Why is my wifi connection showing an "X", and continually disconnects?

Question

Why is my wifi connection showing an "X", and continually disconnects?

David Creek 0

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3 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Kapil Arya 38,361 Volunteer Moderator

Please run Network Adapter troubleshooter from Settings app > System > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Let us know what it reports back.

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Answer 2

Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

Based on the behavior you mentioned, it is necessary to determine whether Windows is losing communication with the network card at the hardware level or if there is a specific driver error.

The next time your Wi-Fi disconnects, do the following:

Press "Windows + X" and select "Device Manager";
Click on the "View" menu and select "Show hidden devices";
Expand "Network adapters";
If the Wi-Fi adapter is listed, right-click and select "Properties". Check for an error in "Device Status". If you see an error under Device Status, please share a screenshot.

If you can't identify your PC's Wi-Fi adapter, share a screenshot of the network adapters.
Use the shortcut "Windows + Shift + S" to use the screenshot tool. Or take a picture of the screen using a camera or smartphone and share it.

Also, please share a screenshot of your system information.

Press "Windows + R", type msinfo32 and press Enter.

Maximize the window and use the shortcut "Windows + Shift + S" to use the screenshot tool. Or take a picture of the screen using a camera or smartphone and share it.

Looking forward to your reply.

Answer 3

An X on the Wi-Fi icon usually means the device is not connected to a wireless network, and repeated disconnects commonly point to either a network availability problem or a Wi-Fi adapter/driver issue.

Use this troubleshooting path:

Check the current network state:
- Go to Start > Settings > Network & Internet.
- Confirm Wi-Fi is turned On and Airplane mode is Off.
- If Wi-Fi settings are missing, that can indicate the Wi-Fi adapter is not being detected.
Check whether the problem is the network or the PC:
- Try connecting another device, such as a phone or tablet, to the same Wi-Fi network.
- If the other device also cannot connect, the issue is likely with the router or modem.
- If other devices work, the issue is more likely on the Windows device.
Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter:
- Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters.
- Run Network Adapter.
- Follow the prompts and apply any fixes it suggests.
Restart the network equipment:
- Restart the Wi-Fi router and modem, then try reconnecting.
- If no device can browse the web after reconnecting, contact the internet provider or network equipment manufacturer.
Reinstall the Wi-Fi driver:
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Network adapters.
- Double-click the wireless adapter.
- Open the Driver tab and select Uninstall Device.
- If available, select Delete the driver software for this device.
- Restart the PC.
Install the latest updates:
- If internet access is available through Wi-Fi or Ethernet, install the latest Windows updates.
- If not, use another PC to download the driver package to a USB drive, copy it to the affected device, and install it.

If the wireless network is visible but still disconnects, also verify the correct Wi-Fi password is being used.