Question Computer stuck in Airplane Mode, can't activate Wifi -- ideas?

Joe_Q_Smith

Reputable
Dec 22, 2015
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The computer in question is a Dell Latitude E6530 running Windows 10 with all available updates applied.

On Friday a weird phenomenon popped up in which the computer spontaneously entered Airplane Mode and can't exit. I see the Airplane Mode icon in the status bar in the lower right of the screen.

The Windows software toggles to turn Airplane Mode on or off are actually greyed out (cannot be toggled). When I try to toggle Wifi on through the same set of buttons, it appears to turn on for a moment (3-4 seconds), then turns off again.

I've tried several fixes found online, including (a) disabling power-management control over the wireless network adapter, (b) a network reset. Nothing changes.

Very strangely, when I plug in an external USB Wifi dongle, I get the same phenomenon -- that network adapter too is stuck in Airplane Mode, and when I try to manually activate its Wifi, the same thing occurs (appears to turn on for 3-4 secs and then turns itself off).

There is no problem with wired (Ethernet cable) access. That works fine.

Anyone have any clues? Thanks!