Cannot Turn Off Airplane Mode

Hi DZELJUP,

As per your description, if the issue is seen on both Windows and on Ubuntu, then I suspect hardware. Could you restart the system and check if the wireless is enabled in BIOS? Ensure it is enabled, save and exit BIOS. If it is already enabled, then reset BIOS defaults and check.

Update the BIOS from - http://dell.to/22bFknI - and check again.

If the issue is still unresolved, then: If the system is under warranty, then contact us via Twitter - @dellcares for faster communication. If there is no warranty, then we can help with a paid service call. If you wish to order and replace the parts yourself, then you could contact - https://www.parts-people.com/

Keep us updated.

This has been reported in the win 10 MS forum many times especially after recent windows updates so something must have changed. Try pressing the radio tower key again without pressing the FN key. Or if you did not use the FN key, use it now with the wireless key. The function keys toggle between Media and Standard according to using/not using the FN key. You probably already knew that, but it might help someone else.

Another important thing to check is Network Settings, WiFi, Advanced Settings. There is a Make network discoverable setting that might be turned off. Change back to ON. That might be the setting that windows update changed.

Thank you for the suggestions, but unfortunately they did not work.  I did not see the option in BIOS for turning the wireless on/off but I could have missed something.  Restoring defaults and updating the BIOS didn't work either.  I will consider how to proceed as the laptop is no longer under warranty.  I did notice that this issue occurred almost simultaneous with a recent Windows update last week, but resetting Windows already didn't fix the issue.  I was considering trying a factory reset next, then if that doesn't work I am wondering if I should just replace the wireless card itself...but I see that the bluetooth can't be activated either which leads me to think it's just an issue with the airplane mode automatically switching on.

Hi DZELJUP,

Thank you for the update.

I would suggest you to try downgrading the OS. Check this link on how to - http://bit.ly/1RMaCdK. If that does not work, then you could try a factory reset or reinstall the OS.

If you have another HDD from a similar machine, you could just swap the HDD and check if the wireless works or not, as this would isolate the issue whether or not the OS is causing it.

Keep us updated.

I was able to downgrade the OS to Windows 8.1 and I did a factory reset, during set-up I was given a list of wireless networks, but when I selected mine it tried connecting for a few minutes then gave an error saying no connection available.  I tried going back to the list of connections and but none were there, so I don't know if they were there from a previous set-up of windows or if the wireless was temporarily working.  When I got into Windows  airplane mode was still on.  In Ubuntu, its still the same problem, but it says the WiFi is turned off by a hardware switch, and bluetooth is working whereas in Windows neither can be turned on.  I did try using the radio tower key with and without the function key but it didn't change anything.  Based on that, I'm wondering if I should try replacing the wireless card because I don't know of any hardware switch, and I don't have any network options in BIOS.  I don't have another HDD to swap unfortunately.

Hi DZELJUP,

Thank you for the update.

Now, you state that "it tried connecting for a few minutes", could you kindly confirm if it did connect or not? Also, are you still on W8.1 or have you upgraded to W10 again?

Does the adapter show up in device manager? Could you send us a screenshot of the device manager with network adapters expanded?

If it does show up, then please try reinstalling the chipset drivers and the network drivers and then check again - http://dell.to/1WJdege

You could also test the system in safe mode with networking to check if it works.

If the hardware does not show up in device manager, then I still suspect the issue could be with the hardware itself, since the issue is seen on Windows and in Linux. Replacing the wireless card might resolve the issue.

Keep us updated.