WiFi networks have become not only common but also necessary for our comfort. We use WiFi on our devices to connect to the world, and losing that connection can feel disastrous. Find out in this article about the most common WiFi issues that you can fix yourself.
It is impossible to overstate how important the Internet has become over recent years in every area of our lives. Quick, easy-to-access WiFi connections became one of the most desired commodities, often prized even above hot water. WiFi networks are established in our homes, schools, hospitals, at work, in public – everywhere.
But just like any technological advancement, WiFi also comes with its problems and vulnerabilities. What many people don’t understand is that most of these problems are easily solved if you know where to check. Below, we have compiled five common issues with WiFi networks:
1. No Internet Access but You Are Connected
“Think of it like a road system. Wi-Fi is the road inside your neighborhood, and your device can move freely on it. The Internet is the highway. If the on-ramp is blocked, you’re not going anywhere, even though the local road is perfectly fine.”TP-Link
There are occasions when you have a strong signal and connection but no internet access. It can be caused by many things, such as adapter connections, being out of range, or incorrect network settings. The first thing to do is to check your network address to see if it’s in its assigned range. If you’re using a small network, it at times runs out of addresses to assign. Your devices create a self-assigned address, and this cannot route data elsewhere.
Also, there are systems that give you a clue as to where the issue is. If your WiFi connection icon shows an exclamation point, it means there is an issue. You should not assume that your WiFi network is the one with a problem, though.
Check your firewall settings too. Some of them restrict access to new WiFi networks without permission. There are firewalls that will prompt you to accept or reject access. However, there are those that will silently block the connection, and you have to check manually. If all of these are okay, then you can be sure that your WiFi connection is the one at fault.
2. Inconsistency with Your Network Connection
The main reasons you’re experiencing network issues could be distance from the router, an erratic broadband connection, network congestion, or an incorrect base station connection. If the distance is the reason for poor connectivity, move closer to the router. Different routers have different ranges over which their networking is effective.
With the wrong base station, you need to understand that your device may at times not know which network has the most reliable connection. If you’re using WiFi with identical security settings and routers, that’s when this problem arises. You can select the base station to connect to in order to solve this issue manually.
It can be quite difficult to fix an erratic broadband connection. However, you could plug an Ethernet cable into the router, and you will also need a bandwidth tester, which you probably don’t have. You can purchase a network monitor that shows you network performance. When there are many WiFi networks in your area, they can affect your WiFi performance.
If you are using an office or home network, it is easy to solve this issue. Switch from the default channel automatically assigned to your device. If you have a 5GHz band, setting it to channel 149 solves this problem. You can also use WiFi Explorer to see which WiFi networks are in use around you.
3. You Can’t Find the WiFi Networks That Are Available
“Networks crash, even on good days. Sometimes the smartest fix is patience.”Compareinternet.com
You are sure there should be a network available where you are, but it does not appear on the list of available WiFi networks. The first thing to do is to check whether you accidentally disabled your WiFi. Also, check if your device is in airplane mode; this disrupts WiFi connectivity.
Also, your bandwidth can affect your connectivity. There are devices that can only connect to the 2.4GHz band. The network may also be down, and all you need to do is wait for it to come back. You may also be out of range, or the network may be closed. Check these factors before calling a tech guy.
4. Too Many Devices Connected
If you have many devices connected to your network, it becomes difficult for it to handle them all. It may start behaving inconsistently, but the solution is disconnecting some devices from it. It will make your WiFi more stable. Some WiFi networks do not support high capacity, and the more devices you connect, the more performance drops.
5. Unable to Connect with the Correct Password
“Microwaves, baby monitors, Bluetooth devices, and fluorescent lights can all disrupt your Wi-Fi signal. Keep your gateway away from these devices and avoid placing it near large metal appliances.”T-Mobile
There are a couple of reasons why a network asks you for either a username or password, and you input it, but you still have no connection. The first thing to do is check whether you used the correct capitalization and spacing in the username and password.
The other thing to check is whether you got connected to the right network. They may have similar names, which can confuse you. Also, if the connection malfunctions or becomes overloaded, it will reject any new connections.
Conclusion
From the above issues, we see that the most common problems with WiFi connectivity can be solved on your own. Before condemning your network provider for shoddy services, check if the problem lies on your side.
Have you experienced any of these issues? Kindly share with us how you fixed them in the comments.
