HP laptops will not connect to Wi-Fi or keeps disconnecting: on the HP Spectre x360 14, a Wi-Fi fault is easiest to solve by deciding whether the laptop or the network is at fault: if a phone on the same router also cannot reach the internet, restart the modem and router and call the provider.
If only the Spectre fails, check that Airplane mode is off and that no function key has turned wireless off, then forget the network in Settings, Network and internet, Wi-Fi, Manage known networks and rejoin it. Run HP Support Assistant to find a wireless driver or BIOS update, since Spectre drivers come from HP. The Spectre supports Wi-Fi 6E, which adds the 6 GHz band, but only a Wi-Fi 6E router will show a 6 GHz network. Run Network reset only as the last software step.
Differential
Likely causes of “HP laptops will not connect to Wi-Fi or keeps disconnecting”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Airplane mode or a wireless key
What separates it No Wi-Fi option or no networks
How to confirm Turn Airplane mode off and check the keyboard's wireless key
- 2
The router or provider
What separates it Other devices also fail
How to confirm Restart the modem and router
- 3
A stale saved network
What separates it The network is listed but will not connect
How to confirm Forget it and rejoin
- 4
An old or changed driver
What separates it Wi-Fi broke after an update
How to confirm Update or roll back the driver with HP Support Assistant
- 5
A card or antenna fault
What separates it No networks after reinstalling the driver
How to confirm Run HP PC Hardware Diagnostics from the F2 menu
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The Spectre's product number and Windows version
- Whether a phone works on the same network and on both bands
- The adapter shown in Device Manager
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedTest another device
ReversibleCheck a phone on the same Wi-Fi to see whether the router is at fault.
Check Airplane mode
ReversibleTurn it off and press any wireless function key.
Forget and rejoin
ReversibleRemove the network under Manage known networks and add it again.
Update through HP Support Assistant
ReversibleInstall the wireless driver and BIOS updates for your model.
Run the hardware test
ReversibleRestart and press F2 to open HP PC Hardware Diagnostics, then run the wireless test.
Reset the network
ReversibleUse Network reset in Settings, Network and internet, Advanced network settings if nothing else works.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- HP tools
- HP Support Assistant finds drivers and BIOS updates for the exact Spectre, and HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI tests the wireless card without Windows.
- Model
- The Spectre x360 14 is a 2-in-1 with an OLED screen; the wireless card depends on the configuration, so check the product number.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models Envy x360 14-fa, Pavilion Plus 14-ey, OmniBook Ultra 14, G11, Victus 16-r, OMEN Transcend 14.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If no networks appear after a driver reinstall and BIOS update, contact HP Support
- !If the HP hardware test fails the wireless card, book service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
HP's device-agnostic Wi-Fi troubleshooting article, cited by title.
Wi-Fi on, airplane mode, troubleshooter, router restart and drivers.
The HP Spectre premium line.
The HP Envy line.
The HP Pavilion line.
The HP EliteBook business line.
The HP OMEN gaming line.
Exact questions
Common questions
Does the HP Spectre x360 14 support Wi-Fi 6E?+
Yes, the Spectre supports Wi-Fi 6E, so it can use the 6 GHz band when the router supports it.
How do I open HP's hardware diagnostics?+
Switch the laptop off, press the power button and tap F2 repeatedly until the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics menu appears.
Why does Wi-Fi drop on my Spectre after sleep?+
The adapter may be powered down to save energy. Untick the option to allow the computer to turn it off in Device Manager, Power Management.
Will Network reset delete my files?+
No. It removes saved networks and adapters, so note your Wi-Fi password first.
Why is the Spectre's Wi-Fi slower in tent mode?+
Folding the laptop changes how the antennas sit and what covers them. Try laptop mode and compare the speed.
How do I find the Spectre's wireless card model?+
Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters and read the Wi-Fi adapter's name, which tells you the Wi-Fi generation it supports.