Wireless Network works on other devices but not on Surface

If Wireless Network works on other devices but not on Surface, then this post may help you. The Surface device is extremely portable and has multiple benefits, like lower hardware and software costs and a compact design. But recently, some users have been complaining about wireless network errors on Surface devices. Fortunately, you can follow some simple steps to fix it.

Why is Wi-Fi working on some devices but not others?

Errors like these usually occur due to some temporary error with your service provider. However, there are other reasons this may occur. Some of them are:

Device Incompatibility
Weak Network Strength
Misconfigured Network Settings
Outdated or Corrupt Wi-Fi Drivers

Fix Wireless Network works on other devices but not on Surface

If Wireless Networks do not work on Surface but work on other devices, then first, restart your device and router and see if it helps. However, if that doesn’t work, consider following these methods:

Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter
Update Device Drivers
Turn Airplane Mode on and then off
Congestion on the Wireless Network
Reset Network Settings
Run these Network Commands
Force Restart Your Surface Device
Check if Wi-Fi is present in Device Manager

Now let us see these in detail.

1] Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter

Before getting started with different troubleshooting methods to fix this issue, try running Microsoft’s Automated Troubleshooting Services as a first step to diagnose and repair common Network issues. Here’s how:

Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Scroll down and click on Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters.
Click on Run beside Network Adapter and follow the instructions on-screen.

2] Update Device Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can also be responsible for why wireless networks are not working on Surface. Update your Surface drivers and check if the issue gets fixed. Here’s how you can do it:

Open Settings and navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Right under it, look for a clickable link— View optional updates.
Under Driver Updates, a list of updates will be available, which you can choose to install if you are facing an issue manually.

Read: Surface connects to WiFi but no internet

3] Turn Airplane Mode on and then off

Turning on Airplane mode on your device blocks all incoming and outgoing connections from your device. Turning the feature on and off can sometimes help solve wireless network errors. Here’s how:

Click on Start > Settings, and navigate to Network & Internet.
Turn the toggle switch to On beside Airplane mode and turn it off after a few minutes.
Turn Wi-Fi on and see if the error gets fixed.

4] Congestion on the Wireless Network

If your Wi-Fi network is visible in the available networks section on your Surface device, the error may be with the router. Restart your router and see if it fixes the error. However, only a definite number of devices can connect to a Wi-Fi network simultaneously. If that’s the case, turn Wi-Fi off on other devices, collect to the network, and check if Wi-Fi starts working on your Surface device.

5] Run these Network Commands

Running the network commands will reset the TCP/IP stack, renew the IP address, Reset Winsock and flush the DNS client resolver cache. Here’s how you can do it:

Press the Windows key, search for Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator.

Type the following commands one by one and hit Enter.

netsh winsock reset

netsh int IP reset

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

Restart your device once done.

Read: Wi-Fi Settings are missing on Surface device

6] Force Restart Your Surface Device

If you are still unable to fix the issue, try force restarting your Surface device. Close all applications/programs and hold the power button (about 30 seconds) until the Windows logo screen appears. Once your device is turned off, restart it after a few minutes and check if it fixes the error.

7] Check if Wi-Fi is present in Device Manager

Wireless networks can stop working if they get disabled in the Device Manager. Here is how you can check for the same:

Click on the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter.
Scroll down and expand Network Adapters.
Right-click on your adapter and select Enable.

8] Reset Network Settings

If none of these steps were able to help you, reset the network settings of your device. Performing a network reset will remove and then reinstall all your network adaptors. It will also reset all related settings to their defaults. Here is how you can do it:

Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Navigate to Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network Reset.
Click on Reset Now beside Network Reset and follow the instructions on-screen.

Do let us know if this helps you!

Read: Slow WiFi connection speed on Surface.

Why is my laptop not detecting Wi-Fi?

There are various factors that lead to this extremely frustrating issue, which frequently affects many Windows users. Among the common reasons for the WiFi networks not showing up is your computer is inability to detect available networks due to a significant distance between it and the internet source, issues with the network adapter, and sometimes an unstable internet source.