There are a few things you can do if your Chromebook won’t connect to Wi-Fi. If you’re facing any of the following Wi-Fi problems, follow this guide.
- Wireless networks aren’t detected by your Chromebook.
- Your Chromebook is unable to join any networks.
- Your Chromebook is connected to Wi-Fi, but you can’t access the internet.
This article is applicable to all Chrome OS computers, regardless of the manufacturer (Acer, Google, HP, Lenovo, Dell, Samsung, Toshiba, etc).
Possible Reasons Why Chromebook Won’t Connect To Wi-Fi
Chromebooks are made by dozens of companies, but they all run the same operating system, so troubleshooting wifi connectivity issues on all Chrome OS devices is the same. There are a few possibilities for why your Chromebook won’t connect to WiFi.
- Wi-Fi is turned off on your Chromebook.
- There are problems with communication between your Chromebook and your router.
- Wireless network competition
- Internal hardware problems.
- Check the router and modem before troubleshooting. Check if you’re using the correct password.
Note: If any of your devices are unable to connect to your home network, contact your internet service provider.
Methods To Fix The “Chromebook Won’t Connect To Wi-Fi” Issue
To solve the problem of Chromebook won’t connect to Wi-Fi, try the following methods in order.
1. Find the Wi-Fi button
Some Chromebooks have a physical button that allows you to turn on and off wireless networking. Make sure it hasn’t been unintentionally set to Off.
2. Check if Wi-Fi is turned on
Check the toggle switch beside Wi-Fi in the Network section of your Chromebook’s settings. To view your connections, pick the Wi-Fi symbol in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
3. Disconnect from the network and reconnect
If your Chromebook is connected to Wi-Fi but you can’t get online, detach it from the network and reconnect it. Go to your Wi-Fi settings, select the network, disconnect and then reconnect it.
4. Update Chromebook
Update your Chromebook to the most recent version of Chrome OS if possible.
5. Restart the Chromebook after turning off your router
After disabling the router, restart your Chromebook to resolve any communication issues. Turn the router back on and attempt reconnecting once your Chromebook reboots.
6. Disable the networks that you want to use
When trying to establish a new connection, having a preferred network can cause issues. To manage your favorite networks, go to Wi-Fi settings and click the right-arrow next to Known networks.
7. Run Chrome Connectivity Diagnostics
Chrome Connectivity Diagnostics is a Chrome extension that helps Chromebook users troubleshoot network connectivity. It can identify and fix any Wi-Fi faults.
8. Hard Reset your Chromebook
When your Chromebook boots, press and hold the Refresh key and the Power key at the same time.
Note: You should save anything you wish to keep to your Google Drive before performing a hard reset.
9. Use a USB Wi-Fi adaptor
If you’ve determined that your Chromebook is having an internal problem,
consider connecting using one of the best USB Wi-Fi adapters.
10. Use Ethernet
If your Chromebook includes an Ethernet port, you can connect it to your modem directly to avoid any Wi-Fi problems. If the connection is working, the issue might be the Wi-Fi receiver on your Chromebook.
11. Powerwash the Chromebook
Access your system’s advanced options to powerwash your Chromebook and reset it to factory settings as a last resort. Any software problems will be resolved by it.
Warning: During a powerwash, everything on your hard drive will be deleted.
Final Words
If the problem still persists, contact the manufacturer. You may be able to get it professionally fixed for free if the warranty of your Chromebook is still active. You should consider upgrading to a newer system if you have to pay to get it serviced.
Yes, you can watch Netflix on a Chromebook.
Yes, you can install Microsoft Office on Chromebook.
Yes, you can use Word on a Chromebook.