Is your Asus RT AC-68U WiFi not working? Although the issue seems severe, there are several things you can do to resolve it.
In this article, we will talk about the ways in which you’ll be able to troubleshoot your router in under 10 minutes.
You should be able to enjoy WiFi on your different devices once again.
Let’s get to it!
To fix your WiFi not working, restart your router. It will refresh your connection and hopefully solve the problem. Press the power button on your router, wait for a few seconds, then press it again. If the issue persists, restore the router to its default settings.
Before we get into the more complex stuff, let us have a look at what could be possibly causing the issue.
Why Is Asus RT AC-68U WiFi Not Working
There are many reasons why your RT AC-68U isn’t working. Mostly, it is because of connectivity issues.
However, it could also be as simple as your WiFi is deactivated. Be sure to check the WiFi and LED buttons at the back of your router to see if it’s on.
In case your router is on, here is a catch-all list of causes your Asus WiFi isn’t working:
1. WiFi Not Activated
The WiFi button at the back of your router is not lighting up, meaning you didn’t turn on the WiFi switch.
2. Connectivity Issues
Either your router is in a far corner of your house, or other devices may be interfering with the signal. It is also possible there is damage to the cables.
3. Device Adapter Malfunction
The device adapter packaged with your router may be broken, and you are using a power adapter not provided by Asus.
4. Corrupted DNS Cache
DNS cache may become corrupted, leading to internet connectivity issues. You may see 404 errors, or the websites don’t load correctly.
5. Outdated Router Firmware
Your Asus router may need to be updated to fix any bug causing the issue.
If you have had the device for a very long time, you need to update your device software. These are the common reasons your Asus router is not working.
Let us now move on to the solutions.
How to Fix RT AC-68U WiFi Not Working
Rebooting your router is an easy and hassle-free way to keep your devices running. Like any other device, you can fix your RT AC68U WiFi not working problem with this simple trick.
Press the Power button on your router to turn it off. You can switch it on right away, but to be sure, we recommend unplugging it from the wall outlet.
Wait for around 2 minutes before plugging it back in and turning it on.
Should this not work, it is likely that there is a more serious issue at play. We recommend you try our solutions below.
Solution #1: Press the WiFi Button on Your Router
You may have not noticed it yet, but the Asus RT AC-68U router comes with a physical switch to turn its WiFi module on or off.
It’s easy to overlook as the switch is located to the side and not instantly recognizable.
As for its function, it’s basically a switch that you press to turn the WiFi radio on or off.
Here’s how to switch your router’s WiFi using the button:
- Make sure that your router is plugged in and powered up.
- Check the WiFi notification light on your router.
- If it’s off, look for the WiFi button on the side of your router.
- Press on it to turn the WiFi on.
- Wait for a few seconds and check the WiFi notification light.
Note: In case the WiFi LED notification light is busted, scan the available WiFi and see if your network is active.
Solution #2: Enable the WiFi Radio on Your Router
If the physical button does not do the trick, there’s still another way to switch on your router’s WiFi module.
This time, however, you’re going to need to go into your router’s admin dashboard or web interface to access it.
To enter your router’s web interface, you’re going to need to access it via a web browser. Any browser will do.
Even those from your mobile phone should work. Type in the LAN IP address of your Asus RT AC-68U, or use http://router.asus.com.
Here’s how to turn the WiFi radio of your router via the web interface:
- Log in to your router’s dashboard.
- Under Advanced Settings, select Wireless.
- Click on the Professional tab.
- Look for the Enable Radio menu.
- Select the Yes option, then click Apply.
Note: The default username and password to log in to your router’s web interface is admin.
Solution #3: Forget the WiFi Network on Your Device
After switching on the WiFi module of your router, and it’s still not working, it’s time to look at your devices.
It’s possible that your WiFi is up the whole time, but certain connectivity issues can stop your device from connecting to your router.
It can either be an IP address acquisition problem that’s related to your DHCP server or a minor bug with your device’s WiFi card.
In any case, to quickest way to resolve this issue would be to reset your device’s connection with the router. You’ll need to “Forget” the network to do that.
Here’s how to reset your wireless connection:
Forget WiFi on your computer:
- Go to your Network & internet settings.
- Select WiFi, then click on Manage known networks.
- Choose the network you want to forget.
- Select Forget.
Forget WiFi on your phone:
- Go to your device’s Settings.
- Choose WiFi to access your connections.
- Tap and hold to the network you want to forget.
- Tap on Forget or Delete.
Note: Doing this will delete the network settings associated with that connection.
Solution #4: Update Your Wireless Adapter Drivers
WiFi issues are not only caused by your router. Your devices can also play a part.
One of the most common issues you will face with a malfunctioning WiFi is your wireless adapter needs an update.
Keeping hardware drivers up to date is the secret to a well-maintained system.
Drivers that are out of date can cause a lot of problems especially when they continue to run on updated operating systems.
Here’s how to update your wireless adapter’s drivers:
- Go to your computer’s Device Manager.
- Find Network adapters and Expand them.
- Locate the network adapter for your WiFi.
- Select it, then choose Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically.
Tip: If your system has multiple network adapters, choose the one that says wireless.
Solution #5: Flush and Renew Your DNS Cache
Your DNS cache can affect your overall WiFi connectivity. For the most part, you should have no problems with it.
However, there are instances when a stray corrupted file or entry can ruin the entire cache.
The DNS cache acts like a phonebook that keeps track of IP addresses with their domain names. It allows you to surf the web or use various services quickly.
If there’s a corrupted entry in there, it can cause your WiFi to stop working.
If this happens to you, the best solution here would be to remove or flush your DNS cache.
Here’s how you do it:
- Right-click on the Start button on your desktop.
- Select Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type ipconfig /flushdns, then press Enter.
- You should see a confirmation message that your cache is flushed.
- Type exit to close the Command Prompt window.
Solution #6: Check Your Router’s Firmware Version
At this point, if your WiFi is still not working, you will want to check if your router is up to date.
There could be important stability updates that you may have missed that can fix your current issue.
The good thing with the Asus RT AC-68U is that firmware upgrades are much easier compared to other routers.
It’s simply a matter of clicking a few links, and your router will automatically download and install it for you.
Here’s how to check your router’s firmware and update it:
- Log in to your router’s dashboard.
- Check the top-right corner for update notifications.
- Click on Update now.
- Select Check, to verify any updates.
- Click on Firmware Upgrade.
Pro Tip: Don’t turn off or unplug your router while the upgrade process is ongoing.
There you go! Getting the WiFi on your Asus RT AC-68U to work is as easy as these simple steps.
If you’re still unable to connect to your WiFi network, we recommend contacting Asus customer support for additional assistance.
Read Next: ASUS Router WAN Light Red? – Fixed!
Bottom Line
Now that you know what causes your RT AC-68U WiFi not working, you can take the necessary steps to fix it.
These surefire solutions are easy to perform, and you don’t even need any technical or professional expertise to follow these steps.
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.