Why can’t I change the metered connection setting?

A metered connection is an internet connection that has a data limit associated with it. Some apps might work differently on a metered connection to help reduce your data usage. Also, some updates for Windows won’t be installed automatically. A cellular data network connection is set as metered by default. Wi-Fi and Ethernet network connections can be set to metered but aren’t by default.

You might notice that the Set as metered connection setting is turned on and greyed out in any of the following places, so you can’t turn it off:

Settings > Network & Internet > Cellular > Advanced options.

Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > select the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to.

Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet > select the Ethernet network you’re connected to.

If you want to change the Set as metered connection setting, do one or more of the following:

Remove the data limit if one is set. To do this:

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Status .

Under the network you’re connected to, select Data usage.

Select the network connection under Choose a network, and then select Remove limit > Remove.

Make sure you’re signed in with an account that has administrator rights. To check, do the following:

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Accounts > Your info.

Look under your account name and see if it says Administrator.

Check with your IT support person. The metered connection setting might be set by your organization, so you can’t change it.

Note: If you set a network connection as an unmetered connection but it still has a limited data plan, you might go over your data limit for that network and incur charges.

Setting up a wireless network

A wireless network at home lets you get online from more places in your house. This article describes the basic steps for setting up a wireless network and starting to use it.

Get the right equipment

Before you can set up your wireless network, here’s what you’ll need:

Broadband Internet connection and modem. A broadband Internet connection is a high-speed Internet connection. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable are two of the most common broadband connections. You can get a broadband connection by contacting an Internet service provider (ISP). Typically, ISPs that provide DSL are telephone companies and ISPs that provide cable are cable TV companies. ISPs frequently offer broadband modems. Some ISPs also offer combination modem/wireless routers. You can also find these at computer or electronics stores, and online.

Wireless router. A router sends info between your network and the Internet. With a wireless router, you can connect PCs to your network using radio signals instead of wires. There are several different kinds of wireless network technologies, which include 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11ac.

Wireless network adapter. A wireless network adapter is a device that connects your PC to a wireless network. To connect your portable or desktop PC to your wireless network, the PC must have a wireless network adapter. Most laptops and tablets—and some desktop PCs—come with a wireless network adapter already installed.

To check whether your PC has a wireless network adapter:

Select the Start button, type device manager in the search box, and then select Device Manager.

Expand Network adapters.

Look for a network adapter that might have wireless in the name.

Setting up the modem and Internet connection

After you have all the equipment, you’ll need to set up your modem and Internet connection. If your modem wasn’t set up for you by your Internet service provider (ISP), follow the instructions that came with your modem to connect it to your PC and the Internet. If you’re using Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), connect your modem to a phone jack. If you’re using cable, connect your modem to a cable jack.

Positioning the wireless router

Put your wireless router somewhere where it will receive the strongest signal with the least amount of interference. For better results, follow these tips:

Place your wireless router in a central location. Place the router as close to the center of your home as possible to increase the strength of the wireless signal throughout your home.

Position the wireless router off the floor and away from walls and metal objects, such as metal file cabinets. The fewer physical obstructions between your PC and the router’s signal, the more likely that you’ll be using the router’s full signal strength.

Reduce interference. Some networking equipment uses a 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency. This is the same frequency as most microwaves and many cordless phones. If you turn on the microwave or get a call on a cordless phone, your wireless signal might be temporarily interrupted. You can avoid most of these issues by using a cordless phone with a higher frequency, such as 5.8 GHz.

Securing your wireless network

Security is always important; with a wireless network, it’s even more important because your network’s signal could be broadcast outside your home. If you don’t help secure your network, people with PCs nearby could access info stored on your network PCs and use your Internet connection.

To help make your network more secure:

Change the default user name and password. This helps protect your router. Most router manufacturers have a default user name and password on the router and a default network name (also known as the SSID). Someone could use this info to access your router without you knowing it. To help avoid that, change the default user name and password for your router. 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. We recommend using Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) security if your router supports it. See the documentation for your router for more detailed info, including what type of security is supported and how to set it up.

Some routers support Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). If your router supports WPS and it’s connected to the network, follow these steps to set up a network security key:

Do one of the following, depending on which version of Windows is running on your PC:

In Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, select Start, start typing Network and Sharing Center, and then choose it in the list.

In Windows 10, select Start , then select Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network and Sharing Center.

Select Set up a new connection or network.

Select Set up a new network, then choose Next.

The wizard will walk you through creating a network name and a security key. If your router supports it, the wizard will default to Wi‑Fi Protected Access (WPA or WPA2) security. We recommend that you use WPA2, because it offers better security than WPA or Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security. With WPA2 or WPA you can also use a passphrase, so you don’t have to remember a cryptic sequence of letters and numbers.

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. (Saving your security key to a USB flash drive is available in Windows 8 and Windows 7, but not in Windows 10.)

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.

Connect a PC to your wireless network

Select the Network or icon in the notification area.

In the list of networks, choose the network that you want to connect to, and then select Connect.

Type the security key (often called the password).

Follow additional instructions if there are any.

If you have problems with your Wi-Fi network when using Windows 10, see Fix Wi-Fi problems in Windows 10 for advanced troubleshooting info.

Network and Internet Settings in Windows 10

Windows 10 brings the entire Settings options under one hood. We have already taken a look at the Windows 10 Personalization Settings, Privacy Settings, Devices Settings, and the Update and Security settings. In this post, we will learn about the Network and Internet Settings in Windows 10.

The new and the latest version of the Network and Internet Settings in Windows 10 include quite a lot of features such as mobile hotspot, automatic proxy setup, manual proxy setup, airplane mode, and so on. You will also be able to access the Network Reset feature that can help you reinstall Network adapters and reset Networking Components to original settings.

To open these settings, click on Start menu > Settings > Network and Internet.

Network and Internet Settings in Windows 10

In the Network and Internet Settings in Windows 10, you will see the following tabs –

• Status
• WiFi
• Ethernet
• Dial-up
• VPN
• Airplane mode
• Mobile hotspot
• Data usage
• Proxy

Let us go through them in detail.

1. Status

This tab shows you the status of the network – whether you are connected to a network or not. You can change the connection properties where you can choose to connect to a network automatically when in range. You can choose your Network Profile as public or private.

Moreover, this tab allows you to view the available network adapters, change connection settings, change sharing options for different network profiles, and diagnose and fix network problems. You will be able to access the Network Reset feature that can help you re-install network adapters and reset networking components to original settings.

2. WiFi

Check for available networks and connect to the wireless network you want. You can also manage and add a new network.

Random Hardware Addresses when turned on, makes it difficult for people to track your location when you connect to different WiFi networks. You can turn on the Hotspot 2.0 Network feature to make yourself more secure and safe when connected to public WiFi hotspots.

You can also select the option of setting a Metered Connection which gives you more control over the data usage. Turning it ON makes your apps work differently so that they use less data. This is especially helpful for users having a limited data plan. You will also see the properties of your device.

This tab allows you to adjust the Wi-Fi Sense settings in Windows 10. Wi-Fi Sense is a feature in Windows 10 that allows you to connect to your friend’s shared Wi-Fi connections. That is, you and your friends may opt to share your or their Wi-Fi connections.

3. Ethernet

You can set and view Ethernet settings here. It also allows you to set it as a metered connection if you have a limited data plan.

4. Dial-Up

This tab allows you to choose and set up a new Dial-up connection or network with the following options –

• Set up broadband or dial-up connections to the Internet.
• Set up a new router or access point.
• Connect to a hidden network or create a new wireless profile.
• Set up a dial-up or VPN connection to your workplace.

5. VPN

To add a VPN connection, keep your VPN provider, connection name and server name or address details ready. Fill in the type of sign-in info, username, and password and click Save.

Under Advanced Options, turn on the following settings if desired –

• Allow VPN over metered networks
• Allow VPN while roaming

6. Airplane Mode

Airplane mode when turned on, stops all wireless communication, Bluetooth, WiFi networks, and cellular networks.

7. Mobile Hotspot

The Mobile Hotspot feature is a new one in the latest version of Windows 10 Settings which enables you to share your Internet connection with other devices. The users can choose to share their Internet connection over Wifi or Bluetooth. User can also set the Turn On Remotely feature to allow another device to turn on mobile hotspot.

8. Data Usage

This section allows you to check the data used in the last 30 days for both WiFi as well as Ethernet. You can also view usage per app which will give you detailed information on data used by various apps on your PC. Additional features include setting data limits and restricting background data to reduce data usage on WiFi.

9. Proxy

In this section, you can set your PC to detect the Proxy settings automatically. However, you can also adjust the settings manually by entering the IP address and the proxy port.

In this post, all the features and the importance of the Network and Internet Settings in Windows 10 have been covered. Hope this post was a helpful read!

Date: June 21, 2019 Tags: Network, Settings

Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows

Troubleshooting network problems in Windows

If you can’t get email, browse the web, or stream music, chances are you’re not connected to your network and can’t get onto the internet. To fix the problem, here are some things you can try.

Try these things first to help you fix or narrow down the connection problem.

Make sure Wi‑Fi is turned on. Select the «No internet connection» icon on the right side of the taskbar, and make sure Wi-Fi is turned on. If it isn’t, select it to turn it on. Also, make sure Airplane mode is turned off.

Afterwards, see if a Wi-Fi network you recognize and trust appears in the list of networks. If it does, select the Wi-Fi network, and they try to connect to it. If it says Connected underneath the network name, select Disconnect, wait a moment, and then select Connect again.

Try connecting to a network on a different frequency band. Many consumer Wi-Fi routers broadcast at two different network frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. These will appear as separate networks in the list of available Wi-Fi networks. If your list of available Wi-Fi networks includes both a 2.4 GHz network and a 5 GHz network, try connecting to the other network. To learn more about the differences between 2.4 GHz networks and 5 GHz networks, check out Wi-Fi problems and your home layout.

Make sure the physical Wi‑Fi switch on your laptop is turned on. (An indicator light usually shows when it’s on.)

Run the Network troubleshooter. The Network troubleshooter can help diagnose and fix common connection problems.

To run the Network troubleshooter

Select the Start button > Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
Open Network & Internet Status settings

Under Change your network settings, select Network troubleshooter.

Follow the steps in the troubleshooter, and see if that fixes the problem.

Restart your modem and wireless router. This helps create a new connection to your internet service provider (ISP).

When you do this, everyone that is connected to your Wi-Fi network will be temporarily disconnected. The steps you take to restart your modem and router can vary, but here are the general steps. ( Note: If you have a cable modem/Wi-Fi router combo device, you only need to follow the steps for the single device.)

Unplug the power cable for the router from the power source.

Unplug the power cable for the modem from the power source.

Some modems have a backup battery. If you unplug the modem and lights stay on, remove the battery from the modem.

Wait at least 30 seconds or so.

If you had to remove the battery from the modem, put it back in.

Plug the modem back into the power source. The lights on the modem will blink. Wait for them to stop blinking.

Plug your router back into the power source.

Wait a few minutes for the modem and router to fully power on. You can usually tell when they’re ready by looking at the status lights on the two devices.

On your PC, try to connect again.

Connection problems can be due to a variety of reasons—problems with the website, your device, the Wi-Fi router, modem, or your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Try the following steps to help narrow down the source of the problem.

If the «Wi-Fi connected» icon appears on the right side of the taskbar, visit a different website. If the website opens, there might be a problem with the specific website. If you can’t connect to another website, go to the next step.

On another laptop or phone, try to connect to the same network. If you can connect, the source of the problem is likely due to your device—go to the section Network troubleshooting on your device. If you can’t connect to the network on any device, continue to the next step.

Check to see if there is a problem with the connection to your Wi-Fi router. Do this by using a ping test.

In the search box on the taskbar, type Command prompt. The Command Prompt button will appear. To the right of it, select Run as administrator > Yes.

At the command prompt, type ipconfig, and then select Enter. Look for the name of your Wi-Fi network within the results, and then find the IP address listed next to Default gateway for that Wi-Fi network. Write down that address if you need to. For example: 192.168.1.1

At the prompt, type ping and then select Enter. For example, type ping 192.168.1.1 and select Enter. The results should be something like this:

Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64

Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64

Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64

Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 4ms, Maximum = 5ms, Average = 4ms

If you see results like this and are getting a reply, then you have a connection to your Wi-Fi router, so there might be a problem with your modem or ISP. Contact your ISP or check online on another device (if you can) to see if there’s a service outage.

If the results of the ping test indicate that you are not getting a reply from the router, try connecting your PC directly to your modem by using an Ethernet cable (if you can). If you can connect to the internet using an Ethernet cable, it confirms the connection problem is due to the Wi-Fi router. Make sure you’ve installed the latest firmware and see the documentation for your router.

Run network commands

Try running these network commands to manually reset the TCP/IP stack, release and renew the IP address, and flush and reset the DNS client resolver cache:

In the search box on the taskbar, type Command prompt. The Command Prompt button will appear. To the right of it, select Run as administrator > Yes.

At the command prompt, run the following commands in the listed order, and then check to see if that fixes your connection problem:

Type netsh winsock reset and select Enter.

Type netsh int ip reset and select Enter.

Type ipconfig /release and select Enter.

Type ipconfig /renew and select Enter.

Type ipconfig /flushdns and select Enter.

Uninstall the network adapter driver and restart

If the previous steps didn’t work, try to uninstall the network adapter driver, and then restart your computer. Windows will automatically install the latest driver. Consider this approach if your network connection stopped working properly after a recent update.

Before uninstalling, make sure you have drivers available as a backup. Visit the PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest network adapter driver from there. If your PC can’t connect to the internet, you’ll need to download a driver on a different PC and save it to a USB flash drive so you can install the driver on your PC. You’ll need to know the PC manufacturer and model name or number.

In the search box on the taskbar, type Device Manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results.

Expand Network adapters, and locate the network adapter for your device.

Select the network adapter, and then select Uninstall device > the Delete the driver software for this device check box > Uninstall.

After uninstalling the driver, select the Start button > Power > Restart.

After your PC restarts, Windows will automatically look for and install the network adapter driver. Check to see if that fixes your connection problem. If Windows doesn’t automatically install a driver, try to install the backup driver you saved before uninstalling.

Check if your network adapter is compatible with the latest Windows Update

If you lost your network connection immediately after upgrading or updating Windows 10, it’s possible that the current driver for your network adapter was designed for a previous version of Windows. To check, try temporarily uninstalling the recent Windows Update:

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.

Select the most recent update, then select Uninstall.

If uninstalling the most recent update restores your network connection, check to see if an updated driver is available:

In the search box on the taskbar, type Device Manager, and then select Device Manager from the list of results.

Expand Network adapters, and locate the network adapter for your device.

Select the network adapter, select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software, and then follow the instructions.

After installing the updated driver, select the Start button > Power > Restart if you’re asked to restart, and see if that fixes the connection issue.

If Windows can’t find a new driver for your network adapter, visit the PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest network adapter driver from there. You’ll need to know the PC manufacturer and model name or number.

Do one of the following:

If you couldn’t download and install a newer network adapter driver, hide the update that’s causing you to lose your network connection. To learn how to hide updates, see Hide Windows Updates or driver updates.

If you could successfully install updated drivers for your network adapter, then reinstall the latest updates. To do this, select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

Use network reset

Using network reset should be the last step you try. Consider using it if the steps above don’t help to get you connected.

This can help solve connection problems you might have after upgrading from a previous version of Windows to Windows 10. It can also help to fix the problem where you can connect to the internet, but can’t connect to shared network drives. Network reset removes any network adapters you have installed and the settings for them. After your PC restarts, any network adapters are reinstalled, and the settings for them are set to the defaults.

Note: To use network reset, your PC must be running Windows 10 Version 1607 or later. To see which version of Windows 10 your device is currently running, select the Start button, then select Settings > System > About.

Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.
Open Network & Internet Status settings

On the Network reset screen, select Reset now > Yes to confirm.

Wait for your PC to restart, and see if that fixes the problem.

After using network reset, you might need to reinstall and set up other networking software you might be using, such as VPN client software or virtual switches from Hyper‑V (if you’re using that or other network virtualization software).

Network reset might set each one of your known network connections to a public network profile. In a public network profile, your PC is not discoverable to other PCs and devices on the network, which can help make your PC more secure. However, if your PC is part of a homegroup or used for file or printer sharing, you’ll need to make your PC discoverable again by setting it to use a private network profile. To do this, select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi . On the Wi-Fi screen, select Manage known networks > the network connection you want to change > Properties. Under Network profile, select Private.

Check your Wi-Fi settings

Wi-Fi adapter manufacturers might have different advanced settings you can change based on your network environment or connection preferences.

Check the Wireless Mode setting for your network adapter and make sure it matches the capabilities of the network you’re trying to connect to. If it doesn’t match, you won’t be able to connect, and the network might not appear in the list of available networks. The Wireless Mode will often be set to Auto or something similar by default, which enables connection for every kind of network that’s supported.

To find the wireless mode setting

In Device Manager, select Network adapters, and then double-click the network adapter name.

Select the Advanced tab and look for a Wireless Mode setting. Make sure it’s set to the mode your network is using.

Wi-Fi profile settings

Windows uses the Wi-Fi profile to save the settings that are needed to connect to a Wi-Fi network. These settings include the network security type, key, network name (SSID), and so on. If you can’t connect to a Wi-Fi network that you could connect to before, it’s possible that the network settings might have changed or the profile is corrupted.

To fix this, remove (or «forget») the network connection, then reconnect to the network. When you forget a network connection, it removes the Wi-Fi network profile from your PC.

To forget a network

Select the Wi-Fi network icon on the right side of the taskbar, then select Network & Internet settings.

Select Wi-Fi , then select Manage known networks.

Select the network you want to forget, then select Forget.

Afterwards, select the Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar and try to reconnect to the desired network to renew the network connection.

Check your home layout

Your Wi-Fi network might be affected by the network’s frequency band, channel congestion, and/or signal strength. For more info, see Wi-Fi problems and your home layout.

Check for additional symptoms for the «No internet connection» icon

There may be additional troubleshooting steps you can try, depending on which symptoms you’re having. To view these steps, check out Wi-Fi connection icons and what they mean.

Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, select Settings, then select the Network icon.

Make sure the physical Wi‑Fi switch on your laptop is turned on. (An indicator light usually shows when it’s on.)

Make sure your PC isn’t in airplane mode.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, select Settings, then select the Network icon.

Turn off Airplane mode.

Move closer to the router or access point if you can.

If you don’t see the network name at all, the router or access point might not be set to broadcast the network name. In this case, you’ll need to connect to it manually.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then select Settings.

Select the Network icon, and then select Hidden network.

Type the network name and select Next.

Type the password and select Next.

Follow any additional instructions to get connected.

The network will be added to your list of networks and will be available to connect to when your computer is in range of the network. To connect to the network, follow these steps:

Open Connect to a Network by selecting the network icon in the notification area.

Select Unnamed Network, select Connect, and then type the network information. The network will be added to your list of networks and will be available to connect to in the future when your computer is in range of the network..

Let Windows try to help you fix the problem. Try running the Network troubleshooter to see if it can diagnose and fix the problem.

Select the Start button, start typing Network problems, and then select Identify and repair network problems in the list.

The Network Troubleshooter (mentioned above) can help diagnose and fix common connection problems. After using that, try running the network commands below because the combination of doing these two things can help you get connected.

If your problem isn’t fixed after running the Network troubleshooter, try to:

Reset the TCP/IP stack.

Release the IP address.

Renew the IP address.

Flush and reset the DNS client resolver cache.

Here’s how to run networking commands in a command prompt:

Select the Start button, start typing cmd, right-click Command Prompt in the list, select Run as Administrator, and then select Yes.

At the command prompt, run the following commands in the listed order and then check to see if that fixes your connection problem:

Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.

Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter.

Type ipconfig /release and press Enter.

Type ipconfig /renew and press Enter.

Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

This helps create a new connection to your Internet service provider (ISP). When you do this, everyone that is connected to your Wi-Fi network will be temporarily disconnected.

The steps you take to restart your modem and router can vary, but here are the general steps:

Unplug the power cable for the router from the power source.

Unplug the power cable for the modem from the power source.

Some modems have a backup battery. So if you unplug the modem and lights stay on, remove the battery from the modem.

Wait at least 30 seconds or so.

If you had to remove the battery from the modem, put it back in.

Plug the modem back into the power source. The lights on the modem will blink. Wait for them to stop blinking.

Plug your router back into the power source.

Wait a few minutes for the modem and router to fully power on. You can usually tell when they’re ready by looking at the status lights on the two devices.

On your PC, try to connect again.

Make sure it’s not a problem with your cable modem or Internet service provider (ISP). If it is, contact your ISP.

Select the Start button, start typing cmd, right-click Command Prompt in the list, select Run as Administrator, and then select Yes.

At the command prompt, type ipconfig.

Look for the IP address listed next to Default gateway. Write down that address if you need to. For example, 192.168.1.1.

At the prompt, type ping and press Enter. For example, type ping 192.168.1.1 and press Enter.

The result should be something like this:

Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 4ms, Maximum = 5ms, Average = 4ms

If the ping is successful and you see results similar to the results above, but you can’t connect to the Internet on your PC, there may be a problem with your modem or Internet service provider (ISP).

If you’re still having trouble connecting to a network, it might be related to your network adapter.

Try using the Network Adapter troubleshooter to automatically find and fix some problems. This troubleshooter will disable and re-enable the adapter, and try some other common repairs.

Select the Start button, start typing Troubleshooting, and then select Troubleshooting in the list. Select View all > Network Adapter.

Update the network adapter driver. An outdated or incompatible network adapter driver can cause connection problems. Check to see if an updated driver is available.

Select the Start button, start typing Device Manager, and then select it in the list.

In Device Manager, select Network adapters, right-click your adapter, and then select Properties.

Select the Driver tab, and then select Update Driver.

Select Search automatically for updated driver software.

If Windows can’t find a new driver for your network adapter, visit the PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest network adapter driver from there. If your PC can’t connect to the Internet, you’ll need to download a driver on a different PC and save it to a USB flash drive so you can install the driver on your PC. You’ll need to know the PC manufacturer and model name or number.

Here are some things to check and try with your router if you’re at home and having trouble getting connected.

If you don’t see the network name, sign in to your router and check to see if it’s set to broadcast the network name.

Connect your PC to your router using an Ethernet cable.

Open your web browser and type the IP address for your wireless router. (For example, 192.168.1.1 or 172.16.0.0—check the documentation for your router to find the default IP address.)

Sign in with your user name and password, then make sure an option labeled Enable SSID Broadcast, Wireless SSID broadcast, or something similar is turned on. This setting is often on a Wireless Settings page.

Check to see if your Wi-Fi network uses Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering for security. If it does, you’ll need to add the MAC address for your PC to the access list on your router before you can connect.

Select the Start button. Start typing cmd and right-click Command Prompt in the list. Select Run as Administrator, and then select Yes.

At the command prompt, type ipconfig /all.

Write down the address that appears next to Physical Address for your wireless network adapter. This is the address you’ll need to add to the access list on your router.

To add the MAC address to the access list on your router:

Open your web browser and type the IP address for your wireless router. (For example, 192.168.1.1 or 172.16.0.0—check the documentation for your router to find the default IP address.)

Sign in with your user name and password, then look for a setting that says MAC Address Filter or something similar.

Add the MAC address you wrote down for your PC to the access list and save your changes.

On your PC, try to connect to the Wi-Fi network again.

Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on.

On a laptop, open Windows Mobility Center by selecting the Start button and then selecting Control Panel > Mobile PC > Windows Mobility Center.

Look in the Wireless Network section. If Wi-Fi is on, the button should say Turn wireless off.

Make sure the physical Wi‑Fi switch on your laptop is turned on. (An indicator light usually shows when it’s on.)

Check and make sure your PC isn’t in airplane mode.

Move closer to the router or access point if you can.

If you don’t see the network name at all, the router or access point might not be set to broadcast the network name. In this case, you’ll need to connect to it manually.

Open Manage Wireless Networks by selecting the Start button, and then selecting Control Panel. In the search box, type wireless and then select Manage wireless networks.

Select Add, and then select Manually create a network profile.

Type the network information.

If you want Windows to automatically connect when the network is in range, select the Start this connection automatically check box.

Select the Connect even if the network is not broadcasting check box, select Next, and then select Close.

The network will be added to your list of networks and will be available to connect to when your computer is in range of the network. To connect to the network, follow these steps:

Open Connect to a Network by selecting the network icon in the notification area.

Select Unnamed Network, select Connect, and then type the network information. The network will be added to your list of networks and will be available to connect to in the future when your computer is in range of the network..

Let Windows try to help you fix the problem. Try running the Network troubleshooter to see if it can diagnose and fix the problem.

Open the Network troubleshooter by right-clicking the network icon in the notification area and then selecting Troubleshoot problems.

The Network Troubleshooter (mentioned above) can help diagnose and fix common connection problems. After using that, try running the network commands below because the combination of doing these two things can help you get connected.

If your problem isn’t fixed after running the Network troubleshooter, try to:

Reset the TCP/IP stack.

Release the IP address.

Renew the IP address.

Flush and reset the DNS client resolver cache.

Here’s how to run networking commands in a command prompt:

Select the Start button . Type cmd in the search box, right-click cmd in the list, select Run as administrator, and then select Yes.

At the command prompt, run the following commands in the listed order and then check to see if that fixes your connection problem:

Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.

Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter.

Type ipconfig /release and press Enter.

Type ipconfig /renew and press Enter.

Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

This helps create a new connection to your Internet service provider (ISP). When you do this, everyone that is connected to your Wi-Fi network will be temporarily disconnected.

The steps you take to restart your modem and router can vary, but here are the general steps:

Unplug the power cable for the router from the power source.

Unplug the power cable for the modem from the power source.

Some modems have a backup battery. So if you unplug the modem and lights stay on, remove the battery from the modem.

Wait at least 30 seconds or so.

If you had to remove the battery from the modem, put it back in.

Plug the modem back into the power source. The lights on the modem will blink. Wait for them to stop blinking.

Plug your router back into the power source.

Wait a few minutes for the modem and router to fully power on. You can usually tell when they’re ready by looking at the status lights on the two devices.

On your PC, try to connect again.

Make sure it’s not a problem with your cable modem or Internet service provider (ISP). If it is, contact your ISP.

Select the Start button . Type cmd in the search box, right-click cmd in the list, select Run as administrator, and then select Yes.

At the command prompt, type ipconfig.

Look for the IP address listed next to Default gateway. Write down that address if you need to. For example, 192.168.1.1.

At the prompt, type ping and press Enter. For example, type ping 192.168.1.1 and press Enter.

The result should be something like this:

Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 4ms, Maximum = 5ms, Average = 4ms

If the ping is successful and you see results similar to the results above, but you can’t connect to the Internet on your PC, there may be a problem with your modem or Internet service provider (ISP).

If you’re still having trouble connecting to a network, it might be related to your network adapter.

Try using the Network Adapter troubleshooter to automatically find and fix some problems. This troubleshooter will disable and re-enable the adapter, and try some other common repairs.

Open the Network Adapter troubleshooter by selecting the Start button and then selecting Control Panel. In the search box, type troubleshooter and then select Troubleshooting > View all > Network Adapter.

Update the network adapter driver. An outdated or incompatible network adapter driver can cause connection problems. Check to see if an updated driver is available.

Open Device Manager by selecting the Start button , selecting Control Panel, selecting System and Security, and then, under System, selecting Device Manager . If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

In Device Manager, select Network adapters, right-click your adapter, and then select Properties.

Select the Driver tab, and then select Update Driver.

Select Search automatically for updated driver software.

If Windows can’t find a new driver for your network adapter, visit the PC manufacturer’s website and download the latest network adapter driver from there. If your PC can’t connect to the Internet, you’ll need to download a driver on a different PC and save it to a USB flash drive so you can install the driver on your PC. You’ll need to know the PC manufacturer and model name or number.

Here are some things to check and try with your router if you’re at home and having trouble getting connected.

If you don’t see the network name, sign in to your router and check to see if it’s set to broadcast the network name.

Connect your PC to your router using an Ethernet cable.

Open your web browser and type the IP address for your wireless router. (For example, 192.168.1.1 or 172.16.0.0—check the documentation for your router to find the default IP address.)

Sign in with your user name and password, then make sure an option labeled Enable SSID Broadcast, Wireless SSID broadcast, or something similar is turned on. This setting is often on a Wireless Settings page.

Check to see if your Wi-Fi network uses Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering for security. If it does, you’ll need to add the MAC address for your PC to the access list on your router before you can connect.

Select the Start button. Type cmd in the search box and right-click cmd in the list. Select Run as administrator, and then select Yes.

At the command prompt, type ipconfig /all.

Write down the address that appears next to Physical Address for your wireless network adapter. This is the address you’ll need to add to the access list on your router.

To add the MAC address to the access list on your router:

Open your web browser and type the IP address for your wireless router. (For example, 192.168.1.1 or 172.16.0.0—check the documentation for your router to find the default IP address.)

Sign in with your user name and password, then look for a setting that says MAC Address Filter or something similar.

Add the MAC address you wrote down for your PC to the access list and save your changes.

On your PC, try to connect to the Wi-Fi network again.