Wifi Toggle switch is greyed out

Anonymous
2012-11-04T04:04:43+00:00

Original Title: How to turn on WiFi Capability on Windows 8

Hello,

I upgraded my Laptop Toshiba L500D from Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) to Windows 8 Pro (x64) a few days ago, then I realized yesterday I could not connect to WiFi connection. I have tried search on the internet how to fix it, but no luck. Here are the following list I have tried so far:

  1. Update to latest Driver by going to "Device Manager", click right "Realtek RTL8187SE Wireless LAN PCIE Network Adapter" then click "Update Driver Software...".
  2. Go to Toshiba Website, download "Realtek Wireless Lan Driver" for Windows 7 (x64) and install it by running in Windows 7 compatibility mode.
  3. Go to BIOS, by pressing F2 before Windows 8 loaded, and enable Wireless Communication.
  4. Troubleshooting "Network Adapter (WiFi)" and it gave this advice:

           "Turn on wireless capability

Use the switch on the front or side of the computer,            or function keys if available,            to enable wireless capability on this computer."

  1. Go to Settings -> Change PC Settings -> Wireless, and I got this:

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2959/62721723.png

How am I suppose to switch it on, if the switch is disabled? The airplane is also off, so I suppose the Wireless switch should be enable so I can turn it on and off, but no, the wifi switch is still disabled.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Cheers,

simply.puzzle

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2012-11-29T21:38:42+00:00

I had a similar issue.. I used the diagnostics to resolve the issue... here are the steps I took.

  1. Right Click network icon in taskbar and select "open network and sharing center"
  2. highlight wifi connection then at top click "diagnose this connection"

the troubleshooter will discover that the WiFi connection is turned off and offer a "apply fix" option click that and windows will enable the wifi connection...

I had the same issues as the OP and Geecat where the Fn switch just didn't work, so I worked through it as outlined above... Looks like with Win 8 the troubleshooter is even more necessary... Not sure how I feel about that, but it is what it is.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-11-10T17:03:00+00:00

    what do you do when there is no "apply fix" option

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-11-27T23:16:54+00:00

    I see that this thread affects many people across a variety of laptop h/w.  I had this issue on a Lenovo Z470 where WiFi worked just fine ever since I upgraded to Win8 and then Win8.1 and then one day the WiFi stopped working and the WiFi indicator in Win8.1 is greyed out, cannot be changed.

    Solution on this Lenovo platform (solution affects all Lenovo laptops) is to uninstall the Energy Management v8 and install Energy Management v7.  Reboot, upon reboot hit Fn+5 which is the selection on Lenovo Ideapad laptops to turn on/off airplane mode, then select to turn on WiFi and Bluetooth.

    Energy Management v7

    http://download.lenovo.com/consumer/mobiles/cagt25ww.exe

    Link to solution described on Lenovo discussion board:

    https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-U-and-S-Series-Notebooks/WiFi-and-Bluetooth-greyed-out-in-Windows-8/td-p/1011971/page/2

    This solution may help others with other brand laptops.  Check your Energy Management or Power Management application.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-11-29T20:24:04+00:00

    love u bro......

    thanks it really worked for me..

    i was a bit scared as to wat happened to my wifi connection..

    bt now it has got fixed ......

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-02-04T13:16:57+00:00

    I am on Windows 10 and when ever I press wifi on left corner wifi icon airplane mode is off and it won't turn on?! Please Help! 

    Thanks!

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