Wondering why the TP-Link router WiFi not working? Stay with us throughout this guide!
Generally, the Wi-Fi connection of your TP-Link router is most often impacted by improper service connection or setup issues.
So, this guide will provide all probable causes for the unexpected Wi-Fi outage and corresponding solutions to restore the connection in minutes.
If the Wi-Fi functions of the TP-Link router aren’t working, undergo the “Quick Setup” in the router’s GUI and restart the “Wi-Fi” feature of your device.
There is much more to investigate, so let’s get started!
Why is the WiFi Not Working On TP-Link Router?
So, deactivated Wi-Fi of your TP-Link router will prevent third-party devices from establishing wireless connections to your network.
There could be many things affecting the Wi-Fi network functionality of your TP-Link router, and understanding them is essential for troubleshooting.
Here are all of the causes for the Wi-Fi issue with the TP-Link router:
Those are the possible causes for the sudden Wi-Fi outage of your TP-Link router.
To explore the corresponding solutions to the following issues, proceed with the professional guide below.
TP-Link Router WiFi Not Working – Quick & Easy Solutions
If your installation applies and is correct, continue reading the solutions!
Tip: Before we start, you must verify that your TP-Link router is connected correctly!
1. Complete TP-Link “Quick Setup”
If you’re attempting to self-install the TP-Link equipment, it is necessary to undergo the “Quick Setup” procedure within the router’s web GUI.
So, unlike other routes, TP-Link has a set GUI address for all routers working with the services, so you don’t need the gateway to enter within.
Here’s how to access the web GUI and complete the “Quick Setup” procedure:
- Connect your device via Ethernet to one of the router’s ports.
- Open a web browser and type “tplinklogin.net” into the field.
- Next, press “Search” and sign in using “admin” on both fields.
- Once in the GUI, select the “Quick Setup” button on the side.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the TP-Link router.
Alert: Do not unplug or power off the TP-Link router during the “Quick Setup” process!
2. Power Reset the TP-Link Router
To address non-lasting issues with the TP-Link router, it is recommended to power cycle the unit.
This is an effective procedure for rebooting all system services of your TP-Link router and resolving any issues with the hardware, such as overheating, high utilization, and overload.
Here’s how to perform a power reset on the TP-Link router:
- Disconnect the power cable from the router’s port.
- Unplug the other end of the adapter from the outlet.
- Wait for 60 seconds while the adapter is unplugged.
- Connect the power cable of the router on both ends.
- Wait until the device starts up and test the network.
Note: It will take up to 1 minute for the router to relaunch all services after the power cycle!
3. Test the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Threads
If you have installed a dual-band TP-Link router, then there could be a compatibility issue that prevents your connection.
The dual-band TP-Link routers can host two separate Wi-Fi networks simultaneously, one of which supports a 2.4 GHz frequency, and the other hosts a 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequency network.
What’s the Difference Between 2.4GHz and 5GHz?
The primary difference between the two network bands is the connection speed and the Wi-Fi range.
- The 2.4 GHz network signal travels farther but carries much less data and speed when compared to the 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
The 5 GHz Wi-Fi may not be able to reach distant rooms in your home, but when you’re next to the router, you will reach much higher internet speeds.
Hence, the 5 GHz network is the better choice for faster speeds, and the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi is the best choice for a reliable connection.
You can find the available network bands hosted by the router under the “Wi-Fi” menu of your mobile device.
Each band, based on its speed, has a different SSID, hostname, and password.
How to Connect With TP-Link Dual Band?
- To connect with the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, choose the TP-Link SSID with “2.4” in its name and type down the password to establish a connection.
- To connect with the 5GHz Wi-Fi network, choose the TP-Link SSID with “5” in its name and type down the password before pressing “Connect.”
Technicians design dual-band networks with separate names by default, so you shouldn’t have trouble distinguishing the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi SSIDs.
However, if both your 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi are not accessible, then the problem is elsewhere.
Tip: If you have trouble identifying the networks, check the names in the router’s web GUI.
4. Reboot the Device’s “Wi-Fi” Feature
If the Wi-Fi network hosted by the TP-Link router isn’t visible on your devices, the fault could be with the “Wi-Fi” feature.
Restarting the Wi-Fi feature of your connecting device may restore the availability of the TP-Link Wi-Fi and allow for external wireless connection of all other devices.
- To reboot the Wi-Fi feature of your device, navigate to “Settings” → “Wi-Fi” → “OFF.”
After deactivating the Wi-Fi feature, wait 30 seconds and tap/click the activation slider again to reactivate.
So, during that time, none of the Wi-Fi networks in the area will be available to your devices, and you will also be unable to re-establish a connection with the TP-Link Wi-Fi either.
Note: Disable your device’s cellular data to prevent auto-bouncing!
5. Move in Closer Range of the Router
If you’re attempting to connect through a desktop or a device that is multiple rooms away from the router, the distance may be insufficient.
The allowed distance for establishing a connection varies on the type of network band and the potential effect of physical or wireless interference.
To test whether the connectivity problem is distance-related, move next to the TP-Link router and attempt to connect with both available bands for testing purposes.
How to Check for Setup Interference?
The signal transmitted by TP-Link routers can often be effectively reduced by existing wireless interference caused by other wireless devices.
The most crucial step is to dislocate devices that work with the same type of radio frequency from the surroundings of your TP-Link router/device.
Here are the devices that can generate radio-frequency interference:
- Other network routers that work on the same frequency.
- RF radios or transmitters near the router.
- Furnaces, microwaves, and other nearby metallic objects.
Note: It’s crucial to remember that interference can be caused by a transmitter that also sends out and accepts the signals or a surface that blocks the signal entirely.
6. Reset the TP-Link Service Link
The TP-Link router requires a reliable service connection to maintain proper Wi-Fi networks and remain visible to all devices you’re attempting to connect.
So, restoring the TP-Link router service connection can help with underlying issues with the Wi-Fi bands, connectivity, and accessibility of external devices.
Does TP-Link Router Require a Modem?
The TP-Link router does not have an in-built service modulator and demodulator for service signals, so yes, it does require a modem.
The TP-Link setup consists of a modem connected to the wall (service) outlet, and the TP-Link router connects to the modem via Ethernet cable.
How to Reset TP-Link Modem & Router Service?
Follow these steps to reset the service on your TP-Link router and modem:
- Locate the Coaxial cable connected to the modem in the setup.
- Disconnect the service cable from the back of the modem unit.
- Unplug the other end of the cable from the coaxial service outlet.
- Next, find the Ethernet cable connecting the modem and router.
- Disconnect the Ethernet wire from the back of the TP-Link router.
- Wait for 60 seconds and connect the service and Ethernet wires.
Tip: While unplugged, inspect the physical condition of the modem’s Ethernet cable!
7. Factory Reset the TP-Link Router
In case you were unable to address the Wi-Fi issue with the router this far into the guide, the next step is restoring the settings configuration of the TP-Link router.
There may have been a misconfiguration in the router’s settings, preventing the Wi-Fi from working and your devices from connecting.
Follow these steps to perform a factory reset on the TP-Link router:
- Find the reset button on the rear panel of the router.
- Press and hold the button for about 6 to 10 seconds.
- Release the button and wait for the router to reboot.
- Once the router starts, access the TP-Link web GUI.
- Finally, undergo the “Quick Setup” from the side tab.
You could also activate the router’s factory reset from the management tile within the web GUI without pressing the physical reset button.
This method will also restore the default functions of the TP-Link router and cause the unit to power off in the same way as holding the reset button.
Quick Recap:
Whenever the TP-Link router WiFi not working, first power cycle the device and check the modem’s service connection.
If the issue persists, complete the “Quick Setup” within the router GUI, check whether your TP-Link subscription is active, and factory reset the unit.
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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.