How to turn Wireless on/off in various Laptop models
2012-05-06 (updated: 2013-05-06) by Philip
Tags: Wireless, Wi-Fi
Below is a summary of Wireless on/off switches in various laptop models.
ACER
Acer (General) - FN+F5
Aspire 1000/1640Z/1690/2012 - Launch Keys above the keyboard
Aspire 16xx (General) the satellite-like launch button above the keyboard
Aspire 2000 Series (less Aspire 2012, See Above) - Button on the Front of the Laptop
Aspire 3005 on the lower right-hand side of your laptop
Aspire 3500 -
Aspire 5612 sliding button on the side of the laptop
Aspire 9302 the blue button on the left-hand side of the laptop
Aspire 94xx (General) the key found below the Lock key
Aspire One, in the lower right corner of the palm rest is a small strip with a picture of an antenna on it. An LED to the right of the strip lights to indicate the wireless is turned on.
Aspire One Series ZG5 -
Extensa 2000/2500 Series - Far Right launch button above the keyboard
Ferrari 3000/3020/3400/4000 - Button on Front of Laptop
Travelmate C Series - Far Left hot key and then choose WLAN from menu that appears
ADVENT
7086/7096 - Button next to the power button
7100 /7104 - Fn+F2
7201 - Wireless key top Right and then Fn+F2
8117 - Small slide switch on the Front of Laptop
Alienware
M17x - Fn+F2
ASUS
ASUS (General) - Fn+F2 (some models may have a seperate switch, often on the left-hand side near the USB plug)
F5R - Toggle switch located on the Left side of the notebook
G1S - This laptop supports multi-model switching of the wireless and bluetooth radios via the key command Fn+F2:
1st press: On both Bluetooth / On WiFi
2nd press: Off Bluetooth / On WiFi
3rd press: On Bluetooth / Off WiFi
4th press: Off Bluetooth / Off WiFi
BENQ
Joybook 5000u-d09 - Fn+F12
DELL
General - Fn+F2 or Fn+F8 or Fn+F12
600m - Fn+ F2
E6400 on the right above the headphone and microphone ports, (next to "Dell Wi-Fi Catcher" button.)
Inspiron series (Less 5100, See Below) - Fn+F2
Inspiron 1510/500M/600M/1150 - Fn+F2
Inspiron 1505 - Wireless icon next to the time (lower right hand corner of screen) right-click & turn radio on.
Inspirion 1521 - Sliding switch (WiFi Catcher) is on the right side of the laptop (with light).
Inspiron 1525 - Wireless icon next to the time (lower right hand corner of screen) right-click & turn radio on.
There may also be a little on/off switch on the side or front of the laptop that you need to check is on.
Inspiron 1720 - on/off switch on the left side of the laptop
* Inspiron 5100 - No Built-in Wireless for this model
Inspiron 6000/8600/9300 - Fn+F2
Latitude D400/D500/D600/D610/D400/D500/D600/D610/D620/D800 - Fn+F2
Latitude D630 (D640 and Newer???) - toggle switch on the Left side towards the Front by the PCMCIA slots and headphone jack
Latitude E6400 - Fn+F2
Latitude X300 - Fn+F2
Vostro 1500 - Big button on Left side at rear (No Fn+F# combo to toggle wireless on/off for this model.)
XPS1210 -
Wifi on D610 - you can also go to the BIOS by pressing F12 on boot, in the WiFi section, choose 1 of the 3 options: *(Off) (By Application) (By pressing Alt+F2)
E-MACHINES
E-machine (General) - FN+F2
E-System
3115 - Slide switch on Front of Laptop (Also has Fn+F5 function)
FUJITSU/SIEMENS
Fujitsu (General) - Fn+F10
Fujitsu/Siemens (General) - Use either the sliding “Wireless” button on the right-hand side of the laptop or use the Fn+F2 key combo
Some models have the ON/OFF wireless button just below the touchpad.
Amilo A & D Series - Button above the keyboard on top Right
Amilo K Series - No Built-in Wireless for this model
Amilo L/EL Series - Fn+F1
Amilo La Series - Fn+F2
Amilo Li Series - Easy launch button (one of 3) on top of keyboard
GATEWAY
Gateway Laptops general - switch on side and then Fn+F2
7805u FX - Wireless toggle is on front right. Software switch is Fn+F2.
Fn is not in normal position and is located on the bottom left of the keyboard where CTRL is typically located.
Gateway NV53 (and other NV series) - touch-sensitive antenna icon above F-keys
Gericom
Cinema 16100 model use the Fn+F1 key combo
HP (HEWITT-PACKARD) / COMPAQ
HP/Compaq (General Older models) - Button on upper Left on keyboard deck
HP/Compaq (General Newer models) - Button on lower Left below keyboard
Compaq (General) Press and hold the antenna-button on the upper section of your keyboard
* Compaq Armada Services - No Built-in Wireless for this model
Compaq Pavilion ZX5190 - Wireless switch is on the keypad, slightly separate from the keys. It has a wireless symbol on it.
Compaq Presario - Button on the Back
Compaq Presario CQ Series - Button above the keyboard (antenna icon on button)
Compaq Presario M2000 - Button above the keyboard (antenna icon on button)
HP/Compaq 6910p Notebook PC above keyboard to left, 2 buttons to the right of the power button.
(Wireless on/off LED is on the lower left. left of power/standby light.)
HP 600 - Button on lower Left below keyboard
HP NC4000/4010 - Button above Keyboard
HP NC4220 - Button on Left Side of Laptop near USB Port
HP NC6000/6220 - Button above Keyboard
HP NX9010 - Button on Front side of Laptop
HP Omnibook 6200 - Button on Left side of Laptop
HP DV3000 series - LED on front left edge with antenna icon (orange-off, blue-on)
IBM / LENOVO
IBM General - Some models have a wireless slide button on the side of the laptop.
IBM DV series - use the antenna-like button found on the upper section of your keyboard.
IBM R40 - Use the Fn+F5 key-combo.
IBM Thinkpad (General) - Most have software switch or button on Left hand side.
IBM Thinkpad (model not further identified) wireless switch on Front edge of case.
IBM T43/X32 - Fn+F5 - Click "Turn On"
IBM ZD series use the antenna-like button just below the “Lock” key.
Lenevo - button on the front
On most models, Fn+F5 opens the menu to display the wireless radio status
Lenovo T-61 - Slide button on the front of the laptop
Lenovo X61 - Front edge on the bottom half of the clam shell, to the right of center and facing somewhat downward as the bezel is beveled there.
MEDION
General - Fn+F1 or Fn+F2
MSI
General - antenna-like button close to the power switch
U100 - Fn+F11
PACKARD BELL
Easynote B3600 use the Fn+F1
EasyNote E2/MV46/008 - Fn+F1
Easynote W7730, Antenna-like wireless button on the side of the laptop.
MZ36-U024 - Fn+F2
PHILIPS
General - Fn+F2 key combo
X54 - Antenna-like button close to the power switch.
SAMSUNG
General - Blue button found in the middle section of the keyboard
SHARP
General - Fn+F2
SONY
General - Software Switch, "Wireless Device Switch icon" in systems tray (Gray square labled LAN)
(Many models use both a physical and a software switch)
Sony Vaio (General) - Switch on front left
VAIO (General, not further identified) - Button (or slide switch) on the Front Left or Right side
VAIO - VGW-AW125T - Button on Front Left, below keyboard
VAIO - VGN-AX570G - Button on Front Left
VAIO - VGN-B2560 - On top left of Keyboard (light say's wireless when on)
TARGA
Companion 811 - Fn+F2
TOSHIBA
General - Fn+F5 or Fn+F8 or physical switch
A100-078 - Sliding button on the right-hand side of the laptop
Eqium Series - Slide switch on Front of Laptop
Libretto Series - Slide switch on Left hand side
M1 & M2 - Switch on Left side of Laptop, towards front
M40 and M70 - ON/OFF antenna-like button.
Portege & Qosmio Series - Slide switch on the Left hand side
Quantium Series - Slide switch on the Left hand side
R100 - Switch on Right side of Laptop
Satego Series - Slide Switch on the Right hand side
Satellite (General) - Physical switch on front of case, below keyboard deck, to left of center.
(FN+F8 shows wether wireless communications is enabled or disabled. )
Satellite (Model Not further identified) - On the Front of case, below keyboard deck, to left of center, (may require Fn+F8 to turn on)
Satellite 1400/1405 - (may/maynot have wireless) For models w/wireless radios, right side of case, below Floppy Drive.
Satellite L355D-S7825 - switch is on the front edge of the case, below keyboard just left of center.
Satellite A60-S1662 - Slide switch on right side between USB Port and Mic & headphone jacks
Satellite Pro - On the Side or Front
TE2000 - Switch on Left side of Laptop, by volume control
Tecra 2100 - Switch on Left side of Laptop, by volume control
FN+F8 shows whether wireless communications is enabled or disabled.
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MAC/Apple
MAC OS X 10.4.x (Tiger & Earlier)
Open MAc Hard Drive > Applications > Utilities folder > Set the Configure pull-down to Airport.
Make sure the "Airport Power:" says On. (This is the status or your Mac's Airport card.)
If not, click "Turn Airport On" button.
MAC OS X 10.5.x (Leopard)
Click on the: Apple Icon > System Preferences > Network > Airport > Airport Power - On/Off
Airport power can also be toggled off/on fom the WiFi idon on the top bar menu.
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Note this list is a compilation of information gathered both internally and externally by numerous techs from a variety of sources. It is not all enclusive and is subject to change as more information is gathered.
Please feel free to add to the above information by posting a comment below.
