Start with the simplest fixes first
Most WiFi connection problems come from something you can fix in under a minute. Before you restart your router or call for help, check three things: whether WiFi is actually turned on in your computer's settings, whether you are typing the correct password, and whether you are close enough to the router that the signal reaches.
On Windows, open Settings, go to Network & Internet, and look at WiFi. The toggle should say "On". On Mac, click the WiFi icon in the top-right corner of the screen — if it shows a line through it, WiFi is off. For the password, remember that it is case-sensitive, meaning capital letters matter. If you have not changed it since you set up the router, the default password is usually on a sticker attached to the router itself.
Signal strength matters more than most people realize. If you are in a different room from the router, or if the router is inside a cabinet, try moving closer. Walls, metal objects, and microwaves can block the signal. If moving closer fixes the problem, you may need to relocate your router to a more central location in your home.
Key Takeaways
- Check that WiFi is turned on in your computer settings and that you are typing the password correctly before trying anything else.
- Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plugging it back in — this fixes most connection problems.
- If your computer connects to other networks but not yours, the problem is usually your router, not your computer.
- Forgetting the network and reconnecting forces your computer to re-enter the password and often solves persistent connection issues.
- If nothing works, check whether your router is actually broadcasting a signal by looking for its network name in your available networks list.
Restart your router the right way
Restarting your router fixes the majority of WiFi problems that are not caused by a straightforward setting. Do not just flip the power switch off and on — that does not clear the router's memory. Instead, unplug the power cable from the back of the router, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in. The lights on the front will blink as it restarts. Wait two to three minutes for it to fully come back online before trying to connect.
While you wait, restart your computer as well. Shut it down completely, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This clears your computer's network memory and often resolves conflicts between your computer and the router. Once both devices are fully restarted, try connecting to WiFi again.
Forget the network and reconnect
Your computer stores the password and settings for every network it has ever connected to. Sometimes this stored information becomes corrupted, and your computer cannot reconnect even though the password is correct. Forgetting the network and reconnecting forces your computer to start fresh.
On Windows, go to Settings, then Network & Internet, then WiFi, then Manage Known Networks. Find your network name in the list, click it, and select Forget. Then go back to the available networks list, find your network again, and reconnect by entering the password. On Mac, hold the Option key and click the WiFi icon in the top-right corner. Select "Manage Networks", find your network, click the minus sign to remove it, then reconnect.
Check whether the problem is your computer or your router
If your computer will not connect to your WiFi but other devices in your home connect without trouble, the problem is almost certainly your computer, not the router. If no devices can connect, or if they connect but lose the signal constantly, the problem is your router.
To test this, try connecting your phone or tablet to the same WiFi network. If it connects when ready and stays connected, your router is working. This tells you to focus on fixing your computer's WiFi settings. If your phone also cannot connect, or if it connects but drops the signal, move on to checking your router.
Update your WiFi driver on Windows
Your computer's WiFi driver is the software that lets it talk to the router. If the driver is outdated or corrupted, your computer may not connect even though everything else is working. Windows can usually update this automatically, but you can also do it manually.
Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Look for Network Adapters and click the arrow next to it to expand the list. Find the entry that mentions WiFi or Wireless — it usually has "802.11" or "Wireless" in the name. Right-click it and select Update Driver, then choose Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software. Windows will search for the latest version and install it if one is found. Restart your computer when the update finishes.
If updating does not work, try uninstalling the driver instead. Right-click the same WiFi adapter and select Uninstall Device. Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it starts up, which often fixes corruption that an update alone cannot solve.
Check your router's broadcast settings
Your router broadcasts its network name (called the SSID) so that nearby devices can see it and connect. If the broadcast is turned off, your network will not appear in the available networks list, and you will not be able to connect. This is rare but straightforward to check.
Look at your computer's list of available WiFi networks. On Windows, click the WiFi icon in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar. On Mac, click the WiFi icon in the top-right corner. If you see your network name in the list, the broadcast is on. If you do not see it but you know the network exists, the broadcast may be off. You will need to log into your router's settings to turn it back on. This usually requires opening a web browser, typing your router's IP address (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), and logging in with the admin password — check the sticker on your router for these details.
Check for interference and physical obstructions
WiFi signals travel through the air on specific frequencies, and other devices can interfere with those frequencies. Microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors, and some wireless speakers all operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency that most routers use. If you are using one of these devices near your router, it can weaken or block the signal.
Move your router away from these devices if possible. If you cannot move the router, try moving your computer closer to it, or ask your router's manufacturer whether it supports the 5 GHz frequency, which has less interference. You can also try changing the WiFi channel your router broadcasts on — this is done in the router's settings and can reduce interference from neighboring networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my computer connect to WiFi but the internet does not work?
Your computer is connecting to the router, but the router itself may not have internet. Restart your modem (the device that connects to your internet service provider) by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait two to three minutes for it to restart. If other devices have internet but your computer does not, the problem is likely your computer's network settings, not the router.
My WiFi password is correct, but my computer says it is wrong. What do I do?
Caps Lock may be on, or you may have typed a character incorrectly. Try typing the password in Notepad first so you can see what you are typing, then copy and paste it into the WiFi password field. If that does not work, forget the network and reconnect, which forces your computer to re-enter the password from scratch.
My computer was connected yesterday but will not connect today. What changed?
Restart both your router and your computer. If that does not work, check whether other devices can still connect — if they can, forget the network on your computer and reconnect. If no devices can connect, your router may have lost power or internet, or your internet service provider may be having an outage in your area.
How do I know if my router is broken?
If multiple devices cannot connect, or if they connect but constantly lose the signal, your router may be failing. Try restarting it. If the problem continues, check whether your internet service provider is having an outage by calling them or checking their website. If there is no outage and restarting does not help, the router may need to be replaced.
Can I connect to WiFi using an ethernet cable instead?
Yes. If you have an ethernet cable and access to your router, plug one end into the router and the other into your computer's ethernet port. This bypasses WiFi entirely and often works when WiFi does not. It will not solve the WiFi problem, but it lets you use the internet while you troubleshoot.