Earlier today, my PC suddenly stopped connecting properly to my home Wi-Fi. The network works normally on every other device in the house. I've updated, uninstalled, and reinstalled the wireless drivers, run DNS-flush and other standard Command Prompt fixes, restarted the PC several times, and rebooted the router, but nothing has helped. I've also run multiple virus scans with no threats found. I'm not very tech-savvy and can't tell whether this is a Windows configuration problem, an overheating adapter, or failing hardware. Are there any other troubleshooting steps I should try?
4 Answers
If this is a laptop, check the wireless adapter’s power-management settings and make sure Windows isn’t turning it off to save battery. Also check for a physical Wi-Fi switch or keyboard shortcut. On a desktop, verify that the adapter is firmly seated and that its antennas are attached.
First clarify whether the PC connects to the Wi-Fi but has no internet, or whether it cannot connect at all. If it connects, check whether it receives a normal IP address from DHCP. Then try pinging your router’s gateway address. If that works, test DNS resolution and then an external address such as 8.8.8.8. Those results can show whether the problem is with the adapter, the local network, DNS, or the internet connection.
The wireless card could be overheating or starting to fail, especially if the problem began after a Windows update. Check whether the adapter disappears from Device Manager or shows errors while the connection drops. Trying a cheap USB Wi-Fi adapter is a useful test: if that works reliably, the internal card or its driver is probably the cause.
You can also try changing the router’s Wi-Fi channel and lowering the channel bandwidth. Use a Wi-Fi scanner on your phone to find less crowded channels, then test the PC again. When rebooting the router, unplug it completely for about 30 seconds before powering it back on so it gets a full restart.
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