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Why Is My Wi-Fi Not Working, But Ethernet Is

by Parth Shah

While nothing beats a dedicated ethernet connection for high-speed internet speeds, most people prefer a Wi-Fi network for convenience. However, many times Wi-Fi stops working on Windows but ethernet functions perfectly. Here’s why your Wi-Fi isn’t working, but Ethernet is.

1. Check Router

You should first check the home or office router. If your router is malfunctioning, the Wi-Fi network won’t show up on your computer. You should restart the router, wait for a couple of minutes, and switch it on again.

If you have an outdated router, install the latest firmware on it. The steps to update router firmware differs from one manufacturer to another.

TP-Link is one such popular router company out there. You can use the company’s official guide to update the firmware version. Asus is another known name among power users. Check the official documentation to install the latest firmware on your Asus router.

2. Disconnect Ethernet

When you connect an Ethernet cable to your Mac or Windows, the system prefers it over the Wi-Fi network. You need to disconnect the Ethernet cable so that your PC or Mac can connect to Wi-Fi.

3. Reconnect Wi-Fi Adapter

Are you using a Wi-Fi adapter to establish a wireless connection on your PC? You can temporarily disconnect the Wi-Fi adapter and try connecting it again. If a specific USB port isn’t working, use another port and check if Wi-Fi is working or not.

4. Run Network Troubleshooter

Windows comes with a built-in troubleshooter to fix network connection issues. You can use it to fix Wi-Fi errors on PC.

1. Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys. Go to System > Troubleshoot menu.

2. Click Other troubleshooters.

3. Run the Network and Internet troubleshooter and follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Reconnect Wi-Fi

Did you recently change the Wi-Fi network name or password at your home or office? In that case, the Ethernet connection works, but the Wi-Fi doesn’t. You need to forget the current Wi-Fi network and try again. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Head to Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys.

2. Select Wi-Fi under Network & internet.

3. Expand Manage known networks.

4. Click Forget beside your saved network.

5. Go back to the Wi-Fi menu, expand Show available networks, and connect to a wireless network.

6. Reinstall Network Adapter Drivers

Corrupt network adapter drivers can lead to glitches in the Wi-Fi network. It’s time to reinstall network adapter drivers from the Device Manager menu.

1. Right-click on the Windows key and launch the Device Manager menu.

2. Expand Network adapters.

3. Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter. Select Uninstall device.

4. Restart the PC and try checking the Wi-Fi network again.

7. Flush DNS

A corrupt DNS (Domain Name System) cache interferes with Wi-Fi connectivity on Windows. You can flush the DNS and respective cache using the steps below.

1. Press the Windows key and search for Command Prompt. Run it as administrator.

2. Enter the following commands and hit Enter after each.

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

3. Use the following command now.

Ipconfig /flushdns

Close the Command Prompt menu and establish a wireless network again.

8. Reset Winshock

Winshock plays a major role in connecting your PC to the internet. Although you can’t reinstall it, there is a way to reset Winshock on Windows.

1. Launch the Command Prompt as administrator (check the steps above).

2. Type the command below and hit Enter.

netsh winsock reset catalog

3. Use the following commands to reset IPv4 and IPv6 stacks and press Enter after each one.

netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log
netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log

Now, quit the Command Prompt menu and restart the PC.

9. Use IPv4 or IPv6

You can try turning off one of the internet protocols (IPv4 or IPv6) and try connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Both protocols usually work fine, but if Wi-Fi isn’t working, use the steps below to make changes.

1. Open the Wi-Fi menu in Windows Settings (refer to the steps above).

2. Scroll to Advanced network settings.

3. Expand the Wi-Fi card and open additional properties.

4. Click Edit beside IP assignment.

5. Select Manual and pick one of the IP settings. Hit Save.

Wi-Fi should start working as usual.

Wi-Fi Not Working But Ethernet Is

You can also disable the VPN network temporarily and establish a Wi-Fi network on Windows. If you have a buggy Wi-Fi adapter, get a new one from the local store or Amazon.  

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