How to Fix Wireless Router Issues?

A wireless router enables you to connect several devices to the internet through a wireless signal. It acts as the access point for all your internet-enabled devices within your home or small office network, without the hassle of dealing with messy wires all over the place. If your wireless router runs into issues, it means that you cannot connect to the internet effectively. This guide will teach you how to fix various wireless router issues.

No Device Can Connect to Wi-Fi

If you have purchased a new router, you need to set up the device before you can connect the devices. Follow the installation manual supplied with the wireless router to set up your device. It generally involves getting broadband access from your ISP, connecting your router and setup username/password for your wireless network name.

If you have installed the router correctly but still cannot connect to the network or just stopped working, you can try the following tips to resolve the issue.

• Confirm that the router is plugged to a power source and it is turned on. You can also check the signal from your ISP to confirm that it is not an issue on the provider’s side.
• Ensure that the Wireless radio is turned on and if not, press the Wi-Fi On/Off button on the router to turn it on.
• You can also turn on the Wireless radio by logging into the router portal on your web browser and switch on the feature from the advanced settings sections.
• Restarting or resetting the router can solve a range of problems.
• Power off the router and unplug it from the power source. Give it a few seconds and then plug it back and turn it on.
• To reset a router, check the user manual to identify the reset button (mostly located at the back of the router) and use a paperclip or safety pin to press the button for about 20 to 30 seconds.
• The router will restore the default factory settings. Now use the installation guide to set up the wireless router afresh.

Fix Wi-Fi Security Settings Incompatibility Issues

A major cause of wireless router problems is incompatible settings between the router and other network devices. In order to resolve incompatibility issues, you may check the following configurations:

• Wi-Fi Security Settings – Most wireless routers support multiple network security protocols such as WEP and WAP. Ensure that the router and the devices connected use the same security mode.
• Network Mode – A router must be configured to support all versions of network modes used by the devices in the network. For instance, setting a wireless router to run in 802.11g mode only will not work with 802.11n or other devices in a different mode.

• To resolve network mode issues, configure the router to run in “Mixed” mode.

• Security Key – Ensure that you are using the key supported by the router on all the devices. Even though some modern routers support more than one security keys, using one key across all your devices simplifies the setup and troubleshooting process.

Disable MAC Filtering Feature

Most of the wireless routers in the market today support MAC address restriction, a feature that limits connection to specific devices only. By default, this feature is disabled but network admins may have enabled the filtering.

• If you cannot connect a particular device to your local network, it could be due to MAC address restrictions. To fix this issue:
• Log in to the router admin panel and add the device’s MAC address to the “Allowed” list or turn off the MAC address-filtering feature.

Upgrading Router’s Firmware

Outdated firmware may lead to wireless router connection issues and upgrading the firmware will not only resolve the issue but also offers new features, performance enhancement and security improvements.

• To update the router’s firmware, check for updates on the manufacturer’s official website.
• If you find any upgrades, download the latest firmware file to your PC.
• Now, login to the router admin panel and on the advanced or management settings depending on the model, select the option to update the software.

Note: Though the steps to upgrade the firmware may vary with makes and models, the process is generally the same. Some modern routers have the automatic firmware upgrade feature.

Resolve Router Overloading/ Overheating Issues

Another wireless router problem could occur when you overwork the routing device with heavy loads like streaming videos or downloading bulky files for a prolonged period. This may cause the device to overheat and may develop several issues ranging from disconnecting devices from the network to crashing.

• To resolve this kind of a problem, disconnect devices that are currently not in use to minimize the workload for the router.
• Switch off the router and switch it on after a few minutes (5 to 10 mins) to allow it to cool down.
• You should also ensure that the router is well ventilated or shift the device to a cooler location.

Wrapping Up

A wireless router is a gateway between your Wi-Fi devices and the internet and if it is not working correctly you may not be able to access the internet as well as other local network resources. The above guide helps you to resolve common router issues but in case the problem is caused by a hardware defect, you may need to replace the router with a new one.