Wi-Fi works but I can't connect: solutions

On many occasions when trying to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi there may be a problem. The most normal thing is that it is simply a bad coverage when we are very far from the access point. There may also be network saturation. But on other occasions we could find ourselves with the problem of not even being able to connect and navigate. We know that the Internet works, but our equipment does not connect. We are going to explain how to fix problems when Wi-Fi works and we can’t connect .

What to do if Wi-Fi works but the computer does not connect

This is something that can happen with our computer at any given time. It could be a bad configuration, some conflict with the drivers, malware… The causes behind this problem are different. It could be something momentary or also permanent. We are going to explain some important points to be able to connect to Wi-Fi if we know that it works but we do not have a connection. A variety of solutions that could help us to have a normal connection and save any possible problems that may exist.

It basically means that the Wi-Fi network works fine and we can use it with another device, but it doesn’t connect from a specific one. It is important to go through a few steps to verify that everything is in order and to find out what may be the reason why it does not work as it should.

check password

Something we can do is check that we have entered the password correctly . It is a basic but very frequent error. Maybe we have put the Wi-Fi password wrong, we have saved it and we do not have Internet for that reason. We connect from any other computer where we have put it correctly and it works.

It could also happen that we have the correct password, but we have chosen an incorrect encryption . We already know that there are different types of encryption, such as WEP, WPA2… It is important that we are using the correct one and that there has not been a bad configuration that is causing problems with the key.

forget network

Sometimes there could be a bad network configuration , a conflict not only with the password, and we can solve this by clicking Forget network. To do this we have to go to the Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar, select the network that interests us, click with the second mouse button and click Stop remembering.

Once this is done we will simply have to connect again, entering the password again. In this way we could avoid some problems and that you can connect normally.

change the band

Are we connected to the wrong band ? Maybe that’s the problem. As we know, modern devices can connect to both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band as well. Each of them is better in certain circumstances.

If, for example, we are connected to the 5 GHz band and we are very far from the access point, there could be problems establishing the connection. Hence we need to switch to the other band and see if it works better. We could even be connected but without access to the network.

Something similar can happen if we use the 2.4 GHz band, but in this case generally due to interference problems. It may happen that we have another device nearby that causes problems. For example a device that uses the Bluetooth connection or even a microwave. In both cases they will use a frequency very similar to that used by Wi-Fi in the 2.4 GHz band.

Restart router and computer

Another basic question is to simply restart both the router and our equipment. This solution is very common and it should always be carried out when we have a problem of this type. Sometimes the simplest thing turns out to be the most effective.

In the first case, the router must be restarted correctly: we must turn off the device and keep it like this for at least 30 seconds so that the restart is correct. Later we reconnect everything and see if the problem has been solved. If we turn it off and on instantly we will not be restarting properly. An IP conflict may occur, for example, and a reboot may be required for the connection to be established correctly again.

If you are not connecting directly to the router, but are connecting via a repeater, you should also reset it in case it has any synchronization issues. Perhaps you do not have access to the network because that device has stopped working correctly and simply turning it off and on again solves it.

update network card

It could also happen that the network card drivers are out of date. If we have recently installed the operating system or a new version, there may be conflicts and that translates into problems connecting to Wi-Fi.

To update the network card we have to go to Start, we write Device Manager, then we enter Network adapters and there we select the one that interests us, which would be the wireless network card. We click with the second mouse button and click on update. It is important that we always have the latest firmware versions installed, both to improve performance, new device features, and also to avoid security problems that may affect us. We can also do this aspect from the support page provided by the device brands, where we can find the most current version of the drivers, along with previous versions. The latter is not the most recommended, unless we have to install it on an old computer,

reset network

If all this that we have mentioned has not solved the problem, another point to take into account is to restore the network. It is a simple process that we can carry out in Windows. To do this we have to go to Start, enter Settings, access Network and Internet, Status and there we look for the Network Reset option , which appears below.

What we achieve with this option is to remove and reset all network adapters and return to the original configuration. It allows us to avoid problems that we have caused and that result in a malfunction of the connection.

Are we connected to an offline hotspot?

It is quite common that we have Wi-Fi amplifiers, Mesh systems and other devices that allow us to take the connection to other corners of the home. However, these access points sometimes do not work well. They may have a bad configuration, they are too far from the router and therefore do not have a connection or any other problem that prevents other computers that connect from having a correct connection.

Therefore, we must check if we are connected to an access point that has no connection . We can try connecting to another access point or to the router itself. This way we will see if the problem is not from that specific computer, but from where we are connecting. One more step that we can easily carry out.

Generally this occurs due to having the devices in a dead zone. This is how it is known to places where the signal does not reach or is very limited and does not allow a connection to be established normally. You can always try to improve this issue by better locating the repeater or connecting it to the router via cable and not Wi-Fi.

Check network settings

Check your wireless network settings, as many routers today use dual-band technology to extend router range and Wi-Fi speeds. That means your router allows Wi-Fi communication via 2.4GHz channels or 5GHz channels.

However, your router settings could have changed without us noticing and require our device to use a specific channel, sometimes these channels appear as separate Wi-Fi networks on your device. your phone or laptop may try to connect to a specific channel that appears to be available, but is not the network connection that your router now requires. Check which channel your router is using by logging into your router’s web interface.

Once you find out if your router is set to a specific channel, you can also reset which channel your router uses, resetting the channel can fix connection issues caused by a congested Wi-Fi channel, on most routers. 2.4 GHz come with a default channel of 6, but you can change the channel by logging into the router’s control panel using the router’s IP address.

Check if the connection requires validation using a web login

On many occasions, and more today, there are many companies, both public and private, or restaurants, airports, among others, that provide us with an open or courtesy Wi-Fi network. But, at the same time, it is restricted by means of a previous authentication or login step of this connection through a web page that requires a username and password that they usually provide us with.

When this is the case, normally, although we can see the access point and it seems to us that we are connected, but even so we cannot navigate, it is possible that we need this type of authentication as a prior step to having the internet connection correctly enabled and be able to navigate without any problem.

If you are not sure that authentication is necessary, what you should do is consult the company personnel who are present. Normally, these types of doubts are usually clarified at the information booth, where it is also likely that, if credentials are needed, They will provide them and guide you to enter them correctly.

Try another device or a different Wi-Fi adapter

If for example you are having problems with a specific device such as your mobile or your laptop, it is always a good idea to carry out tests with different devices, the idea is to check if the connection is not working for any device at all or if it is not working for any particular device.

With this check, you will be able to know if the problem lies in any of the devices you are using or if it does not work on any, then you can guarantee that the problem is somewhere in the connection and not in a specific device.

If you are connecting, for example, to a Wi-Fi repeater, sometimes they tend to fail, try connecting to a different point or directly to the router to check if that access point or repeater is failing, or if the failure is already occurring originating directly from the router.

Check the SSID of your network adapter

Check that the SSID of your wireless network adapter is available and what is its status, if your network adapter says “Not Connected”, click “Connect”, one of two things may be happening, if you are unable to connect to your network, you may need to debug your wireless network configuration (an advanced technical troubleshooting issue).

Or, its status may say “Acquiring network address” or “Authenticating”, if that happens you may need to click “Diagnose” to fix an IP address issue.

Limit of connected devices

All routers have a theoretical maximum capacity in terms of the number of computers that can use a Wi-Fi network simultaneously. It is limited by the number of IP addresses it can supply, which can go up to 253. But this is what theory tells us, as we will actually be able to connect far fewer devices. Although this depends a lot on the power of the router, where some may be a little more permissive, in general the quality of the connection is greatly devalued when too many devices are connected. Let’s not forget that this is talking about a domestic level. On the other hand, if we look at public places like airports, they usually accept many devices.

In order to see the limit of devices that can be connected, we will have to access the configuration of our router and check it. In turn, we can also make a change to this number, so that the connected devices can be limited. Therefore, if the router is limited, the Wi-Fi network may appear in the list, but we will not be able to connect.

In general, the fewer devices that are connected, the better for the quality of the network. In any case, with fiber optic networks, we can tolerate between 15 and 20 devices simultaneously. In this way the network, being affected, will not decay in a very abrupt way. From these figures, we could begin to lose quality in terms of speed and latency. The latter will depend especially on the use that is being given to the terminals. Activities such as watching videos, which require more connection capacity, can greatly affect other users, since the necessary bandwidth can range from 0.5Mbps to 25Mbps.

reset the router

It is possible that after reviewing all the previous options, we have to carry out something stronger. And in this case it happens to reset the router. This will cause all your settings to be erased, so if the problem stems from this, it will go away. Resetting the router is far from bad for the device. On the contrary, it is likely that many problems will be fixed.

This can be done in two different ways. The first is using the physical button that all devices of this style have, or through its configuration. The latter requires access to the router’s menus. If we opt for the physical button, we will have to find a small hole to insert a clip. It must be left pressed for a few seconds, either directly stipulated by the manufacturer or waiting for the lights to blink.

On the contrary, with the other method it will be necessary to enter the web server of the device. We will have to look for a menu in the configuration section and look for it in its administration. As soon as it is reset, what we will do is make all the settings that have been applied disappear. So the passwords, ports, DMZ or network names will be deleted. We would have to do it all over again if we want it to continue as before. But many can export configuration profiles, which can then be imported for direct application. Saving the necessary time that may be required to have everything the same as before.

There is no specific time interval to restart the router or to reset it. But it is likely that at some point errors like this and others will start to appear. Even at some point, more frequent reboots may be necessary. Therefore, there are some indicators that it may be advisable to reset the router.

Update all devices

As we have seen before, updating the network adapter can be one of the problems that we are going to encounter in these cases. But the truth is that it is not the only thing that is necessary to keep fully updated. This is something that is very important in all the devices that make up our network. As long as possible, updating the computer and the router can solve many problems for us. At the same time, it can give us many added benefits, which improve the quality of the connection and provide us with new features that we did not have before.

In general, we can find four great reasons to make updates. Troubleshooting, compatibility, performance and new features. All of them are part of the update process of any equipment, and the most common is that sooner or later, it is necessary to update practically any equipment. As we have said, this is something that can solve many problems for us, and this is because these can even be derived from compatibility. If we think of an Operating System, all the components and software must be perfectly combined so that everything works properly.

But this in some cases does not work as it should. And that’s where our problems can come from. The reasons why they can occur are very diverse, so keeping everything updated is the best option. Another problem we would have would be that the components are no longer compatible. This happens, especially with old hardware. And they are cases where we will not be able to do anything, because the firmwares are prepared for this to be the case. Nor is it something that is done randomly, but rather it is important to be able to develop other more modern, efficient and safe products. Which makes the problems that we can find less.

Check hardware

There are various hardware issues that can affect Internet access over a Wi-Fi connection. Among others, the most common are:

Router issues: The router is the central device that controls the Wi-Fi connection. If there is something wrong with the router, such as a hardware malfunction, the Internet connection via Wi-Fi may be affected. This could manifest as an intermittent connection, slow speed, or the inability to connect to the Internet.
Damaged antennas: Many Wi-Fi routers have external antennas that help transmit and receive wireless signals. If one or both antennas are damaged or misplaced, the quality of the Wi-Fi signal may be affected, which can lead to a loss of Internet connection or an unstable connection.
Wireless network card issues: In both mobile devices and laptops, the wireless network card is responsible for connecting to the Wi-Fi network. If there is something wrong with the network card, such as an outdated or damaged driver, it may not be possible to access the Internet via Wi-Fi.
Electromagnetic Interference: Electromagnetic interference, such as that caused by nearby electronic devices, can weaken the Wi-Fi signal and make it difficult to access the Internet. Some devices that can cause interference include microwave ovens, cordless phones, and other nearby routers. Locating the router away from these devices and using less congested frequency channels can help reduce interference.
Faulty cabling: Although the Internet connection via Wi-Fi is wireless, the router still requires a physical connection through cables to receive the Internet signal. If the cables are damaged or misconnected, this can affect the ability of the router to receive and transmit the signal correctly, resulting in a poor or no Internet connection.
Problems with client devices: Devices trying to connect to the Wi-Fi network may also experience hardware problems that affect their ability to access the Internet. This could include issues with the device’s wireless network card, firmware issues or outdated drivers, or even issues with the device’s operating system.

Failures with installed programs

We have mainly talked about some common errors in the configuration, using the wrong band or simply at the hardware level rebooting the devices. But it may happen that the failure is due to something that we have installed. This is usually an antivirus, firewall or even any program that has actually put malware on us.

Check that there is no malware

There are many security threats that can compromise our equipment and this could also affect the Wi-Fi network. If we know that the network works correctly but our computer does not connect, one of the causes may be that we have some type of virus on the computer. Perhaps you have recently downloaded a file or installed a program and that has caused problems of this type.

We can use an antivirus to perform an in-depth scan and detect malicious software that is damaging the operation of the equipment. There are many tools that we have at our disposal for this, both free and paid. However, our advice is to correctly choose what we are going to install on our system, since if we opt for an inappropriate alternative, we could not be properly protected.

For example, we can name Windows Defender, which is the antivirus that comes with Windows, but also other very popular ones such as Bitdefender, Avast or Kaspersky. With all of them we can do an analysis and see if something is causing these failures.

See if the firewall or antivirus is interfering

Although we have indicated that using security programs can be very useful to avoid problems of this type, we could also find the opposite case: that antivirus or firewall is interfering and does not allow us to connect.

In this case we would have to analyze the configuration and see if any of these programs is causing problems. We can simply choose to pause them momentarily and try to connect to Wi-Fi and see if that solves the problem. Once the error is detected, we could choose to install a different program or touch the configuration in some way that allows us to navigate normally.

It is not a good idea to have two antiviruses running on the same system. For example, many users keep Windows Defender and, at the same time, install another application thinking that they will be more protected. This, beyond protecting security, what can cause failures to appear when using certain programs or system components. It is better to have only one antivirus and always opt for a reliable alternative, such as Microsoft’s own, Avast, Bitdefender, etc.

VPN can cause network failures

One more point that we must take into account is if we are using a VPN . These types of tools are very useful and allow us to browse the Internet with more privacy. We can use them to hide the real IP address and be able to access geographically restricted content, for example. However, it could also be the cause of failures when trying to connect, in case there is a bad configuration.

We can momentarily pause the VPN and see if the problem is solved. We can also see the configuration in case there is a misconfigured parameter. But generally when this problem appears it is because you are using a program that does not work well and is not guaranteed. We always recommend using a reliable option that protects our data correctly and does not appear failures. For example NordVPN or ExpressVPN are some alternatives to consider.

Wi-Fi works but I can’t connect: solutions