These steps are for a device with the stock Android operating system. There are many variants of Android-based smartphones and tablets. Alternatively, you can disable and enable the Wi-Fi adapter through the Device Manager or the BIOS.
When you install the software for the Wi-Fi adapter, an icon will then show in the Windows notification area, giving you access to enable and disable the device. If the Wi-Fi adapter is not an external device, it is either an internal PCI expansion card or built onto the motherboard. If there is no button or witch, disconnecting the adapter from the computer disables the device. However, there is the possibility that the Wi-Fi adapter itself (e.g., an external version, like a USB Wi-Fi adapter) has an On/Off button or switch. The Wi-Fi button mentioned above is not available with most desktop computers. Wi-Fi adapters are also available for desktop computers. Disable in BIOS setupĪs is the case with enabling the Wi-Fi device, it can also be disabled in the computer's BIOS setup.
If no Wi-Fi adapter is found in Device Manager, the Wi-Fi adapter drivers are not installed.
Right-click the adapter name and select Disable from the pop-up menu. Once the wireless network card icon is seen right-click and select Disable.įind the Wi-Fi adapter in the list of hardware devices. If so, select this option and then select Change adapter settings. If no Disable option is available in the pop-up menu, there may be an option called Open Network and Sharing Center. Right-click the Wi-Fi icon in the Windows notification area and select Disable (or Turn off) from the pop-up menu. As seen in the picture, some laptops use Fn and F12 key to enable and disable Wi-Fi, and shows an orange LED when disabled and blue when enabled. Some laptops enable and disable Wi-Fi using the Fn key and one of the function keys (F1-F12). When disabled, the button should not be illuminated or illuminated as orange or red, or the switch should be in the Off position. Find the button or switch and make sure it is disabled. It is usually found on the front of the laptop or above the keyboard. Some laptops have an On/Off button or switch for the Wi-Fi device, like the button shown in the picture. Wi-Fi can be disabled by performing any of the steps below. However, it is very unlikely the Wi-Fi device would be disabled in BIOS. Enable Wi-Fi in BIOS setupįinally, there is also the option of enabling the Wi-Fi device in the computer's BIOS setup. Right-click the adapter name and select Enable from the pop-up menu. Click the Device Manager link in the System window.įind the Wi-Fi adapter in the list of hardware devices. In Windows Vista and later, there is no Hardware tab. Once the icon for the wireless network card is seen, right-click it and select Enable.
If no Enable option is available in the pop-up menu, there may be an option called Open Network and Sharing Center. Right-click with your mouse on the icon and select the option for enabling (or turning off) the Wi-Fi device in the pop-up menu. Look in the Windows notification area to find the icon for Wi-Fi or wireless Internet. In the picture, the F12 key also has an orange LED when disabled and blue when enabled. As seen in the picture, some laptops use the Fn and F12 keys to enable and disable Wi-Fi.
When enabled, the button should be illuminated as blue, or the switch should be in the On position. Find the button or switch, and make sure it's enabled. It is usually found on the front edge of the laptop or above the keyboard. Some laptops have an On/Off button or switch for the Wi-Fi connection, like the button shown in the picture. Wi-Fi can be enabled by performing any of the steps below.