Wireless connectivity problems can be quite common and are easily one of the most frustrating issues you will come across with your PC. However, there can often be a simple solution to WiFi connectivity issues and it is always best to rule out the most obvious first.
Below we discuss a few simple ways through which you can fix all your WiFi connectivity issues on a Windows 8.1 operating system:
1. Check that WiFi is enabled
Before reading on it is always worth ensuring that you have WiFi enabled on your PC or Laptop. Particularly on a laptop, users can often inadvertently toggle the WiFi from on to off – depending on the model you are using, this can be done via one of the function keys or a slider button on the front or side of your laptop.
More details on this are available in our article ‘Acer Wireless Networking not Working?’
2. Restart the Wireless Router
Like the previous step, this will just ensure that the problem is not a simple issue, in this case with the Wireless Router. Wireless routers can often require a restart to clear any issues so ensure you try this before moving on to the next step. Test your PC WiFi connection on restart.
3. Clear the DNS Cache
The DNS cache can become corrupted over time and the best way to address this is to clear the cache. To do so carry out the following steps:
- click on the Search icon on the Charms Bar (the name for the main Toolbar in Windows 8)
- type Command Prompt in the Search Box
- right click on the search result and select the Run as Administrator option
- Type the command IPCONFIG /FLUSHDNS and press Enter
- Type Exit and press Enter
- Restart your PC and see if your WiFi issues are resolved
4. TCP/ICP Stack Settings
One of the primary reasons for WiFi connectivity issues is TCP/IP settings misconfiguration. This issue can be resolved through Window’s Net Shell utility. Just follow the steps set out below:
- click on the Search icon on the Charms Bar
- type Command Prompt in the Search Box
- right click on the search result and select the Run as Administrator option
- Type the command NETSH INT IP RESET C:RESTLOG.TXT and press Enter
- Type the following commands (in order) to disable TCP/IP and then enable RSS:
- NETSH INT TCP SET HEURISTICS DISABLED (press Enter)→
- NETSH INT TCP SET GLOBAL AUTOTUNINGLEVEL=DISABLED (press Enter)
- NETSH INT TCP SET GLOBAL RSS=ENABLED (press Enter)
5. Disable WiFi Powersave feature
Depending on your system settings, your WiFi Adapter may be turned off when it is in an idle state for a given duration. You can troubleshoot this problem through the following steps:
- Press Windows Key + W together to launch the Start Search option
- Type Network and Sharing in the search box and press Enter to open the relevant option
- the WiFi Status screen will show when you select your WiFi Network
- Select the Properties button
- In WiFi Properties click on Configure
- On the Power Management Tab uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option and then click OK
This is not a malfunction but a feature. Your laptop runs on a battery and therefore tends to switch off all power draining tasks when the laptop is idle. Your PC may also do this to prevent the CPU from overheating. Disabling the save power option overrides this.
6. Update Network Adapter Drivers
If you have recently installed, switched to, or upgraded to Windows 8.1, your Network Adapter Drivers may not have been updated. This would negatively impact the performance of your WiFi.
In this case, you can choose to either update the Drivers yourself, or use a Driver Update Tool.
Revert to previous Network Drivers:
- On the Start Screen, type Device Manager and hit Enter
- In the list of Driver categories, enlarge the Network Adapters to view all the items
- Right click the Wireless Connection option and select the Update Driver Software option
- On the next screen, click on the option Browse My Computer for Driver Software
- Next, click on the “Let Me Pick From a List of Device Drivers on My Computer” option
- On the Select Network Adapter option that follows, you will find a number of Device Drivers listed for this particular hardware
- Select the Driver with the Manufacturer’s Name rather than Microsoft and click Next
- Once the installation finishes, Restart your computer for the changes to take effect
If you prefer to use a Driver Update Tool to automate WiFi and other Driver updates, use the link below to download Driver Updater
Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:
- You can update device drivers automatically
- The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
- The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
- Automatic driver updates are 100% safe
Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.
Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app
Step 2
Scan all devices
Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically
Troubleshoot networking and wifi drivers problems
Windows recently ended support for Windows 8
Damian says
Can u help me please?
My WiFi and airplane mode on/off buttons are disappeared.
Please send me an email with your answer…
Thanks!
Janet Hudgins says
i have an older Acer Aspire which first wouldn’t connect to wireless, and now is completely dead. I’m charging it but it’s been some time and it doesn’t seem to be charging. The power light is on and won’t turn off. I should add that this all started earlier to day when it was trying to shut down. I got it running again but it never connected despite all the help items in the community. I hope I don’t have to take it to a shop. (I’m using another computer for this). Appreciate your help.
DriversExpert says
I assume you are connecting to the same wireless connection to post this? If not, please test the wireless connection using another device. Also, was the computer in question connecting to this wireless network in the past?
DriversExpert says
do you mean from the taskbar or did you have a shortcut? If it has disappeared from the taskbar you can open the ‘charms bar’ and click settings > click on wireless network icon > under ‘airplane mode’, slide to ‘on’
Deirdre says
My name is Deirdre – I have just installed Windows 10 – which was sent to me for free – now I can’t get into my Wi-Fi – at all – can’t get to my email or anything else – can you please help me out with this – I am an 80 year old lady but love my PC — as I can’t access the emails – could you please answer me on this site thank you – Deirdre McLaren
DriversExpert says
Hi Deirdre – you may need to setup your network and email again – are any of your old files there or did the install wipe everything from your computer?
john says
Sir my laptop just issued limited wifi access last week after we restarted. What do you think the prolem is cause I already tried everything that is said above
DriversExpert says
Hi john – did you recently instal anything or update the OS? Was the wifi ok before the restart?
pedro says
My wifi device is not showing on device manager of windows, what can i do about it ? i can’t turn it on/off using the shortcuts fn+f3. ps:im using a acer notebook e1-572 and my wifi device is Qualcomm Atheros AR5B93, please help me, i dont know what to do anymore!
DriversExpert says
Hi Pedro – has it worked in the past at all and if so, did you install anything before it stopped working? There can sometimes be a hard on/off switch for wifi as well as a function key or other one.
Gourav Sharma says
Hello Sir,
I am facing an issue with my wifi and i hope you can help me fix it.
As i turn on my wifi, the list of available connection shows all the nearby connections EXCEPT my home(private) connection to which i usually connect.
After restarting, a ‘Script Error’ pop up appears on my main screen and ever since i am unable to connect to my wifi home connection.
the error pop up states :
“An error has occurred in the script on this page.
Line: 57
Char: 13
Error: The value of the property ‘run is null or undefined, not a Function object
Code: 0
URL: http://service.updateadmin.com/client/run.htm?GUID=
{246FB92E-3C1A-41C2-98DB-C8AED05C86D}&CID=
Do you want to continue running scripts on this page?”
Sir please revert back with any possible solution.
DriversExpert says
are other devices able to see your home wifi (smartphone or tablet)?
gaurav thakkar says
sir,i have trouble in having access problem to the router which i want to connect can u please suggest me what i do????
DriversExpert says
can you give us some more details – did you have problems before or was it working previously? Have you updated OS?
MrsL says
My computer all of a sudden will not object to my wifi or wired connection while my phone and tablets will connect to wifi easily. I tried all troubleshooting and fix as administrator, and It will work for about 2 min then cut off again. I am now resetting my pc and keeping my files. Do you think this will help? How do I reinstall my realtek wireless LAN driver?
Fox says
Good day, im currently having problems enabling my wifi and also my audio is not working, previously it was working fine but now the wifi adapter is grayed out. I have tried unistalling and updating the current drivers but the problem does not go away. I am using a Dell m6800, OS 8.1..
Brandon says
My asus F502C wifi adapter stoped working completely, I installed updates and it just stopped when I was about to transfer to windows 10…. I have already restored back to before the update but nothing… Tried everything that you left and nothing…. I went to devices and its not even showing up at all… Tried everything and nothing… Do i have to search for the driver and re install it because of corruption in the file because of windows retarded updates?…
mushtaq ahmad says
hi i am unable to use wifi plz tel me how to download wifi driver
DriversExpert says
Hi Brandon – you can use our software (download link at end of article) to run a free Drivers Scan – then you can either search for the recommended Drivers (listed in the report) or you can register the software for these updates to install automatically
arthur says
hello iam using Aspire E5 573 all the drivers have installed except wifi drivers even after downloading from the acer website what could be the problem?
Anshita says
Hello sir,
I have an acer e5-573g laptop. I didn’t have any bluetooth drivers installed on my laptop therefore i downloaded it from the official acer website.
Once i installed them, bluetooth is working fine but WiFi is not working. There is no option to switch on or switch off WiFi.
I have tried installing drivers from the official acer website for wireless LAN, but with no success….
Please help?
Thanks in advance.
jb says
Hi sir my new acer aspire e 14 laptop have a problem when im turning on my wifi on my laptop after 5 mins it will restart could u please help me?
Khang says
Hi there, currently i am using windows 8.1 and i have some problem with my internet. When i ping my modem which is 10.1.1.1, i faced the request error or high ping (300-1000) (normal ping 1-4)every 5 to 9 ping, previously i did not have this error at all, is there a way to fix this? Email me is possible thanks
amazon says
sir,
i have acer laptop aspire 5738. i have installed win7 64bit. in my laptop wifi problem is occurs last week. on windows start menu bar icon notification wifi cross icon is show.Driver is intalled and updated. but it does not show wifi connection. please help me.
iulian Filip says
hello i am unable to use my wifi i did follow all steps known but still identical problem i am using a dell vostro , can u help me, please ?!