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FRITZ!WLAN Stick cannot establish a Wi-Fi connection

Although the FRITZ!WLAN Stick can find the Wi-Fi network of the wireless router (for example a FRITZ!Box), the FRITZ!WLAN Stick cannot establish a Wi-Fi connection to the wireless router. The following error message may be displayed in the FRITZ!WLAN control software:

  • "Failed to establish connection":
    * Check the network key entry
    * whether the WLAN device is switched on, ready to receive, and within range
    * whether the name of the WLAN device (SSID) is correct. (0x6406)"

1 Updating FRITZ!OS and Wi-Fi software

Updates contain improvements, bug fixes, and new functions. Therefore, install the latest FRITZ!OS or software version on all of the devices:

Installing the latest software for the wireless router

  1. Install the latest software for the wireless router according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you are using a FRITZ!Box as a wireless repeater, proceed as described in the guide Updating FRITZ!OS.

Installing the latest driver for the FRITZ!WLAN Stick

  1. Download the latest driver for your FRITZ!WLAN Stick from our FTP server download.avm.de/archive/cardware/fritzwlanusb.stick/.
  2. Double-click the file "avm_fritz!wlan_usb_stick [...].exe" and follow the instructions.

2 Optimizing the Wi-Fi settings of the wireless router

Configuring the FRITZ!Box

The following steps are only necessary if you are using a FRITZ!Box as the wireless router:

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Security" in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Enable the option "Enable AVM Stick & Surf".
  4. If available, click "Restrict Access to Wi-Fi".
  5. Enable the option "Allow all new wireless devices". If the option is not displayed, enable the Advanced View first. You can re-enable the MAC address filter after you have successfully set up the Wi-Fi connection.
  6. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

Configuring the wireless router

The following steps are only necessary if you are using a wireless router from another manufacturer:

Note:Refer to the manufacturer of the wireless router for information on setting it up; for example, consult the manual.

  1. Disable the wireless router’s MAC address filter. You can re-enable the MAC address filter after you have successfully set up the Wi-Fi connection.
  2. Enable WPA2 encryption (CCMP) or the WPA3 transition mode (WPA3 + WPA2) in the wireless router. Only use WPA (TKIP) if the wireless router does not support WPA2. The FRITZ!WLAN Stick does not support WPA3.
  3. Enable the display of Wi-Fi network names (SSID) and give the router a unique Wi-Fi network name. This way, all wireless devices can connect to the FRITZ!Box and prevents your wireless devices from trying to connect to the wrong wireless router if there are Wi-Fi networks with the same name in the vicinity.

    Note:All Wi-Fi connections are cleared when you apply the new Wi-Fi network name. You must then reconfigure the Wi-Fi connections.

3 Reconfiguring the Wi-Fi connection

Setting up the Wi-Fi connection automatically

If you are using a FRITZ!Box with a USB port as a wireless router, use Stick & Surf to automatically set up the Wi-Fi connection:

  1. Insert the FRITZ!WLAN Stick into a USB port on the FRITZ!Box. Now the FRITZ!Box transmits the Wi-Fi security settings to the FRITZ!WLAN Stick using Stick & Surf. The Info LED on the FRITZ!Box flashes while they are being transmitted.
  2. The process is complete as soon as the Info LED on the FRITZ!Box remains lit.
  3. Insert the FRITZ!WLAN Stick into a USB port on your computer. Now the FRITZ!WLAN Stick establishes the Wi-Fi connection.

Setting up the Wi-Fi connection manually

If you are using a FRITZ!Box without a USB port or a wireless router from another manufacturer, set up the Wi-Fi connection manually:

  1. Right-click the FRITZ!WLAN symbol in the notification area of the Windows taskbar (Systray).
  2. Select "Known Wireless LAN Remote Sites..." from the context menu.
  3. Right-click the connection with the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) of the wireless router.
  4. Click "Remove".
  5. Click the "Find" button.
  6. In the window "Find and Select WLAN Device", double-click the entry that displays the name of the wireless router's Wi-Fi network in the column "Name (SSID)". If the router's Wi-Fi network is not displayed, follow the steps in our guide Wireless router's Wi-Fi network is not found.
  7. From the drop-down list "Security", select the Wi-Fi encryption used by the wireless router.
  8. Enter the wireless router's network key in the "key" field.
  9. Click "OK" to save the settings.

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