Troubleshoot Wi-Fi Problems
Edited by Vanessa Alexandra Avisado, Lynn, Inukshuk
Imagine waiting for that hot new music video or watching live streaming of the Super Bowl when all off a sudden you lose your internet connection. Do you immediately call for tech support and wait a long time before getting an agent on the line, or do you want to know simple tips to get your internet back on line in no time? This article will teach you some steps to troubleshoot WiFi problems.
Contents
NO WIRELESS CONNECTION
- 1Make sure your wireless connection is turned on.Look for the function key or switch on your computer to turn it on or off. You may have accidentally turned it off without realizing it. Check your power management settings as well. Go to your device's power options and change the settings, so low battery triggers won't disable your wireless adapter. For those using a USB wireless adapter, check to make sure it's plugged in properly.
Advertisement - 2Eliminate all possible interference.Physical obstructions such as walls, Windows, furniture, cordless phones, microwave ovens, and others can significantly affect your signal strength. Stay as close as possible to your signal source or put the wireless router in your home's central location.
Advertisement - 3Restart your access point.Restart your router or access point to enable you to connect. Disturbances such as foul weather can reset your wireless equipment. Try connecting using the default setting of your wireless router. Check your manufacturer's manual for proper instructions on how to do it. If you're able to get in, you may need to set up another custom setting, such as essential WPA wireless security.
- 4Find the Service Station Identifier.Generally, your computer will tell you other available wireless networks so you can choose which one you'd like to connect to. However, oftentimes these wireless networks do not show their SSID to non-customers. You will have to ask the owner for it so you can add this to your new wireless network.
- 5Check your ability to automatically obtain gateway and IP settings.Check your TCP/IP settings to know if your adapter is obtaining settings coming from the DHCP server automatically. This will allow your computer and other devices to join the network, and you don't have to manually set up your IP address.
- 6Make sure your OS and card drivers are updated.Network connections can also be attributed to driver issues. It's either your driver is outdated, your brand new driver is suffering from glitches, or your router is undergoing some recent upgrade. Do a system update first for your network adapter and your OS. Also, try to check for updates in your firmware by visiting your router's website.
- 7Allow your computer to fix the problem.Your OS can try and repair these issues for you. Simply right-click on the icon for network connections on your status bar and select "repair" or "diagnose and repair".
Frequent signal drop out
- 1Other wireless networks around you can also cause interference. What you can do is change the channel your wireless router is using. Utilities such as NetStumbler will let you know what other channels nearby are available so you can choose another one for your WiFi network. Make sure you follow your router's instructions manual in order to get administrative controls. You will be LED to a section wherein you can select a channel of your choice.Advertisement
- 2Make use of a wireless repeater. If you're always having problems because you're too far from your wireless access point, you can try getting a wireless extender or repeater so you can extend your wireless network's range. These signal amplifiers cause around $50 and up, depending on the brand and distributor of the networking product.
Tips on fixing iPhone WiFi Issues
- 1Your iPhone WiFi has greyed out. This is one of the most common connectivity problems reported about the iPhone's WiFi. There are times when this firmware version overheats, and when it does, the WiFi chip is automatically disabled. As soon as the chip is disabled, your iPhone will grey out totally. So go to the Settings app and make sure your Airplane Mode is disabled. Then go to General > Reset, and tap "Reset Network Settings". You can now restart your iPhone. To do so, press and hold the Sleep and Home buttons until your iPhone screen turns black. If this didn't make any difference at all and you're still greyed out, you may need to upgrade to the latest iOS version.
2
You can't connect to a WiFi network. Your iPhone is still operational, but you can't connect to any WiFi network. Here's what you do. Make sure you're connecting to the right network using the right password. Be careful with those that are case-sensitive, have special characters and/or include numbers. If this doesn't work, reset your network settings by going to General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
3
Your iPhone always drops out the WiFi connection. You need to make sure that your signal is strong enough, and if it's not, then get closer to the WiFi router. It can be that the problem is not your iPhone, but your Internet Service Provider or WiFi router. Other devices connected to the network may also experience the same problem. If your signal strength is not an issue, but your iPhone still drops the WiFi network, go to Settings > WiFi, then tap the arrow beside the problematic WiFi network. Tap on "Renew Lease". If it still doesn't work, tap on "Forget this Network" button. By doing this, though, you will have to reconfigure your iPhone's desired WiFi network. After doing all these and you're still experiencing dropping connection, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
4
You don't have web access, despite having connected your iPhone to WiFi. If the connections you have are coming from your WiFi network at home, check if your other devices connected to the same network have access to the internet. If so, tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. If none of your devices have net access despite being connected to the same network, switch off your router and don't turn it back on for another 30 seconds. Then turn the device back on and wait until your WiFi signal comes back. In a large majority of cases, turning your WiFi off and on does the trick in restoring the network settings of your router. Make sure to check your manual first before doing any resetting. Still, if do all these things to no avail, you can directly contact Apple or schedule a visit to your local Apple Store.
Knowing how to troubleshoot WiFi problems does not have to be as frustrating as it sounds. You may even enjoy doing it once you discover you have the knack for it. Besides, it feels good to fix something that even your dad and older brother cannot. Good luck!
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.
