How To Fix The WiFi Out Of Range Problem On A Chromebook

Are you getting a WiFi “Out of Range” error message on your Chromebook? Well so are a large crowd of other users. Fortunately this appears to be a solvable software issue rather than a hardware issue which means you can solve it easily yourself!

Go through the following fixes in order until your problem is resolved.

Fix #1: Restart your devices

This seems obvious but sometimes the obvious works and can save you a lot of time and trouble.

1. Turn off your Chromebook completely.
2. Unplug your modem and your WiFi router.
3. Wait twenty seconds.
4. Plug in your modem and your WiFi router (it will take them a few minutes to boot back up).
5. Turn on your Chromebook.

Check to see if the problem is resolved. If not move onto Fix #2.

Fix #2: Change your WiFi Router Settings

Your WiFi settings might be incompatible with the Chromebook or causing problems. You will have to log into the administration panel of your WiFi router. Each router is different so you’ll need to hunt around or check your router manual for where the setting options are located.

1. On your Chromebook type in the web address of your WiFi router (check with your router manual if you don’t know).
2. Login (if you don’t remember your router username and password then check your router manual or online for the default username/password of your router model).
3. For your WiFi security make sure that your encryption is set to WPA2-PSK with AES Encryption. Make sure that you Disable TKIP if it is enabled.
4. Disable WPS.
5. Disable WMM/QoS

Restart your Chromebook.

If you have a Ubee modem/router then Chromebook user Davey Alexander has reported that the following sequence of steps (which are similar to the steps above) may resolve the issue:

1. Type in your Ubee modem IP. (192.168.0.1)
2. Click Login on the left. Username and password is “user”
3. Click on Wireless on top and then click Primary Network on the left.
4. I click Disabled under Automatic Security Configuration and it seemed to solve the issue. Make sure Primary Network is enabled and your WPA2-PSK is enabled too. I would enable WPA only but it wouldn’t let me. Underneath, there is WPA/WPA2 Encryption. Make sure it says AES.
5. If that doesn’t work, click on WMM on the left toolbar. Turn WMM Support and No Acknowledgement off. Keep Power Save Support on.

Fix #3: Perform a hard reset of your Chromebook

You can find instructions for performing a hard reset of your Chromebook model here: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3227606?hl=en

Fix #4: Completely reset your chromebook

This step will completely wipe your chromebook so you need to backup all of your data first. Again: this will erase EVERYTHING and bring your chromebook back to the state it was when you bought it.

1. Click on your account picture in the lower-right corner of your screen.
2. Click on Settings. A window will appear.
3. Click on Show Advanced Settings at the bottom.
4. Find the “Powerwash” label and click Reset.
5. In the window that opens click Restart.

Once the chromebook restarts you will be presented with the setup window. Go through the setup and enter your google account information.

Have any more ways to fix the WiFi out of range issue on the chromebook? Let us know in the comments below.