This guide aims to address some common WiFi related issues reported by users, as well as potential solutions.

My PC does not have a WiFi icon

Not all PCs will have WiFi capability out of the box, with some systems requiring an additional adapter to connect to wireless networks.  The most common sign that your PC is WiFi capable is to check if your system has WiFi antennas or the ability to connect them as shown in the image below:

If your PC is WiFi capable but there is no WiFi option, there may be an issue preventing the adapter from running.  There are a few steps you can try to fix this:

• Power cycle your PC
• Update your WiFi drivers
• Check the Wireless Service in Windows
• Check your BIOS

Power Cycle

An extremely common but overlooked situation is when the WiFi adapter does not start due to being in an invalid hardware state.  When this happens, the PC will act as if the device is disconnected and will not be able to connect.  To fix this issue, do the following:

• Shutdown your PC, then set the switch at the rear of the PC to the O position (off).
• Press and hold the Power button on the PC for 30 seconds.
• Allow the PC to sit without power for an additional 5 minutes.
• Set the switch at the rear of the PC to the I position (on).
• Start the PC.

Once the PC has started, any stuck hardware should reset.

Updating your WiFi Drivers

Due to an update or recent reinstall of Windows, there is a chance your WiFi adapter may not have its drivers properly installed.  Windows will normally install an appropriate driver, even if it is just a generic one.  In some situations, the driver may not be readily available and will need to be installed.

Open the Device Manager by right-clicking the Start Menu and choose Device Manager.

If the device is being detected but there are no drivers (as shown above), you will need to download the drivers from the adapter/motherboard manufacturer's website.

To update or install the driver, right-click the device and choose Update driver, then choose the appropriate option:

• Search automatically for drivers - This will install a locally available driver to the PC.  This option may fail if a driver is not available.
• Browse my computer for drivers - This will allow you to specify the exact driver to install.  If you have downloaded a driver file from a manufacturer's website, you may need to use this option.

Does my Motherboard support onboard WiFi?

Not all motherboards will include onboard support for WiFi.  A common practice with motherboard manufacturers is to put the word WiFi or a supported signal type at the end of the motherboard name (i.e. AC, AX, WIFI7, etc.).  While this is a common practice, it is not always done as shown below: The only way to be sure is to check the motherboard model printed on the board itself, or use a program such as NZXT CAM to check the name and look it up on the manufacturer's website.

Check the Wireless Service in Windows

An uncommon issue can occur where the WLAN AutoConfig service has been disabled or has crashed.  This service is the backbone of the WiFi controls in Windows and can be disabled due to a bad update or other issues such as malware.  To open the Services list, press Windows + R on your keyboard and enter services.msc to open the Services panel.

The WLAN AutoConfig can be found by scrolling through the list and normally should be set to Running with the Automatic start type.

If the service is not set to Running, right-click the entry and choose Properties.

Make sure that Startup type is set to Automatic and click the Start button to restart the service.

If WLAN AutoConfig is missing or does not start, this could indicate that the service is missing or corrupted and will require either a factory reset or reinstall of Windows.

Checking your BIOS

Note: This step only applies to motherboards with integrated WiFi.  If your system does not have integrated WiFi support (i.e. users an add-in card or USB adapter), please skip this step.

In extreme cases, your system may have WiFi capabilities but the hardware may not be properly enabled in the motherboard BIOS.  These settings will vary wildly from motherboard to motherboard, so it is recommended to review the User's Manual or BIOS Manual provided by the motherboard manufacturer.

For example, in the NZXT N7 B550 and B650E motherboards the settings will be located under the Advanced tab in the Onboard Devices Configuration section under the name WAN Radio which will need to be set to Enabled.

My WiFi Signal is Weak or Unstable

Once we've confirmed the WiFi adapter is being properly seen by Windows, the next thing to check is going to be our Signal Strength.  Windows itself will have a simply indicator for this in the form of the WiFi icon itself.  A Strong signal will be represented by a full WiFi icon with 4 "bars" while a weaker signal may have only 1 or 2 bars.

There are a few things that can have an effect on your signal:

• Missing or Improperly Connected WiFi Antennas
• Excessive distance or obstacles between the PC and Router
• Nearby Interference

Check your WiFi Antenna(s)

An often overlooked step is to check the WiFi antennas.  If your system has an integrated WiFi controller or an add-in card, these will be connected to a pair of brass colored hardpoints found on the rear of your PC.

If these are not connected, this will result in a severely degraded WiFi signal which will result in sudden drops in speed, disconnects, or total loss of signal.  These WiFi antennas come in one of two forms:  Shark Fin (left) and Pen (right) as shown below.

If the antennas are not present, you may want to check the accessory box or bags that the PC or parts came with in order to ensure they are present.  If they are lost, you can easily purchase generic versions from most online retailers.

Check your Distance

Another big factor for your WiFi signal is going to be your distance from the router, as well as any obstructions.  Depending on the signal type, you can expect the following ranges from your WiFi hardware:

• 2.4 GHz - Up to 150 feet (45 meters) indoors
• 5 GHz - Up to 50 feet (15 meters) indoors

This distance however can be greatly impacted by physical obstructions between you and the router.  For example, if you are living in an addition to your home with the router located in the main house, you may need to contend with thicker, more dense walls between you and the router which will greatly diminish the signal strength.

It is recommended that while testing your WiFi to be as close to the router as possible before increasing the distance.  If the issue is found to be distance, you can try the following to resolve the issue:

• For 5GHz users:  Try switching to a 2.4 GHz connection.  While slower, 2.4GHz has greater range and can more easily penetrate thicker walls.
• Use a Wireless Repeater between the PC and the Router to improve the signal strength
• Have an additional Wireless Access Point installed closer to the PC.
• Move the router to be closer to the PC, or relocate the PC to be closer to the router.

Check for Other Devices

If you are using the PC in a room with many other devices using WiFi, this can have a major effect on your WiFi signal.  WiFi operates across several network channels, which are generally automatically set by the router once a device connects. 

For example, if your PC is set up in a family "gaming room" you may have 2-3 computers, a smart TV, game consoles, and even each individual member's phone connected wirelessly.  If one of these devices is hopping around channels looking for a strong signal, it can potentially bump other connections off or impact their performance.

These connections don't even necessarily need to be on the same network or connected to a network at all.  If you live in an apartment or use an entertainment system with wireless speakers for example, these adjacent devices may be saturating the same frequencies and channels used by your PC.  For issues regarding channels, please consult your ISP or Router manufacturer.

My signal is strong, but why is my Speed low?

After confirming your signal is holding strong, the last thing to check would be the network itself.  It is worth noting however that in the case of network issues it is highly recommended to reach out to your Internet Service Provider for assistance.  Common reasons why your network speeds may be degraded include:

• Network Saturation - Too many devices are connected to the same resources, causing reduced speeds.  This can happen for many reasons, including but not limited to:
  • Shared network infrastructure - Most common in dormitories and apartment complexes that provide internet for tenants, the network will have a limited overall bandwidth that can be provided.
  • Peak Hour Throttling - More common in densely populated areas, your ISP may only have a limited number of resources to serve users in your area.  In these cases, during peak hours (5:00PM to 9:00PM during weekdays) you may experience reduced or degraded speeds.
  • Rate Limiting - Depending on your ISP, you may only have a set allotment of high-speed access.  Once exceeded, your ISP may throttle your network performance until the next billing cycle.
  • Router Limitation - Your router may simply not be able to handle an additional device at full speed.  If there are multiple connected devices, each device added reduces the overall performance of the network for each user.
• Packet Dropping/Packet Loss - While your connection may be strong within the network, you may be losing data between yourself and the sites or games you are connecting to.  This is known as Packet Loss and can result in games or websites disconnecting randomly.  This can be confirmed by doing a Packet Loss Test, however please note that these issued are generally tied to your ISP.
  • When running a Packet Loss Test, we recommend running 3-4 tests across different servers for a minimum of 60 seconds for each test.  While you may experience minimal packet loss to a nearby server, further servers may experience greater packet loss.
  • While small amounts of packet loss are expected, if you experience large amounts of packet loss we recommend reaching out to your ISP immediately.
• Distance to Servers - This one is more common with gaming, but if you are connecting to a server located in another country or continent you may experience higher latency or slower download and upload speeds.  It is recommended if the option is available to use servers located as close as possible to your region.
• Malicious Software - Your PC could potentially be infected with a virus or malware that is taking up network resources.  In these situations, it is best to save and backup any important information and reset the PC.
  • For more information on resetting an NZXT BLD PC, please check out our guide linked below:
    NZXT Support - How to Factory Restore your Gaming PC

Generally for any issues where your signal is strong but your connection is slow, the issue rarely falls with the hardware on the PC and comes down to either network resources being used elsewhere (i.e. the network is congested) or there may be an ISP issue where your connection is being throttled.  For these situations, it is recommended to reach out to your ISP for direct assistance.