ov and give some tips that will help you fix the device, or simply determine the cause.
There are a lot of comments left on this site about various problems with routers. And very often the cause of some error is not the settings (as many people think), namely technical problems in the router itself (in the hardware).Today I want to talk about problems that appear unexpectedly. How is this? Well, the router worked great, distributed Wi-Fi, made everyone happy :), and then it stopped working. It doesn’t matter how it stopped working completely, or simply not how it should work. The main thing is that it used to work well and stopped working on its own (You haven't changed any settings).
It’s just that the problems that appear during the first setup of the router most likely arise due to incorrect settings.
The router does not respond to connection to the power grid
I'm sorry, but your router is most likely completely dead. On every router (well, or almost every one) There are performance indicators.
And if these indenters do not light up when you connect the device to a socket, then this is very bad.
What can be done?
Well, first check if there is a power off button on the router. There is such a button on the TP-LINK TL-MR3220:
If the button is on, then you need to check the power supply, it may be the problem. Typically, power supplies burn out more often than the routers themselves. Perhaps your neighbors have the same router, run and ask for a couple of minutes.
If the device still does not work, return it under warranty. And if there is no warranty, then it is better to throw it away and buy a new one than to send it for paid repairs. Although, you can take it to a workshop, perhaps the repair will not cost very much.
Why does this happen?
For many reasons. There may be a manufacturing defect, but most likely the router burned out due to unstable voltage in the network, a thunderstorm, or moisture. If possible, connect the router through a voltage stabilizer. Well, or just turn it off when you see that there is going to be a thunderstorm.
This was the most severe case, now let's look at milder breakdowns.
The router has stopped working and does not provide internet access
If a problem suddenly arises with Wi-Fi, for example, all devices stop connecting to the router, there is a connection, but the Internet does not work, etc. then do not rush to throw your router out the window :).
First you need to find out that the problem is really with the router, and not with the device you are trying to connect. How? Just try connecting another device (laptop, tablet, phone). If only one device does not connect, then the problem is most likely in it. Well, you understand what I mean.
The problem is in the router, what needs to be checked and how to solve the problem?
- Don’t rush to immediately go into the router settings and change something there right away. Otherwise you set it up in such a way that it definitely won’t work. Believe me, I’m not just writing this :).
- Reboot your router. Restart your computer (phone, tablet).
- Call your provider and ask if there are any problems on their end. Explain your problem to them. Perhaps the Internet is not working due to problems with the provider’s equipment.
- Check whether your Internet is paid for and whether it is active (You can also ask your provider for this).
- Check all connections. Internet cable that connects to the router. It is advisable to check this cable outside the apartment (house). Perhaps your cable was simply cut. On purpose or by accident - this happens.
- Look at the router case, maybe there are some interesting buttons that someone accidentally switched. For example, there may be a button to disable the Wi-Fi module. If you click it, devices will not see your wireless network.
- Go to the router settings and see if the settings have been lost. This may happen and the Internet will not work. Especially, check the WAN tab, where the settings from the provider are. If they fail, set them up again. Here is an article for you as an example
- Try changing the channel in the router settings. Here is a detailed article. How might this affect strange Wi-Fi problems? Perhaps your neighbors have installed a router and more than one, I will introduce neighbors above, below, on the sides. And just all the channels (or the one you are on) busy. That's when problems begin that are even difficult to explain.
Have you tried everything and nothing helps?
Then, I advise you to send the router for repair, again under warranty. And if there is no guarantee, then pay for repairs, or buy a new one. Before doing this, you can ask a friend who understands this matter (if there is one) so that he can look at the router, settings and connection.
Real case. My TP-LINK TL-MR3220 router worked great for several months. Then, suddenly it stopped detecting the 3G modem connection. I connected different modems, the modem gets power, but it does not appear in the control panel. I tried everything, even the special firmware that TP-LINK support sent me - it didn’t help. You can read more in the article.
What I mean is that if a technical problem occurs in the router (something will burn out there), this does not mean that it simply will not turn on. It may work, but it won't work as intended. And it can take a very long and painful time to configure, flash, check, etc.
Don't suffer. You paid money for this device. Call support from the router manufacturer and explain the problem to them. I'm sure no one will give you best advice than them.
If support cannot help over the phone, they will advise you to apply for warranty coverage (if there is one). And then it’s up to you to decide whether to go for repairs or buy a new device.
Best wishes!
Also on the site:
Why did the Internet stop working via the Wi-Fi router? Major router failures updated: August 9, 2013 by: admin
Question from a user
Good afternoon.
Tell me what can be done - a yellow exclamation mark often appears on my laptop, indicating Wi-Fi without access to the Internet.
After a while it disappears, but constantly waiting for the network gets boring. I'm thinking of buying a cable to connect the laptop to the router directly (but then there will be no mobility) ...
Alexandra.
Good afternoon everyone.
The described problem with accessing the Internet via Wi-Fi is not that uncommon (I think that most Wi-Fi users have encountered it more than once, and will continue to encounter it...). It occurs for many reasons, and I will analyze the most basic of them in this article (so to speak, I will give recommendations for restoring the network). So...
How to restore Internet access via Wi-Fi
The appearance of the error is shown in the screenshot below - a yellow exclamation mark lights up in the tray on the Wi-Fi icon; if you move the mouse pointer over it, you will see a characteristic message. Also, users often find out that something is wrong with the network when they try to open some web page - and instead they see a message in the browser that the resource is unavailable (and this happens with all sites).
An example of an error: when you hover over the Wi-Fi icon, Windows reports that the connection is without Internet access...
Now about the decision...
Try rebooting your router and laptop
Oh... For many problems with your computer, it is recommended to restart it. And this time is no exception either (this error often occurs after the computer wakes up from sleep mode (hibernation). The fact is that after waking up from hibernation, Windows “thinks” that it is working with the old IP address, but the router has already given it a new one - and in As a result of this lack of agreement, connection problems are observed) ...
To reboot the router, you can use a special button on the device’s case, or simply disconnect its power supply from the network for a while.
I note that in case of many connection problems, such a forced reboot helps to quickly restore network functionality...
Important!
By the way, I highly recommend checking whether there is Internet on other devices using this Wi-Fi network - on a tablet, phone, etc. This will help you understand whether the problem is in the laptop (with Windows), or a problem with the router or provider.
Diagnose problems
Windows (at least 10) has very smart network diagnostics, which many people underestimate. Meanwhile, by running it, you can correct the lion's share of errors, and at least roughly know “where to dig”...
And so, click on the icon Wi-Fi connections right-click and select (see screenshot below).
Next, the wizard will start: it will automatically check all the parameters, correct errors, restart the adapter (if necessary), and at the end of its work it will give you a message: that everything is in order and I have fixed the network, or indicate some kind of problem.
For example, in my case, the diagnostic result is “The DNS server is not responding.” This error occurs most often when there are problems with your Internet provider, or there is a break in the communication channel. For example, if you cut the network cable at the entrance (or simply remove the Internet cable from your router), you will see the same error...
Remark!
The article will tell you what to do if DNS servers do not respond (Internet failure and sites do not open) -
Check that your network cable is ok
This advice follows from the previous point. First, take a look at the router itself: if everything is in order with it, one way or another, the LEDs on it should be lit and blinking (try disconnecting the Internet cable from the router, and then connecting it again - the number of lit/blinking LEDs should change, provided that everything is in order with the network cable) .
In addition, check the Internet cable from your PC to the entrance area. It is not at all uncommon for the cable to be chewed by pets or local “ghouls” to cut the cable in the entrance.
Is there a problem with your Internet provider?
Many users are in no hurry to call the provider, meanwhile, at the other end they can very quickly tell you whether everything is in order (which means you can quickly figure out whether it’s worth continuing to look for problems at home).
By the way, problems on the provider’s side are not that uncommon. You can find out about major interruptions on the provider's forums (or official websites. By the way, in these cases it is difficult to reach him by phone - they usually hang up).
Also, the provider may change the settings, forgetting to notify you (or you ignored the notification).
Try registering DNS Google or Yandex. Check your network connection settings.
Often, when the Internet is not available due to a failure of the DNS servers (in this case, most often, applications such as Skype, torrents, etc. work, but the pages do not open in the browser).
In this case, try registering DNS servers from Google or Yandex. Their stability will be higher than the DNS of many providers in our country, which means access to the Internet will be more stable...
To register DNS, you need to open the properties of the wireless connection. I'll look at it in order...
First you need to open a list of all network connections on your PC. To do this you need:
- press Win+R;
- enter ncpa.cpl ;
- press Enter.
How to view network connections in Windows 7/8/10
By the way, you may have more than one connection (as in my case), but several (you need to select the wireless option, if the English name is "Wireless...") .
After that, open properties "IP version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" . See screenshot below.
Next, you need to move one slider to the “Obtain an IP address automatically” mode (check this network connection setting!); the other one, related to DNS, is set to the “Use the following DNS server addresses” mode - and register DNS from Google 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (or from Yandex 77.88.8.8). See the screenshot below.
Save the settings and check the network functionality.
Check your router settings
Wi-Fi without an Internet connection often occurs due to a faulty router settings. Or, alternatively, your Internet service provider may have changed the settings required to access the network. For example, not long ago I was faced with the fact that my provider changed the login for accessing the Internet via the PPPoE protocol (the sad thing is that no one notified about this... Therefore, in the previous steps, I recommended asking the provider if everything is okay...) .
In general, setting up a router is a separate and big topic. Therefore, in this step I will provide a couple of links to my articles on this topic. I recommend checking it out.
How to connect and configure a new Wi-Fi router yourself - instructions with pictures -
How to enter the router settings, and what to do if the settings do not open -
Test your network without antivirus or firewall
Well, the last thing I recommend is to temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall. This, of course, happens infrequently, but still, it happens that for security reasons and care for the user, they block the network (Especially, the Norton IS antivirus used to sin with this when setting the maximum level of protection. Apparently, they restricted the user from everything where it was hypothetically possible to pick up an infected file).
Most modern antiviruses can be disabled via their tray icon. For example, with Avast antivirus - this is done simply: just select the item "Manage Avast Screens" - and then specify the time for which the antivirus will be disabled. Everything is simple and fast...
To disable the firewall built into Windows, first go to control Panel . Next you need to open the section " System and security" , then “Windows Defender Firewall” (see screenshot below).
Then click on the menu on the left "Turn the firewall on or off...".
Set all sliders to mode and save the settings.
After checking and setting Wi-Fi connections, both antivirus and firewall are recommended to be turned on (and adjust them accordingly if they were causing Wi-Fi instability. For example, you can reduce the security level they provide from maximum to medium) .
Additions on the topic are welcome (constructive criticism too).