How do I troubleshoot my wireless network? (2025)

The following article assists you in troubleshooting wireless network problems with routers, wireless access points, wireless extenders, and wireless USB adapters.

To troubleshoot wireless network problems:

For new routers that have yet to be connected to the internet, refer the installation guide and user manual that was supplied with the router. The manuals can also be found on the NETGEAR Support website.

If the router has been connected to the internet and worked in the past, confirm the signal from your internet service provider (ISP) is not the problem.

1. Turn off the wireless function and directly connect your computer to the router with an Ethernet cable.
2. Reboot the computer and check for an internet connection.
3. If there is still no internet connection reboot the router and any modems in use.
4. You can also repeat this scenario with your computer directly connected to the modem instead of the router.
5. If you are still not getting an internet connection, contact your internet service provider.
6. For additional solutions, seeI recently lost my Internet connection; how do I get my connection back?

If you are able to access the internet with a wired connection but not wirelessly, your wireless network may be not be emitting a signal. To enable the wireless router signal, see the following:

If you cannot access the wireless network because of an issue with your password, seeHow do I change my NETGEAR router's WiFi password or network name (SSID)?

If the WiFi signal strength is weak or intermittent see the following:

To troubleshoot wireless access points:

Ensure the access point is correctly configured using the following:

To test the connection, seeTesting network connectivity with ping.

To troubleshoot wireless extenders:

Ensure the wireless extender is properly configured, seeHow do I set up my NETGEAR WiFi range extender?

If you are still experiencing problems, seeTroubleshooting NETGEAR WiFi range extenders

To troubleshoot wireless USB adapters:

If the USB adapter is not detected, seeTroubleshooting - USB adapter not detected

If the wireless adapter is not achieving desired speeds or range, seeNETGEAR USB wireless adapter is not achieving desired speed/range