Question

Windows laptop can't find T-Mobile Home Internet network... but all other devices can

  • 10 February 2021
  • 66 replies
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Just set up my gateway… working fine for the most part, but it doesn’t appear in the list of available networks on my Windows 10 laptop. Phone, tablet, another laptop elsewhere in the house… the network shows up just fine on all those devices.

Any idea what would cause this? TIA!


66 replies

This is how I fixed my issue with an old Dell Notebook PC with the following network adapter:

Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160

I simply went to Device Manager, located that network adapter in the device manager, uninstalled it by right-clicking on that device, and then go to ACTION, “scan for hardware changes”, and then the WIFI network came up immediately!

Hope this helps!!!

 

Sorry to say, did not work for me. Same AC 3160. Did you check “Delete the driver software for the device” ?  I did not. Thank you.

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The t-mobile router doesn't work with some Dell computers.  T-mobile Philippines support was clueless, and so was Dell.  I solved the problem by connecting via a wifi extender.

Solved! The issue is your Proxy Server.When proxy is enabled, your network data gets transmitted differently than it would when proxy is disabled.

Therefore, turn the proxy server off on your PC and see if that helps you get rid of your problem. You can always turn the proxy server on with a few clicks. Here is the link to how disable the proxy server. 

https://helpdeskgeek.com/help-desk/how-to-fix-the-remote-device-wont-accept-the-connection-error/

Here’s how to disable proxy:

  1. Open the Run box by pressing Windows + R keys at the same time.
  2. Type inetcpl.cpl in the Run box and press Enter.
  1. In the Internet Properties window that opens, select the Connections tab.
  2. In the Connections tab, at the bottom, select the LAN settings button.
  1. On the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings window, disable the Use a proxy server for your LAN option. Then, select OK.
  1. Select Apply and then OK on the Internet Properties window.
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Some older computers and devices don’t work well with the default network settings.  You should leave those settings alone for all your devices that do work well.  But if your computer or other device can’t see the default network, you need to add a second network.

Here are T-Mobile’s instructions for how to do this with the app.

iOS: iOS How to create additional Wi-Fi networks

Android:  Android How to create additional Wi-Fi networks

Same issue after re-starting router home PC doesn’t SEE router but other devices in same room work Fine.   It is STUPID that tech support is a community share and NOT T-Mobile techs fixing the problem.  Oh and the app locks up anytime I attempt to see devices

I switched to T-mobile over a year ago and I’ve had to keep our old provider allllll this time, because 1 desktop PC in the house couldn’t find the gateway.  
 

All total, I probably spent a solid week’s worth of time reading these forums, doing all the stuff posted here, having support walking me through fixes (that failed), and even reading forums and support from other companies, whose users were having the same issue with those products.  
 

I even tried skipping the wireless and plugging it into the Ethernet port on the gateway, since it’s a desktop PC and not going anywhere, but those hopes were crushed when I discovered it’s in the one place in my house where the gateway couldn’t get a  signal.  
 

Last week, I was putting in a grocery order in at Walmart, not even close to thinking about technical annoyances, and I had a brain storm.  I added a USB wifi adapter to the grocery order.  When it arrived, I plugged it in, ran the setup, and BOOM! the T-mobile gateway appeared on the list.  
 

A whopping $9.99 and 5 minutes solved the problem. The desktop PC is online, its user is happy as a pig in slop, and I can FINALLY kick my old provider to the curb. 

Sometimes it pays to think outside the box, and inside the Walmart bag.  😄

I have the same issue with an old Windows 7 64-bit laptop that cannot detect the Wireless connection, I change the 2.4GHz transmission mode to n/g and the T Mobile Wireless Network was instantly detected. After that everything is working fine with a download speed between 21-29 Mbps.

 

 

 

I had same issue one of my laptop wasnt connecting to 5 GHz gateway.  However connects to 2.4 GHz gateway automatically without issues.

Same situation

I have the exact same issue. It won't show up on the list of available networks of my laptop.  hellodear.in
 

  tea tv apk


 

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With the Arcadyan or Sagemcon gateways the mobile application is T-Mobile’s method for managing the units. 

I’m trying to change the settings on the router but the Admin IP just takes me to description page with a link to the app, which doesn’t have any option to change those settings.  Is there any way I can still access the router settings through the admin IP or do I have to use the app?

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The best resolution is to get a USB network adapter that is 802.11ax. 

I have the exact same issue. It won't show up on the list of available networks of my laptop. It has windows 10 too.

Known issue on older devices. The Intel WiFi drivers need to be updated.

ac3160 wifi no longer supported

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If you have the Arcadyan or Sagemcon gateway you cannot manage the gateway with the admin account via the web GUI. The way T-Mobile has those set you are required to manage them via the T-Mobile home internet mobile application. You download it from the respective mobile application store. The home internet application seems to work much more reliably on Android but can be difficult with Apple iOS. 

There are also some good videos on YouTube by Nater Tater. If you have not seen these you should check them out. He has very good information for working around configurations with the gateways.

Same issue as above. Have tried most of fixes (none worked) except for admin IP address to access gateway settings . Don’t see any way to change network settings when accessing using IP address. Just get generic info on device, etc. but nothing allowing changes as some above have indicated… Tmobile tech had no idea and Dell wants me to get new machine (of course) but 7-yr old Inspiron still performing very well except for this glitch.  Two afternoons of my life will never get back…

This is how I fixed my issue with an old Dell Notebook PC with the following network adapter:

Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160

I simply went to Device Manager, located that network adapter in the device manager, uninstalled it by right-clicking on that device, and then go to ACTION, “scan for hardware changes”, and then the WIFI network came up immediately!

Hope this helps!!!

 

Hi everyone, I had the same issue with my computer not seeing the SSID. in order to solve this problem in my windows 10 laptop computer I went to device manager looked up my network adapter name. then I went to the maker of the WIFI card on my laptop. In my case it was intel. (When i ran the update driver in windows it said that i had the latest driver) don’t listen to that, i went to intel’s site downloaded the exact driver that my device manager said i had, installed it and viola it saw the SSID. I am now connected. The intel site said that the card was discontinued but i still downloaded the latest driver which was from 2019. Try this it worked for me. Apparently windows only uses parts of the full driver.

i was unable to connect an older microsoft surface pro to the t-mobile wifi, but all my other devices could connect. the network name was visible, but when i tried to connect i got an error stating that i could not connect to that network. i have a t-mobile black tower model FAST 5688W. first thing i did was insure that my wireless network adapter was up to date. i then disable and then enable the network adapter. i then tried connecting again and got the same error.  i then logged into the t-mobile internet app and created a second wifi network. i set new network's frequency band to “2.4 GHz” and the WPA Version to “WPA2”. i used this new network name to connect to my surface pro and the connection was successful. i left all my other devices connected to the original network.

Quick fix:

  Buy a USB adapter (Amazon $19 value) and hook it up to computer (5 minutes to do) and it will pick up the new T-Mobile Modem. I had the same issue with my old computer -- now I no longer have to use my unreliable phone Hot Spot.

Just set up my gateway… working fine for the most part, but it doesn’t appear in the list of available networks on my Windows 10 laptop. Phone, tablet, another laptop elsewhere in the house… the network shows up just fine on all those devices.

Any idea what would cause this? TIA!

Quick fix:

  Buy a USB adapter (Amazon $17 value) and hook it up to computer (5 minutes to do) and it will pick up the new T-Mobile Modem. I had the same issue with my old computer -- now I no longer have to use my unreliable phone Hot Spot.

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If you have the round gateway, Etherphreak’s post will work every time.  It worked for me.  If you have the newer square gateway, your older network adapters won’t get wifi.  I had to buy a USB network adapter.  I wasn’t happy about it.

PROBLEM SOLVED.  I was having the same issue with an older Asus laptop. When I had the 4G LTE router/modem from T-Mobile the network would show up on my laptop but once I got the 5G one the network wouldn't show up on my laptop but it would show up on all other devices. The work around I found was purchasing the TP-Link RE300 range extender. You connect the range extender to the 5G router/modem then connect the problem device to the range extender. In my case it was my laptop which is now connected to the range extender and working fine. This range extender is 2.4ghz and 5g compatible. Not sure if other range extenders would work as this is the only one I own and have tried. Also, I just ran a speed test and there's no noticeable difference in speed due to being connected to the range extender instead of the T-Mobile router/modem directly.

 

The range extender I bought was only like $30 or $40 dollars and was very easy to set up. 

Thank you so much.  This is what worked for me, and my 10-year old laptop...which worked fine on every other wireless device, prior.  I read this last night, Amazon delivered the TP-Link RE300 ($30) 25 minutes ago, and I am typing this connected, as you describe.  I really appreciate your efforts to not only solve, but to share.

I hope this helps someone experiencing my scenario where Laptop WIFI Adapter Driver is old...

After installing the T-Mobile Gateway Gray Kit I was unable to see the SSID name in the list of available networks on my 2017 HP Laptop running Windows 10, but everything else in the house connected, since I renamed Gateway to the previous router SSID name. I searched the type of wireless adapter I have in laptop, Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265, and visited Intel site to update Wireless adapter Driver to the latest for my device, 19.51.33.1. After the update I am able to see the Gateway SSID and laptop connects.

To find WIFI adapter name: Right click internet icon in Task Bar > Open Network & Internet Settings > select ‘WIFI’ > ‘Harware Properties’. Look for Manufacturer Name an Model. Go to manufacturer site and search for driver download; mine was an executable file, which installed and updated after a few prompts.

One may access the T-Mobile Gateway Settings by connecting Laptop directly to Gateway via LAN cable into back of Gateway and enter 192.168.12.1 into browser. One may view and modify the 2.4GHz and 5GHz WIFI Networks Settings. Username: admin > Password: (Is what you determined during installation, or the default listed on bottom of Gateway.) I’m using my laptop on the 2.4GHz network, so I changed the Gateway Channel from default 1 to 11, this didn’t affect the other devices already connected. None of these changes had any affect on laptop SSID discovery until after I updated the Driver.

Vypur!!! You da man. Been trying to figure this out for 2 days. I have the same wireless adapter as you in my somewhat older Alienware computer. T-mobile wifi would not show up in the network list. Did show up for every other device in the house including Roku’s. I tried updating the driver by searching the internet for latest driver. Was informed that I had the latest driver. That is where the problem lies. I actually did not have the latest driver. Why it failed to determine that I don’t know. Anyway, I followed your advice and went to Intel site and found the actual latest driver and downloaded and installed. Then I immediately checked the wifi network list and viola!!! There was my elusive T-mobile wifi network ready to connect. All good now, so thank you sir for your help. THIS SHOULD BE YOUR FIX, EVERYONE. Don’t trust Windows to search internet and find latest driver. Go to site yourself and find it if you are having issues.

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