Wi fi power button. How to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop

People around the world purchase new models of computers or laptops for their personal use every day. But not all professional users know how to set up its work, install various programs, connect their device to the World Wide Web.

In this article, we will try to consider step-by-step instructions on how to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop and on a computer. The principle is the same for all laptops, we will look at how to enable Wi-Fi on several of the most common laptop models, as well as separately on Windows. So. Everything is in order.

How to turn on Wi-Fi on HP laptops

At the initial stage, you need to see in what state the connection to the wireless network is on the laptop at a given time. To do this, look at the icons, they may differ on some HP laptop models. The icon can be located at the top of the panel (the F12 key with the antenna image) or on the taskbar in the lower right corner. If you have an antenna icon and it is lit, then Wi-Fi is connected, if it is not lit, it is off. On some models, an “X” may appear next to the mast icon. In this case, the connection is disconnected.

Having decided on the Wi-Fi connection, if it works, then you can safely go to the Internet, if not, then proceed to further actions.


How to enable Wi-Fi on Asus laptops

Specific control of the Wi-Fi module is a distinctive feature of this model. Basically, connection and disconnection occurs using a special mechanical switch. The switch is in active mode - Internet access is active, and if in inactive mode, it is accordingly disabled.


How to turn on Wi-Fi on Windows

Now let's look at how to access the Internet on Windows. There are several flavors of Windows. You can have Windows 7 or 8, Windows XP or Vista installed on your laptop. We will focus on two: Windows 7 and Windows 8, as they are the most popular at the moment.

How to turn on Wi-Fi on Windows 7

And so what you need to do to enable Wi-Fi on Windows 7:

  1. The very first thing we need to do is go to the "Start" menu and select "Control Panel" there. We select the subsection "Network and Internet" in it. There are also several subsections here, but we need the "Network and Sharing Center". We find it and go in.
  2. You will see a separate window where we find the "Change adapter settings" tab and click on it.
  3. Another window opens. We find the shortcut "Wireless Network Connection". We right-click on this shortcut and in the appeared command "connect / disconnect".
  4. A list of networks will open, where we select the one we need and click connect.

As a rule, the network is protected with a key, so you will have another window open where you will need to enter a password in a certain field.

If you did everything correctly, an icon will appear in the lower right corner of the desktop, indicating that Internet access is active.

How to turn on Wi-Fi on Windows 8

Turn on Wi-Fi on Windows 8:

  • As with connecting a network to Windows 7, initially we perform the same actions: "Start" -\u003e "Control Panel".
  • After we got to the above tab, select "switch to classic view" and find "Network Connection Control Center". You will see a list of programs where we find the "Wireless Network Connection".
  • Next, using the right mouse button, click on the above program and select the "Property" command. This folder should contain "Obtain an IP address automatically". If there is a mark, then press the "OK" button.
  • Then we need to return to the "Network Connection Management" folder. Here again we find the "Wireless Network Connection" and again using the right mouse button select the command "Connect - Disconnect".
  • After that, an additional window "Connect to the network" will open in front of you, where we select the network we need and press the "Connect" button.

If you did everything correctly, the corresponding icon will appear in the taskbar.

How to turn on Wi-Fi on a stationary computer (PC)

And finally, let's look at how you can connect Wi-Fi on a personal computer. There are no problems with laptops, they use a wireless connection, but with a PC it is a little more complicated. Not everyone wants to pull wires from their computer through the whole house or apartment. There is also a way out of this situation. You need to purchase and install a Wi-Fi adapter on your PC.

The computer uses the following types of adapters:

  • External. Such adapters are connected to a computer using a USB port.
  • Internal. This view is a little more complicated. They are connected to the motherboard via PCI-E 1X or PCI connectors.

Most people prefer an external adapter. These are mainly people who rarely use the local area network. The main thing for them is to have access to the Internet. There is nothing difficult in connecting it. We just need to plug it into a USB port and install the drivers. Each adapter comes with a driver disc. After installing the drivers, we search for a wireless network and connect to it.

When all the components for connecting to the Internet have already been purchased, you can start connecting. So, setting up a wireless wi-fi network depends on the main device, represented by a personal computer, laptop. Setting up the World Wide Web directly depends on the operating system of the personal computer.

Any wi-fi camera for Windows is also launched, after taking into account the features of the equipment provided. The system selected by the user must have a window in which a special item for managing network connections is displayed.

If you need to establish a wireless connection in Windows xp, then you should consider the difference between the current product of the computer companies and previous versions.

Setting up a wi-fi wireless network in Windows xp is considered more complicated than in windows 7.

Windows xp. First, the user must select the Network Connections option from the Start Menu in the Control Panel. Then find "wireless connection" and click on it. After enabling this command, communication is established, however, you should view the available wireless networks by selecting the appropriate item.

In order for the main device to work in the specified direction, you need to "Change the order of preference networks" When a new window appears, you can already put a marker next to "Using Windows to configure the network" and click on "Advanced". Then again you will have to return to "Change the order of preference of networks" and remove the marker from "The key is provided automatically. Then the network data is entered and "OK" is pressed to confirm.

Wireless Access for Windows 7

Setting up a wi-fi wireless network in Windows 7 begins with the "Control Panel", in which "Advanced system settings" are selected.

Then you go to the "Computer name" tab and click the "Change" option.
After this action, a window appears on the monitor with the names of the computer or domain. The personal work device itself must have a unique name. If this name had to be changed, then a computer restart is required.

Setting parameters for Internet connection in Windows 7

Next, click on the wired connection icon, which is located at the bottom right of the monitor. This is where the "Network and Sharing Center" appears. It must be selected by pressing the confirmation key. Select the Add option from the list that appears and create a Computer-to-computer network. To continue click "Next".

In the fields with names and network parameters, enter data as necessary. Then they confirm the actions and turn on the Internet connection sharing. The wireless network wi-fi windows 7 will start working immediately after clicking "Close".

Connecting Windows 8 to wi-fi

Initially installed settings on personal computers or laptops do not always allow you to connect to a wireless network without problems. After all, the windows 8 operating system may not see the wireless adapter, although it must be present.

Setting up a wi-fi wireless network in Windows 8 usually starts by clicking the division icon with an asterisk. After that, a list of suggested wireless networks appears on the monitor. Select one of them by typing the required security code. The above action is confirmed with the "Next" button.

When it comes to your home network, the best choice is sharing. With normal connection, the asterisk next to the division mark disappears and the signal strength is displayed.

Wireless reception implementation of the tenth version

Windows 10 operating system differs from previous versions in additional settings that provide for the use of touch screens. The required drivers are also automatically updated here. Because of this additional feature, setting up a wi-fi wireless network in Windows 10 isn't too difficult. The user just needs to click on the icon in the lower right corner of the monitor and determine the available network.

Wi-fi connection on Windows 10

It is also possible to automatically select a connection by checking the box next to the corresponding item. If the wi-fi adapter is not connected, then on the considered marker with divisions, a cross is shown instead of an asterisk. This can be easily fixed by pressing a specific button.

Most often, the wireless network is protected by a password, which must be entered into the window that appears upon connection and confirmed.

Modern computers and laptops already have a built-in special radio receiver that is responsible for sending and receiving information at a distance without using wires. For this reason, setting up a wi-fi connection occurs without much difficulty.

Problems with connecting to a wireless network from a laptop often arise even among experienced users, and beginners do not know at all how to approach the settings. Therefore, we decided to consider this issue in more detail. In the article we will figure it outhow to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop, and we will provide a connection algorithm for different types of operating systems. We will also find out what the main problems users face and how to solve them.

First of all, let's figure out how to activate the wi-fi module on the device. Without this, you will not be able to use wireless communication and set up a connection. Usually, the inclusion depends on the laptop model and varies slightly in each case. In the process, certain function keys are involved.

  • For ASUS laptop, this is FN + F.
  • If your gadget is called Acer or Packard bell, then you need to press FN + F3.
  • Gadget from HP includes a WiFi module with a dedicated touch button, denoted by the antenna icon or FN + F12. Some models from this manufacturer have a simple button with an antenna to activate the wireless connection.
  • Lenovo - FN + F5 if there is no dedicated button.
  • Samsung - FN + F9 or FN + F12, depending on the model.

We have listed the most common equipment manufacturers. If your laptop is manufactured by another company, then the desired combination can be specified in the instructions for the gadget or on the company's website. Usually this is the FN function key, which is found on all modern laptops and an additional one from the F1-F12 series.

If the button for turning on is highlighted, then you can look for it in a separate block or even at the ends of the case. Usually it is indicated by the corresponding icon associated with the signal distribution.

Wi-Fi settings depending on the OS

Now let's talk about those inclusion methods that are intrasystem. Simply how to enable the wireless network connection in the operating system. We will analyze the two most common ones; by analogy, you can make settings on other versions of Windows.

Windows 10

How to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptopif everything is fine with the settings, the answer to this question is no less important than enabling the module. So, we bring to your attention a step-by-step algorithm for the tenth version of the operating system.

That's all. As a result, the laptop will connect and you will be provided with Internet access.

Windows 7

We will also consider the setting for this version, provided that the system is equipped with the necessary drivers and has a network adapter. That is, all the nuances are technically observed and the WiFi module is turned on.

In the case of this OS version, everything is much simpler. You can simply click on the Internet connection icon in the lower right corner and select the desired network from the list of available wireless connections. Enter the password and wait for the connection to be activated. That's all.

What to do if you can't connect

Often there are situations in which the above algorithms are not connected to the network. In this case, two options are available:

  • wiFi adapter is disabled;
  • required drivers are missing.

Don't be scared. In both cases, the issue is not as bad as it seems, and everything is completely solvable.

The seventh version of the operating system

For the seventh version of Windows, the verification algorithm will be as follows.


The absence of an entry or the presence of a yellow mark near the inscription means there are problems with the drivers for the adapter. In this situation, you will have to reinstall them from the disk provided with the laptop or the manufacturer's official website. In any case, the process is simple, it is enough to download the necessary programs and reboot the computer, the system itself will distribute the software to the required place and activate it.

If there is a yellow icon, then click on it and in the menu that opens, click the "Activate" command. Then right-click on the adapter and in the "Properties" section select "Power management" and in the option to disable the adapter in power saving mode, uncheck the box, if any.

Enable the adapter in "Network Connections", here find the wireless connection and click the "Enable" command next to it. On this, all the problems in Windows 7 that the user can solve on their own have been fixed, and if the problem persists, then the matter is in the technical component and it is better to contact a professional.

The tenth version of Windows

If you have "Ten", then, solving the issuehow to connect Wi-Fi on a laptop, you should also rule out problems with the adapter and drivers.

If no icons for connecting to Wi-Fi are found on the taskbar, then the adapter is disabled. To be able to connect to the Internet, the first must be turned on.


If there is no “Wireless Network” icon at all, then go to the first section of our article and read how to enable WiFi in hardware.

To check the driver, right-click on an empty space in the taskbar and select the "Parameters" section in the context menu. Then in the main section, select "Devices" and go to "Device Manager". We open the "Network adapters" block and look for an entry with the word Wireless. If the icon is supplemented with an exclamation mark, then the driver is not working correctly and needs to be reinstalled. If the problem persists after downloading new drivers, then you should also contact a professional.

In this article, we will show you how to enable wifi on a laptop. The fact is that on laptops of different brands and manufacturers, Wi-Fi is also turned on in different ways. On some laptop models, you need to turn on a mechanical switch, on others, you just press the desired keyboard key combination.

Therefore, our article will be split into two parts. In the first part we will tell you about enabling WiFi on different laptop models, and in the second part we will consider some of the features of enabling Wi-Fi in the Windows operating system. So let's go!


How to turn on Wi-Fi on a laptop

Below are the standard laptop keyboard shortcuts that enable Wi-Fi on a laptop. Do not forget, as mentioned above, that some models have a mechanical switch / switch that is responsible for turning on the laptop's WiFi.

You can always clarify this moment by asking a question in the comments. Now, we will move on to the laptop key combinations that are designed to enable wifi. Usually the button on a laptop that is responsible for turning on the wireless network is marked with a stylized icon:


  1. Let's start with the company's laptops Asus (Asus)... To turn on Wi-Fi, they use the key combination Fn + F2.
  2. Company laptops HP (Hewlett Packard) need to clamp Fn + F12. Or find a button with a wireless network image.
  3. Laptops Acer (Acer) and Packard bell enable WiFi using keyboard shortcut Fn + F3.
  4. On laptops MSI WiFi is turned on with the keys Fn + F10.
  5. On laptop models from Samsung (Samsung) need to clamp Fn + F9 or Fn + F12 .
  6. Laptops from Lenovo (Lenovo), depending on the model, may have a dedicated switch. Also, turning on the wireless network can be through a key combination Fn + F5.
  7. On laptops from Toshiba (Toshiba) the keyboard shortcut should be used Fn + F8.
  8. Laptops from Sony Vaio (Sony Vaio) may have a mechanical switch.

With no button Fn it makes sense to look for a switch on the side of your laptop. If, after turning on using the keys or a switch, WiFi did not work, then perhaps the reason lies in setting up the Windows operating system, which will be described below.

Software enable Wi-Fi on laptops

Some laptop models may have software through which the WiFi adapter is turned on. For example, on laptops Samsungthis program is called "Easy Settings", and on laptops with Wi-Fi adapters from the company Intel the Intel PROSet program is installed. This fact undoubtedly needs to be taken into account, especially if you did not find a hotkey on the keyboard and there is no mechanical switch on the laptop.

If such software is installed on your laptop, then the Wi-Fi network is turned on through this software.

How to turn on wifi on a computer

For those of you, dear visitors, who do not have a laptop, but want to turn on Wi-Fi on a stationary computer, we want to make a little explanation. The fact is that not everyone has a built-in Wi-Fi module that allows you to communicate wirelessly. You can find out if your computer has a WIFI module from the specification for your motherboard or try to find the adapter in the Windows Device Manager.

As you can see from the screenshot above, the Wi-Fi adapter contains the word "Wireless". Also, the module can contain the word "WiFi". As you probably already understood, without such an adapter, it will not work to connect to a wireless access point or router. On sale there is a variety of equipment, Wi-Fi adapters and modules for every taste and wallet. They can be divided into two main types - USB and PCI adapters. The picture below shows a PCI module for connecting to Wi-Fi:

Accordingly, the USB adapter is inserted into the USB connector on the motherboard, and the PCI adapter is connected to the pci slot of the motherboard. After installing the drivers, such an adapter can be fully used. Let's move on to the settings that are responsible for Wi-Fi in your operating system.

Turn on WiFi in Windows

There are a number of options you need to check in order for WiFi to work. First, go to Device Manager (Control Panel\u003e System\u003e Device Manager) and check if everything is ok with the network adapter driver. The device should not have a yellow exclamation mark, and it should be enabled, as shown in the next picture (we will talk about configuring the adapter in Device Manager below).

Next, you need to check if the wireless connection we need is turned on. To do this, visit "Control Panel"\u003e "Network and Internet"\u003e "Network Connections". The following picture shows the wireless connection is not enabled. If you also do not use it, then you need to enable it by clicking on it with the right mouse button.

In addition, you should make sure that your laptop sees the access point or router and connects to this device. By the way, we advise you to read the article:. So, if the WiFi router is visible, then in the Windows tray (in the lower right corner, the ladder icon), you need to select it and click the "Connect" button to the desired Wi-Fi network.

  • Katerina

    I have an Acer aspire 5506G. I regularly face the problem of non-working wi-fi. Usually, the problem occurs after the next sudden restart of the laptop. it turns out that the network adapters do not want to work at boot. Fn + f3 used to help. Now the laptop does not work. Plus some other glitch in it. the on-screen keyboard prompts you for fn + f3 to display a computer search window. In the end, I found a solution to enable it, I hope it will help someone. We overload the unfortunate machine and go in safe mode with loading network. sometimes 3-5 reboots and entry into safe mode are required. As soon as the secure network is found, we calmly reboot and enter humanly. Wifi works. But you need to understand that this solution is temporary, and sooner or later you will need a radical tool such as reinstalling Windows, or an extremely radical one using a soldering iron and a sledgehammer.

  • Julia

    Tell me what to do if at work the Lenovo laptop sees the Wi-Fi network and connects, but if you bring it home, the wireless networks are disabled. I tried everything I could: everything is on everywhere.

  • Karina and Timur

    Hello everybody! A very useful article, so much everything is clearly stated in the article (the links made me happy) that even I, a girl, figured it out right away, without any difficulties! We thank you mentally!