Chromebook Not Connecting to Wifi

Before advanced troubleshooting, use these essential tips to ensure proper Wi-Fi connectivity.

1. Check Wi-Fi Signal: Verify your Chromebook is within a functioning Wi-Fi network range. Ensure you are within the router's range and no physical obstructions are blocking the signal. If you find an issue with your network's hardware, consider checking out iFixit's Networking Hardware Repair page.
2. Ensure Wi-Fi is Enabled on your device: Press the Wi-Fi key (usually an antenna icon) on your Chromebook's keyboard to ensure Wi-Fi is enabled. If your device does not have a designated key, you can check by clicking on the system tray in the bottom-right corner of the screen and ensuring the Wi-Fi icon is turned on.
3. Check for Airplane Mode: Make sure your Chromebook is not in Airplane Mode, which disables all wireless connections. You can disable Airplane Mode by clicking on the system tray and ensuring the Airplane Mode icon is turned off.
4. Double-check your Wi-Fi Password: If you connect to a password-protected Wi-Fi network, ensure you enter the correct password. Pay attention to uppercase and lowercase letters, special characters, and spaces.
5. Test with Another Device: Verify if other devices can connect to the same Wi-Fi network. If other devices are also experiencing connectivity issues, the problem may lie with the Wi-Fi network itself.
6. Restart your Chromebook and the Router: A simple restart can sometimes resolve temporary connectivity issues with both devices.

If the above steps don't resolve the issue, proceed to the more in-depth troubleshooting below.

Solution: Disconnect and reconnect to your Wi-Fi Network.

ChromeOS sometimes has issues connecting to a network if your device is automatically assigned an IP address. This issue can be resolved by forgetting the Wi-Fi network and reconnecting.

1. Click on the Wi-Fi Icon: Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray to open the network list.
2. Find the Affected Wi-Fi Network: Locate the Wi-Fi network to which your Chromebook is having trouble connecting. Click on the network name to expand the connection options.
3. Click on "Forget": Once the connection options are expanded, click the "Forget" button next to the network name. This will remove the network from your saved list.
4. Reconnect to the Network: After forgetting the network, click the Wi-Fi icon again and select the network from the list. Enter the correct password and attempt to connect.
5. Check Connection: Once connected, check if your Chromebook can access the internet through Wi-Fi.

Solution: Disable your VPM or Proxy if you're using one.

If you're using a VPN or proxy service, try to disable it temporarily and attempt to connect to Wi-Fi again. In some cases, these can cause a contradiction with your local network configuration or overlap with your network's IP addresses.

1. If you are using a VPN, here are the steps to temporarily disable it.
   1. Click on the clock in the taskbar to open the system menu.
   2. Click on the gear-shaped Settings icon.
   3. Scroll down and click on network in the left sidebar.
   4. Under network, you'll see VPN. Click on it.
   5. Find your active VPN connection and click on it.
   6. Toggle the switch to turn off the VPN.
2. For Network Proxys, you will need to follow the following steps:
   1. Click on the clock in the taskbar to open the system menu.
   2. Click on the gear-shaped Settings icon.
   3. Scroll down and click on Advanced to expand the settings menu.
   4. Under network, click on Proxy.
   5. Disable the Proxy by toggling the switch to the Off position.

Solution: Clear your web browser's cached data.

If a cached file becomes corrupted, it can cause issues connecting to your network. Clearing the Wi-Fi network data can help resolve issues with saved network settings. Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings: Click on the system tray and the gear-shaped "Settings" icon to open the Chromebook settings.
2. Expand "Advanced": Scroll down and click on the "Advanced" section to reveal additional settings.
3. Click on "Privacy and Security": Under the Advanced section, click "Privacy and Security" to access related settings.
4. Click on "Clear Browsing Data": In the Privacy and Security section, click "Clear Browsing Data" to open the data clearing options.
5. Choose Wi-Fi Networks: Check the "Cookies and other site data" option in the Clear Browsing Data settings. Uncheck any other options that you don't want to clear.
6. Click on "Clear Data": Once you have selected the desired options, click the "Clear Data" button to clear the Wi-Fi network data.
7. Reconnect to the Network: After clearing the data, attempt to reconnect to the Wi-Fi network and check if the issue is resolved.

Solution: Powerwash your Chromebook.

If the previous steps didn't resolve the Wi-Fi connectivity issue, you can try powerwashing your Chromebook. There are several ways to do this, but the easiest is to follow the instructions below.

1. Sign out of your Chromebook by clicking on your profile picture in the bottom right corner of the screen and selecting "Sign out." (You'll need to be at the login screen)
2. Press the following key combination on the login screen: Ctrl + Shift + Alt + R Twice.
3. A dialog box will appear, asking you to confirm that you want to Powerwash your Chromebook. Click on the "Powerwash" button to continue.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Powerwash process. Your Chromebook will be factory reset.
5. After the Powerwash is complete, your Chromebook will start as if it were a new device. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Chromebook, including connecting to a Wi-Fi network and signing in with your Google Account.

Alternatively, you can completely restore ChromeOS using Google's ChromeOS Recovery Tool. This tool can address any potential software issues causing your device to have trouble seeing your network. The instructions for creating a ChromeOS recovery disk are below, but an in-depth guide can be found here. An empty USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage is required.

1. Install the Chromebook Recovery Utility Extension: Open Google Chrome and install the Chromebook Recovery Utility Extension from the Chrome Web Store. Click on the extension and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Prepare Chromebook for Recovery: Turn off your Chromebook and ensure it's connected to a power source. Press the Esc + Refresh (F3) keys simultaneously, then press the Power button. Release the Power button when the Chromebook starts, but continue holding Esc+ Refresh until you see a screen prompting you to insert the recovery disk.
3. Recover ChromeOS: Insert the previously created recovery disk into your Chromebook and follow the on-screen instructions to initiate the ChromeOS recovery process. This will reinstall the operating system and can resolve software-related problems that may be causing the black screen issue.
4. Follow System Setup: After completing ChromeOS recovery, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Chromebook as you would during the initial setup. Check if the black screen issue is resolved.

If the issue persists after restoring ChromeOS, proceed to the more in-depth troubleshooting steps below.

Solution: Inspect and replace the Wi-Fi card as needed.

Sometimes, the device's internal Wi-Fi card might be experiencing an issue. Before opening the device up, be sure to check the following.

• Restart the network card: Press the refresh key (usually located where the F3 key would be) and tap the power key. Release the keys once your Chromebook restarts. This will refresh the network card and may resolve any temporary issues.
• Update network card drivers: Ensure your Chromebook's operating system is current. Go to "Settings" > "About Chrome OS" > "Check for Updates." Install any available updates, including updates for network drivers.
• Test with an external Wireless Adapter: Using a wireless adapter, you can ensure your device can reach the network and determine if your Wi-Fi card needs to be replaced. However, if you cannot reach the Wi-Fi with an external adapter, there is likely an issue with your device's Motherboard.
• Replace the Network Card: If all else fails, there could be an issue with your device's network card. Replace the Wi-Fi card and see if your device can detect your wireless network.

If these steps have failed, there is most likely an issue with your device's Motherboard.

Solution: Inspect and replace the Motherboard as needed.

Suppose your device still does not see your wireless network after following the earlier troubleshooting steps. In that case, there is a high likelihood of a problem with the Motherboard or the surrounding components.

1. Reset your device's BIOS Settings. To reset your Motherboard's BIOS settings, you can try uninstalling and then reinstalling the CMOS battery. By doing so, any stored settings or configurations that may have become corrupted will be cleared, and the system will start with default settings. This helps eliminate potential conflicts or misconfigurations that could be causing the issue you're experiencing.
2. Check for any defects that would cause Network Connectivity issues: Some devices like the Acer C733 Chromebook are known for having issues caused by the placement of the rubber spacer near the Network Card. If you own a C733 device, consider looking at the Official C733 Wi-Fi Rework Documentation.
3. Perform a thorough visual inspection of the Motherboard for any signs of burns or damaged components. If you observe any visible damage, such as burns or components that appear to be physically damaged, Motherboard likely needs to be replaced.

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