Laptop Wi-Fi or Bluetooth not working

No networks in the list, a signal that drops every few minutes, or Bluetooth that has vanished from Settings. First establish whether the problem is the laptop or the network.

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Laptop or router?

If phones and other computers stay connected while the laptop drops out, the laptop is at fault. If everything loses connection together, look at the router or the broadband.

Inside the laptop, wireless depends on a small Wi-Fi card and two thin antenna cables that run up into the lid. The card can fail outright. The cables can be pinched or pulled off their connectors, typically after a screen or hinge repair elsewhere, which leaves you with a weak signal that only works close to the router. Bluetooth normally lives on the same card, so the two often fail together.

Checks worth trying first

Check the aeroplane mode key on the top row and the Wi-Fi tile in the Windows quick settings panel.
Restart the laptop and the router. It is a cliche because it works.
Open Device Manager and expand Network adapters. If no wireless adapter is listed, the card is not being detected.
In Settings, open Network and internet, then Advanced network settings, and use Network reset.
Borrow a USB Wi-Fi adapter. If that works perfectly, the laptop's own card or antenna is at fault.

How we fix it

We check the driver and Windows network settings first, then open the laptop. Wi-Fi cards that plug in are replaced with a compatible card, and antenna cables are reconnected or replaced and routed correctly through the hinge. Where the wireless chip is soldered to the motherboard, we advise whether a board repair or a compact USB adapter is the more sensible fix.

Common questions

Wi-Fi only works when I sit next to the router. Why?

That is the classic sign of a disconnected or damaged antenna cable. The card is working but has almost nothing to receive with.

Can the Wi-Fi be upgraded while it is open?

On laptops with a removable card, usually yes. Tell us what router you have and we will check which cards your model accepts.

Get a price from a technician

Tell us the make, the model and what has gone wrong. A technician replies with a price and the quickest way to get your laptop to us – normally the same working day.

020 7237 6805

Creative IT workshop
Unit 1, 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY
Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm