Wi-Fi adapter for laptop. How to replace the built-in Wi-Fi module?

In this article, I will talk about Wi-Fi adapters for laptops. What they are and why they are needed, where they are located, what they look like, how to replace, configure, etc. I think the article will be useful for everyone who has problems with setting up and connecting to a Wi-Fi network. And especially those who have a broken internal adapter in the laptop. This, unfortunately, sometimes happens.

In laptops Wi-Fi module is internal. It is connected to the laptop motherboard, or soldered into it. But newer models, the wireless module is usually soldered into the board. Wi-Fi antennas are connected to it. Which very often simply do not connect after cleaning from dust, or other repairs, and the laptop does not see the available Wi-Fi networks.

We can safely say that built-in Wi-Fi is in all laptops, even not the newest. This is convenient, you do not need to connect any external adapters. As, for example, to desktop computers. You can read more in the article: how to choose a Wi-Fi adapter for PC.

As a rule, there are no problems with connecting laptops to wireless networks. There are problems with drivers for this very built-in wi-fi module. There is no driver for the installed Windows, the driver is “crooked”, or the user will put the wrong driver. Also the module itself can be disabled in the settings.

If there is no wi-fi on the laptop, does it mean that the internal module is broken?

No, not necessarily. If there is no Wireless, WLAN, 802.11 adapter in Device Manager, it’s quite possible that the problem is in the driver. Or the adapter is disabled. However, when it is disabled or working with an error, it should still appear in Device Manager, on the network adapters tab. It may have a yellow exclamation mark next to it, or it may be inactive (a bit transparent).

Below you can see what the wireless model looks like in Device Manager on my laptop. When it’s working normally.

This is also how you can turn on showing hidden devices if the adapter isn’t there. It will probably show up and you can engage it by right-clicking on it.

I have written many articles about solving various problems with wireless adapters. Below I’ll give links to some of them, and you don’t necessarily have to look and check everything on your laptop.

• What to do if the Wi-Fi on your laptop isn’t working (a great and detailed article).
• If the Wi-Fi light on your laptop is not lit.
• What driver do I need for Wi-Fi to work on my laptop?
• How to install drivers for Wi-Fi adapter in Windows 7?

If nothing helps, it may well be that your module itself is simply burned out (or something else). What to do in such a situation I will tell you below. But I would also try to reinstall Windows, and install the driver downloaded from the official site.

What to do if the wi-fi module on the laptop is broken?

If you have tried everything, and nothing works, or the internal module glitches, then you need to replace it.

Perhaps your laptop is still under warranty. If so, then give it to the service center, let them replace the module itself, or the motherboard. If there is no warranty, you can take the laptop to the workshop, and pay for the repair.

Yes, you can disassemble the laptop, find a wireless module in it, order somewhere the same (or another manufacturer), and replace it yourself. But there are two problems:

• Not everyone is good at it. And if you have already decided to do it, remember that you do everything at your own risk. You can do even worse, and stay not only without wi-fi, but also without a laptop.
• As I have already written, in most new laptops WLAN module is soldered into the board. You can’t replace it just like that.

You can connect the laptop to the Internet via a network cable. The solution is not very good, but as an option – maybe.

The simplest solution is a USB Wi-Fi adapter

There are many external adapters on the market that connect via USB. I’ve already written an article on how to choose them, and I gave a link at the beginning of this article. Many manufacturers have compact adapters that are great for laptops. They are no bigger than a wireless mouse adapter, or keyboard adapter. I have such a nano adapter – TP-Link TL-WN725N.

It protrudes beyond the laptop case by 0.5 centimeters.

Plug it in, install the driver (in Windows 10 everything is automatic) and you can connect to the Internet.

Not only TP-Link has such compact models. You can look in some online store.

This is a quick and easy replacement of the internal Wi-Fi module. Yes, it takes up 1 USB port, and it sticks out a bit, but it’s better this way than with a cable.

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Ramón

Setting up Wi-Fi on a computer (laptop)