This article provides information on resolving intermittent, slow, no connection or cant get to the Internet issues on your Wi-Fi network. 


Note: The instructions in this article is for Window 10.
Please refer to the following articles for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

  1. Resolving Connection Issues on Your Wi-Fi Network for Windows 8
  2. Resolving Connection Issues on Your Wi-Fi Network for Windows XP, Vista and 7

Table of Contents:

  1. Resolving Connection Issues
  2. Turn Off and Then Turn on All the Devices on the Network
  3. Configure the Wireless Adapter Settings for Optimal Performance

1. Resolving Connection Issues

  1. Move the computer to within 3-9 feet (1-3 meters) of the router (if possible).

    Note: Moving the computer closer to the router will help eliminate sources of interference to make sure the wireless hardware is working correctly. For more information on what causes interference, refer to the Dell Knowledge Base article How to Identify and Reduce Wireless Signal Interference.

  2. Make sure that the wireless antenna is on.

    Look at the network icon in the notification area (located in the lower right-hand corner), and refer to the instructions that matches the icon on your computer.

    Note: For more information refer to the Dell Knowledge Base article How to Turn the Wireless Antenna On and Off on a Dell Computer, which will help you find where the wireless switch is located for your specific computer.

    • Available Network - This icon means that your computer is connected to the wireless network. When you cannot get to the internet, proceeded to step 3.
    • Not Connected - This icon means that the wireless antenna is on, but you are not connected to a wireless network. For information on setting up and connecting to your wireless network, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Setting up a Home Wireless Network and Connecting to the Internet.
    • Network Icon Off- This icon means that the wireless antenna is off. To turn it back on:
      1. Touch or click on the Network icon (Network Icon Off).
      2. Touch or click the panel labeled Wi-Fi (the panel should turn from grey to blue and should look like Figure 1).
      3. Once your Wi-Fi network shows in the list, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Setting up a Home Wireless Network and Connecting to the Internet.

        Note: When you already have a wireless network setup and you are adding another computer or reconnecting, make sure the correct network name (SSID) and key (if any) are used to create a profile. For more information refer to Dell Knowledge Base articles How Do I Find my Wireless Network Name and How Do I Find my Wireless Network Key.

    • Network Icon Airplane Mode- This icon means that the computer is in Airplane mode and that all the wireless communication devices including Wi-Fi, Mobile Broadband, Bluetooth, GPS, near field communication (NFC) and any other type of wireless communication are turn off. To turn the communication devices back on:
      1. Touch or click on the Network icon (Network Icon Airplane Mode).
      2. Touch or click the panel labeled Airplane mode (the panel should turn from blue to grey).
      3. When the panel labeled Wi-Fi is still grey, touch or click the Wi-Fi panel (the panel should turn from grey to blue and should look like Figure 1).
      4. Once your Wi-Fi network shows in the list, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Setting up a Home Wireless Network and Connecting to the Internet.

        Note: When you already have a wireless network setup and you are adding another computer or reconnecting, make sure the correct network name (SSID) and key (if any) are used to create a profile. For more information refer to Dell Knowledge Base articles How Do I Find my Wireless Network Name and How Do I Find my Wireless Network Key.

    • What the Network Icons Should Look LikeFigure 1: Wireless Icons Example Settings
  4. Run the Network Troubleshooter.
    1. Touch and hold or right-click the network icon (Available Networks or Network Icon, located in the lower right-hand corner).
    2. Touch or click Troubleshoot problems, and then follow the prompts.
  6. Turn off and then turn on all the devices on the network to reboot and synchronize them, for more information refer Dell Knowledge Base article Turn Off and Then Turn on All the Devices on the Network.
  7. Make sure the most current wireless drivers, computer BIOS and router firmware are installed.

    Note: When the affected device has no Wireless connectivity to download a driver or BIOS, you will need to do one of the following to get the driver on the affected device:

    • Connect the affected device to your router using a network cable (when that is an option).
    • Use another device that does have Internet connectivity to download the driver and use a USB Flash drive to transfer the driver to the affected device.
    • For tablets, use the USB cable that came with the tablet to transfer the driver to the tablet, which was downloaded to another device that does have Internet connectivity.

    • For more information on downloading and installing the most current BIOS version, refer to the Dell Knowledge Base article What is BIOS and How to Download and Install the latest BIOS?

      Notes:

      • When you have upgraded from Windows 7 or 8(8.1) to Windows 10. It is recommended that you update to the most current BIOS available for your computer before installing any Wireless device drivers.
      • The most current BIOS is located in the BIOS subsection.
    • For more information on downloading and installing drivers, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article How to Use the Drivers and Downloads Website.

      Note: The network adapter drivers are located in the Network subsection.

    • Update the wireless router's firmware to the latest available, refer to the wireless router documentation or contact the wireless router manufacturer, links are provided in Table 1.

      Note: To update the router firmware you will need to have a computer connected to your wireless router (this may be by means of a network cable or another computer that is connected wirelessly).

      Manufacture User Name Password
      LinksysExternal Link leave blank admin
      D-LinkExternal Link admin leave blank
      NetgearExternal Link admin password
      2WireExternal Link None unless one was set up. None unless one was set up.
      BelkinExternal Link None leave blank
      AppleExternal Link Use the AirPort utility
      SMCExternal Link Admin smcadmin
      Table 1: Wireless Manufacture Links, Router Default User Names and Passwords
  10. To make sure the wireless adapter is transmitting at its highest level, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Configure the Wireless Adapter Settings for Optimal Performance.
  11. Refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base article Why can't I get online? for additional information. External Link
  12. Refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base article Fix Network Connection Issues in Windows 10 for advanced troubleshooting steps such as the resetting the TCP/IP stack. External Link

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2. Turn Off and Then Turn on All the Devices on the Network

  1. Disconnect the power from the broadband modem and leave the broadband modem disconnected for at least 3 minutes.
  2. Shut down all the computers that are connected to the network.
  3. Disconnect the power from the wireless router.
  4. Verify that a network cable is connected from the Broadband Modem into the Internet or WAN port on the wireless router.
  5. Verify that no USB cables or serial cables are connected to the Broadband Modem.
  6. Connect the power to the broadband modem. Wait for at least 2 minutes for the Broadband Modem to initialize.
    (If the Modem does not establish an Internet connection successfully, unplug the Modem. Wait for at least 5 minutes, then plug in the Modem.)
  7. Connect the power to the wireless router. Wait for at least 2 minutes for the wireless router to initialize.
  8. Turn on the computer and try connecting to the Internet.

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3. Configure the Wireless Adapter Settings for Optimal Performance

For information on finding which wireless adapter is installed in your computer, refer to Dell Knowledge Base Article, Which Wireless Networking Adapter is Installed in Your Dell Computer

For Intel Wireless adapters:
  1. In the Search box, type Device Manager.
  2. Touch or click Device Manager (Control Panel).
  3. In the Device Manager window, click the arrow sign next to Network Adapters.
  4. Double-tap or double-click the Intel PRO Wireless.
  5. Click the Advancedtab.

    Note: Depending on the Wireless Adapter installed these options may not be available.

  6. In the Property: box, click Roaming Aggressiveness and select 2. Medium-Low from the drop-down menu.
  7. In the Property: box, click lick Throughput Enhancement and click to select Enable: from the drop-down menu.
  8. In the Property: box, click lick Transmit Power and click to select 5. Highest from the drop-down menu.
  9. Click OK.
  1. For Dell Wireless adapters:


  1. In the Search box, type Device Manager.
  2. Touch or click Device Manager (Control Panel).
  3. In the Device Manager window, click the arrow sign next to Network Adapters.
  4. Double-tap or double-click the Dell Wireless WLAN Card.
  5. Click the Advancedtab.

    Note: Depending on the Wireless Adapter installed these options may not be available.

  6. In the Property: box, click to highlight AP Compatibility Mode, select Broader Compatibility under Value: from the drop-down menu.
  7. In the Property: box, click to highlight Minimum Power Consumption, select Disabled under Value: from the drop-down menu.