How to connect my laptop to wifi windows 7

Just last week, it started being unable to connect to my home wireless network. Multiple other devices in my home are not having any issues connecting to the network. I moved my desktop PC and plugged it directly into the modem via an ethernet cable and this allowed it to connect okay unfortunately this isn't able to be done long term as the desktop is kept on a different storey in the house as the modem.

My desktop was able to connect to different wireless networks i. I set up wireless hotspotting on my mobile phone and my PC had no issues connecting to that network. I've installed a new network card, and the issue was fixed for a few days, before starting again.

I am not aware of any updates or changes made to the PC between when it was connecting fine to the network and when it was having issues. Factory resetting the router appears to fix the issue to a few hours to a day or more but then the issue returns.

If I change any details on the router such as the SSID and network password , the issue immediately returns. Running the Windows network troubleshooters says i need to 'investigate router or access point issues' Sometimes when I try to connect to the network, under it's name in the Windows network finder is the message -'The settings saved on this computer for the network do not match the requirements of the network'.

The network displays a Red X where the signal bar usually is. Co-authors: Updated: August 28, Categories: Windows 7 Wireless Networking. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 90, times. Is this article up to date? Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.

About This Article. Featured Articles How to. Trending Articles How to. New Pages How to. Watch Articles How to. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Follow Us. In order to connect to WiFi, make sure your computer has a wireless adapter. To check for it, you can:. To connect WiFi on your laptop, you should turn on the WiFi switch.

Unplug the network cable , which is for the wired network, and if the WiFi switch is toggled on, the WiFi icon on the bottom right of your screen should appear like this:. See the documentation for your device for instructions. Set up a security key password for your network.

Wireless networks have a network security key to help protect them from unauthorized access. See the documentation for your router for more detailed info, including what type of security is supported and how to set it up. In Windows 7 or Windows 8. Select Set up a new network , then choose Next. The wizard will walk you through creating a network name and a security key. Write down your security key and keep it in a safe place. You can also save your security key on a USB flash drive by following the instructions in the wizard.

Use a firewall. A firewall is hardware or software that can help protect your PC from unauthorized users or malicious software malware. Running a firewall on each PC on your network can help control the spread of malicious software on your network, and help protect your PCs when you're accessing the Internet. Windows Firewall is included with this version of Windows. Select the Network or Wifi icon in the notification area. In the list of networks, choose the network that you want to connect to, and then select Connect.

If you have problems with your Wi-Fi network when using Windows 10, see Fix Wi-Fi problems in Windows for advanced troubleshooting info. Choose the network that you want to connect to, and then select Connect. If you have problems with your Wi-Fi network when using Windows 11, see Fix Wi-Fi problems in Windows for advanced troubleshooting info. Windows 11 Windows 10 Windows 7 Windows 8.