Fix: Lenovo IdeaPad WiFi Not Working or Stopped Showing

Any laptop user needs a functional WiFi connection, and Lenovo IdeaPad customers are no different. However, occasionally consumers may experience problems with their Lenovo IdeaPad’s WiFi connection. This can be frustrating, especially when the WiFi connection abruptly breaks down or goes entirely.

A dependable WiFi connection is essential for maintaining an internet connection and using online resources. A functional WiFi connection is necessary whether you check your emails, participate in an online meeting, or stream your favorite TV show.

If you are a Lenovo IdeaPad user experiencing WiFi issues on your laptop, don’t fret because you are alone. Several other users have also reported such issues. WiFi issues are generally software-related and easy to fix. This article will look at the causes and fixes for your Lenovo IdeaPad WiFi issues.

Common Causes of Lenovo IdeaPad WiFi Issues

There can be several reasons why you are having WiFi issues on your Lenovo IdeaPad. However, the most common reason is that the network adapter drivers are outdated, corrupt, or missing.

Faulty or missing drivers can lead to WiFi connectivity issues, and the WiFi option often disappears in this case. There can also be other reasons; here are some of them:

1. Network adapter issues
2. Your system is not up to date.
3. Power management issues
4. Bluetooth is interfering with the WiFi connection.
5. Hardware issues
6. Problem with the TCP/IP stack
7. Your network is not allowed on the Firewall.

Troubleshooting Fixes

Now that you know the causes of Lenovo IdeaPad WiFi issues, here are some troubleshooting fixes you can try to resolve the problem. Make sure you try all the fixes before coming to a conclusion. We will first do some basic troubleshooting, and then we will move to advanced.

Fix 1: Check WiFi Connectivity

The first thing to do if your Lenovo IdeaPad is having WiFi problems is to make sure it is connected to a WiFi network. You can do this by opening the Quick Settings panel in the taskbar’s lower right corner.

If there is no network name below the WiFi icon, your device is not connected to a WiFi network. In this case, try to connect to the WiFi network by clicking the WiFi icon, choosing your WiFi network, and, if necessary, providing the network password.

Try resetting your router and device to see if it helps if you’re still having trouble connecting to the WiFi network. You can also try restarting your computer to see if that helps.

Fix 2: Disable and Re-enable the WiFi Adapter

This issue can also be resolved by disabling and re-enabling the WiFi adapter. The WiFi adapter is responsible for establishing a WiFi connection on your Lenovo IdeaPad. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and click on Device Manager.
2. In the Device Manager window, locate the Network adapters section and expand it by clicking on the arrow next to it.
3. Locate your Lenovo IdeaPad’s WiFi adapter, which may be called something like “Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260” or “Realtek RTL8821AE Wireless.”
4. Right-click on the adapter and select Disable device from the context menu.
5. Wait for a few seconds.
6. Right-click on the adapter again and select Enable device from the context menu.
7. Your WiFi adapter should now be re-enabled and working properly.
8. If the issue persists, move down to the next solution.

Fix 3: Update or Reinstall Network Drivers

If you’ve tried the above two solutions and your Lenovo IdeaPad’s WiFi is still not working, it may be time to update or reinstall your drivers.

Drivers are software components that enable communication between your hardware and operating system. Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause issues with your WiFi connection.

Note: Updating the drivers needs an active internet connection. So you will need to use either Ethernet or USB Tethering for the internet connection. To use USB Tethering, connect your IdeaPad to your smartphone and select USB Tethering from the pop-up menu that appears.

To update your drivers, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and click on Device Manager.
2. Locate “Network adapters” and expand the list.
3. Right-click on your WiFi adapter and select “Update driver.”
4. Choose “Search automatically for drivers” and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
5. Once the drivers are installed, restart your computer and try using WiFi again.

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to reinstall the driver. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and click on Device Manager.
2. Locate “Network adapters” and expand the list.
3. Right-click on your WiFi adapter and select “Uninstall device.”
4. Restart your computer.
5. Windows should automatically reinstall the driver. If not, repeat steps 1-2 and click on the PC-like icon (Scan for hardware changes) in the top menu. This should prompt Windows to reinstall the driver.

If neither of these options works, you may need to download and install the driver manually from Lenovo’s website. Visit the Lenovo support website, enter your Lenovo IdeaPad’s model number, and locate the appropriate driver for your WiFi adapter.

Fix 4: Run the Built-in Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter to help with your network issues. It can detect and fix various issues with your network settings. To run the troubleshooter, follow these simple steps:

1. Press the Windows key + I simultaneously to open Settings.
2. Click on System from the left pane.
3. Click on Troubleshoot in the right pane.
4. Then, click on Other troubleshooters.
5. Find the Network Adapter and click on Run next to it. The troubleshooting will now start.
6. Check if your WiFi connectivity has been restored once the troubleshooter completes its diagnostic and repair process.

Fix 5: Change WiFi Properties

If you’ve tried all of the other fixes and your Lenovo IdeaPad’s WiFi is still not working or has stopped showing up altogether, you can try changing the WiFi properties. Changing certain properties of your WiFi connection could help improve connectivity. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and click on Device Manager.
2. Find the WiFi adapter in the list of devices and right-click on it. Select Properties from the context menu.
3. In the Properties window, click on the Advanced tab.
4. Look for a property called “802.11n Mode” and change it from “Enabled” to “Disabled.” If this option is not available, look for a similar property related to the 802.11 protocol and disable it.
5. Click OK to save the changes and close the Properties window.
6. Restart your Lenovo IdeaPad and check if the WiFi is working again.

Fix 6: Reset the TCP/IP Stack

One possible solution to fix WiFi issues on a Lenovo IdeaPad is to reset the TCP/IP stack. The TCP/IP stack is a set of protocols that governs the way data is transferred between devices on a network. Resetting this stack can help resolve issues with network connectivity, including WiFi problems.

To reset the TCP/IP stack, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu that appears. If you’re using Windows 11 or later, you can search for “Command Prompt” in the Start menu, right-click it, and select “Run as administrator.”
2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one and press Enter:

netsh winsock reset

netsh int ip reset

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

3. These commands reset the TCP/IP stack to its default settings.
4. Finally, restart your computer and check if the WiFi issue is resolved.

Fix 7: Change Power Management Settings

If the WiFi issue persists, then you might want to check your power management settings. Sometimes, power management settings can cause WiFi connectivity issues, and changing them could resolve the problem.

To change the power management settings, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and click on Device Manager.
2. Expand the Network adapters section, right-click on your WiFi adapter, and select Properties.
3. Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
4. Click OK to save the changes.

This should prevent your WiFi adapter from being turned off to save power, which could be the reason why it is not working. You might need to restart your Lenovo IdeaPad for the changes to take effect.

Fix 8: Disable Bluetooth

Bluetooth and WiFi may interfere with one another, which can lead to connectivity problems. Disabling Bluetooth should resolve any issues that were caused by the interference. Follow these instructions to turn off Bluetooth on your Lenovo IdeaPad:

1. Use the Windows key + A to access the Action Center.
2. Click on the Bluetooth icon to disable it.

As an alternative, you can turn off Bluetooth through the Device Manager by doing what is described below:

1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard and click on Device Manager.
2. Right-click on the Bluetooth device you found.
3. Choose Disable device.

Once Bluetooth is turned off, try connecting to your WiFi network once more to see whether the problem has been fixed.

Fix 9: Reset Network Settings

Another potential fix is to reset your network settings. Resetting network settings can be a useful tool for resolving connectivity issues, as it reinstalls network adapters and resets other components to their original settings. This can fix any issues that may have occurred due to misconfigured settings or outdated drivers.

However, it’s important to note that resetting network settings should be considered a last resort. You should try other troubleshooting steps first, such as checking for driver updates, restarting your router, or running network troubleshooters.

Follow these steps to reset the network settings on your Lenovo IdeaPad:

1. Press the Windows key + I simultaneously to open Settings.
2. Click on Network & internet on the left pane.
3. Select Advanced network settings.
4. Click on Network reset.
5. Read the description of what will happen and click on Reset now.
6. Confirm that you want to reset all network settings by clicking Yes.
7. Your Lenovo IdeaPad will reboot, and all network adapters will be reset to their factory settings.

Keep in mind that after resetting your network settings, you may need to reconfigure any network software you have installed, such as a VPN. Additionally, if you had previously customised any network settings, you will need to set them up again.

Fix 10: Restore Firewall Settings

Firewalls are crucial for preventing unauthorised access to your computer and network, but occasionally they might be a bit overzealous and block genuine connections.

If your firewall settings are too restrictive, they could be preventing your Lenovo IdeaPad from connecting to the WiFi network. In this case, you can try restoring your firewall settings to their defaults.

To restore your firewall settings, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialogue box.
2. Type “control” (without quotes) into the Run box and hit Enter to open the Control Panel.
3. Click on “System and Security” in the Control Panel.
4. Click on “Windows Defender Firewall.”
5. On the left-hand side of the window, click on Restore defaults.
6. Click on the Restore defaults button in the right pane.
7. Click on Yes to confirm that you want to restore your firewall settings to their default state.
8. Restart your computer.

After your computer restarts, try connecting to your WiFi network again. If your firewall settings were the problem, this should fix the issue.

Fix 11: Update Windows

Another solution you should consider is updating your Windows operating system. Windows updates often contain bug fixes and security patches, and they can also improve the overall performance of your device, including its WiFi connectivity. Here’s how to update Windows:

1. Press the Windows key + I simultaneously to open Settings.
2. Click on Windows Update from the left pane.
3. Click on Check for updates.
4. If updates are available, click on Download and install.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Check if the WiFi connectivity issue is resolved.

Fix 12: Run SFC/DISM Scan

If you have tried all the above troubleshooting steps and still can’t get your Lenovo IdeaPad’s WiFi to work, then you may need to run a System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) scan.

These scans can help fix corrupted or missing system files that may be causing the WiFi issue. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
2. Type “sfc /scannow” (without quotes) in the Command Prompt window and press Enter. This will start the SFC scan.
3. Wait for the scan to complete. It may take some time to finish, depending on the speed of your computer and the size of your hard drive.
4. Type “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” (without quotes) in the Command Prompt window and press Enter. This will start the DISM scan.
5. Again, wait for the scan to complete. This may also take some time.
6. After completing the scans, restart your computer and check if your Lenovo IdeaPad’s WiFi is working again.

If the scans were successful, your WiFi issue should now be resolved. If not, then move down to the next step.

Fix 13: Perform a System Restore

If none of the previous solutions has worked for you, a system restore may be necessary. A system restore will revert your Lenovo IdeaPad back to a previous state where your WiFi was working properly.

Here’s how to perform a system restore:

1. Type “system restore” in the search bar. Select “Create a restore point” from the search results that appear. This will open the System Properties window.
2. Make sure you are in the System Protection tab.
3. Click on System Restore.
4. Click on Next and select a restore point from the list that shows up. Make sure to choose a restore point from a time when your WiFi was working correctly.
5. Click Next and then Finish.
6. Your system will restart automatically and boot up in the restored point you selected.

Note that performing a system restore will undo any changes made to your system after the selected restore point. This means any programs or updates installed after that point will be removed. However, your personal files and documents should not be affected.

After the system restore is complete, your Lenovo IdeaPad should be back to the state it was in at the selected restore point. Check to see if your WiFi is now working correctly.

If the issue persists after trying all the above solutions, contact Lenovo support for further assistance.

Wrapping up

Although WiFi problems can be annoying and inconvenient, they can also be fixed. Faulty drivers, incorrect settings, hardware issues, and interference from other devices are some of the most typical causes of WiFi issues. Make sure to try all the solutions mentioned in this article. If the above solutions don’t work, you might need to contact Lenovo support or a qualified expert for additional help. Let us know in the comments below if you have any further questions.