Why does my WiFi say disabled

Why does my WiFi say disabled? We know the answer you’re looking for. We’ll tell you the possible causes and proven solutions to solve this particular issue.

Most users facing this error have their connections disconnected after 2 seconds.

To resolve WiFi saying it’s disabled, check if it’s turned off in your device’s Settings and switch it on. Also, consider disabling modes like WiFi Assist, Smart Switch, or Do Not Disturb, as these may be affecting your WiFi connectivity.

Before we proceed to the solutions, let us discuss the causes in detail. It will help you understand the problem and determine the best way to solve it.

Why Is My WiFi Disabled

Sometimes, you try to connect your mobile device to your WiFi, but it’s stuck. Luckily, we have the solutions.

You just need to figure out the main culprit so that you can apply the best course of action.

1. Certain Modes

If your phone suddenly gets disconnected from your WiFi, you may have enabled some modes, like Do Not Disturb and Battery Saver.

2. Bugs and Glitches

There might be a problem on your smartphone or router brought about by minor bugs and glitches.

3. Settings Problem

Either your router has settings problems, or you have incorrect phone settings. These issues can be easily solved by a simple reset.

4. Hardware Issue

If none of the above is the culprit, it is clear that your phone has a hardware issue. Make sure it’s running the latest software version as well.

These are the possible reasons your WiFi gets disabled. Let us now proceed to the troubleshooting methods.

How to Fix Why Does My WiFi Say Disabled Issue

Now that you know the answer to why my WiFi is disabled, let us discuss the solutions.

Restarting your phone is one of the easiest methods to resolve any WiFi issues. It’s definitely worth a try since it only takes a couple of minutes.

Whether you’re using an iOS or Android device, press the Power button and tap on Restart to give your device a quick reboot.

After restarting your phone, try to connect to your WiFi network. Go to Settings and tap Connections.

Toggle WiFi on and see if the problem is fixed. If the problem is not your smartphone, restart your router and try connecting to your WiFi again.

If the issue persists, you may need to bring your mobile phone to the nearest phone care or repair shop. But at least try the following solutions first.

Solution #1: Turn Off Smart Network Switch or WiFi Assist

The WiFi on your smartphone is unlikely to be disabled unless you activate a few settings that specifically do it.

You can turn your WiFi on or off, but it’s quite difficult to disable it together, rendering it unusable.

If your WiFi disabled on Android, you can bet that some settings are switched on, causing this.

One of those configurations, in particular, is Smart Network Switch or WiFi Assist.

This is a feature that switches your connection to your network’s Mobile Data if it detects an unstable connection with your WiFi.

Here’s how you can turn off Smart Network Switch on Android:

  1. Open your phone’s Settings, then WiFi.
  2. Tap the Menu icon on the top right of your screen.
  3. Select Advanced.
  4. Choose Smart Network Switch and set it to the Off position.
  5. Select OK to confirm.

How to switch off WiFi Assist on iOS devices:

  1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
  2. Select Cellular.
  3. Tap on Mobile Data.
  4. Scroll down and look for WiFi Assist.
  5. Set the slider to the Off position.
Tip: If your WiFi disabled on iPhone, WiFi assist is their version of Smart Network Switch.

Solution #2: Disable Do Not Disturb Mode on Your Device

Another feature that can disable your WiFi is by turning on the Do Not Disturb feature on your phone.

This can come in handy if you want little to no distractions while you’re using your phone.

Apart from muting your sounds and stopping the vibrate feature, it can disable your WiFi so you won’t receive notifications like email.

Do Not Disturb mode stops calls from getting through, so it doesn’t ring. With WiFi disabled, it can stop calls from apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp.

Here’s how to turn off Do Not Disturb Mode on your phone:

For iOS devices:

  1. Open your phone’s Settings.
  2. Go to Focus.
  3. Select Do Not Disturb.
  4. Toggle the switch to the Off position.

For Android:

  1. Go to your phone’s Settings app.
  2. Select Sound and Vibration.
  3. Choose Do Not Disturb.
  4. Tap on Turn on Now.
Note: You can also turn off Do Not Disturb mode by tapping on its tile on your phone’s Quick Settings or Control Center.

Solution #3: Turn On Your WiFi Adapter on Your Computer

For phones, it’s close to impossible to turn off or disable your WiFi module.

However, you can go into your settings and completely shut it down for laptops. Your computer will not connect to the internet until you enable it once again.

If you’re wondering why your laptop is saying that your WiFi is disabled, there’s a good chance that it actually is.

Go deep into your computer’s settings, and you’ll find the option to activate your WiFi adapter so you can connect to the internet.

Here’s how to turn on the WiFi adapter on your laptop:

  1. Open your computer’s Device Manager.
  2. Look for Network adapters and click on the + icon to expand it.
  3. Right-click on the WiFi adapter you want to enable.
  4. Click on Enable device to turn it on.
Note: Your computer can sometimes have multiple devices listed under Network adapters. Choose the one that has WiFi or Wireless on it.

Solution #4: Reset Your Device’s WiFi by Turning on Airplane Mode

After turning off a different phone mode that can affect your WiFi and you still find out that it’s disabled, you can reset it by turning on Airplane Mode.

It’s one way to refresh your device’s networking features effectively. Airplane Mode will turn these off, then when you switch it off, they should power up and reconnect.

Here’s how to use Airplane Mode on your both iOS and Android devices:

  1. Swipe down from the top of your screen to open Control Panel or Quick Settings.
  2. Find Airplane Mode and tap on it.
  3. Make sure ‘Airplane Mode’ is written on the top left of your screen.
  4. Wait for 1 to 2 minutes.
  5. Tap on the Airplane Mode icon again to deactivate it.

Tip: If you’re having this issue on a laptop, you can also use Airplane Mode the same way by clicking on the WiFi connection on your status bar and selecting the Airplane Mode option.

Solution #5: Enable Dynamic IP Addresses on Your Device

If your WiFi is unable to connect properly to your router, it might not be able to obtain an IP address from your router.

Every device needs to have a unique IP address so it can be part of your network.

Setting your phone to use dynamic IP addresses is the quickest way to resolve this issue.

Doing this makes it easier for your router to assign IP addresses and make it part of the network.

Your WiFi could be disabled since it’s not able to acquire an IP address, making it unable to connect to your router and other devices.

Here’s how to enable dynamic IP address on your device:

For iOS devices:

  1. Open your phone’s Settings, then select WiFi.
  2. Choose the WiFi network you’re connected to.
  3. Go to Configure IP.
  4. Make sure it’s on Automatic.

For Android:

  1. Go to your phone’s Settings app.
  2. Select Network and internet.
  3. Navigate to WiFi and tap on the network you’re connected to.
  4. Tap on Advanced options.
  5. Under IP Settings, select Automatic.
Note: After changing the settings, you’ll need to disconnect from your WiFi network and reconnect to acquire a new IP address.

Solution #6: Reset Network Settings on Your Phone

If your WiFi still refuses to work after performing these different solutions, resetting your phone’s network settings is one of the most effective steps.

This will clear up all your WiFi settings. This will allow you to reconnect your phone to your WiFi router and acquire all configurations from scratch.

Here’s how to reset network settings on your phone:

For iOS devices:

  1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Select Transfer or Reset phone.
  4. Choose Reset.
  5. Tap on Reset Network Settings.

For Android:

  1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
  2. Go to General Management or System.
  3. Choose Reset or Reset options.
  4. Tap on Reset network settings.
  5. Select the Reset button to confirm.
Note: We recommend you restart your device after resetting its network settings.

These are the solutions you can take to enable the WiFi module on your device.

If none of these steps work out, you can update your phone’s software or reset it to factory settings.

You can also contact your phone manufacturer if you suspect hardware failure and it needs to be repaired.

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Bottom Line

If you’re still asking why does my WiFi say disabled, you can check out these proven solutions so you can connect to the internet.

There are a few possible causes, and knowing these should help you decide on what steps to take to fix it.