Two neighbors arrive at the same time. One holds a laptop with no Wi-Fi. The other holds a mouse that will not move. "Double trouble!" says Rocket, grabbing both.
Raven smiles. "One case at a time. What do you notice about the Wi-Fi symbol?" It is gray, with a tiny line through it.
Nova circles the mouse. "Would you like a hint? Both problems might share one answer. What do a radio and a mouse both need?"
Wi-Fi is radio. The device has a small radio inside. If the radio is turned off, no network can reach it.
Airplane mode turns every radio off at once. It is easy to tap by accident. A Wi-Fi symbol with a line through it often means the radio is off.
Next, check if the device is joined to the right network. A home may have more than one. A device can cling to a weak one.
If the radio and network are both right, the router may need a restart. A router has a plug. A grown-up does that step.
A mouse needs two things. It needs power, and it needs a connection to the computer.
A wired mouse gets both from its cable. Check that the cable is seated firmly in the port. Look, but do not yank.
A wireless mouse gets power from a battery and a connection from a tiny radio. If the battery is flat, the mouse goes quiet.
Only a grown-up changes a battery. You can check the charge light or the switch on the bottom.
The fastest test is to try a different mouse. If the new mouse works, the old mouse is the problem.
| Clue | Likely reason | Safe fix |
|---|---|---|
| No light under the mouse | No power | Check the switch; grown-up checks the battery |
| Light on, pointer stuck | Connection lost | Reseat the cable or turn the mouse off and on |
| Pointer jumps around | Dirty or shiny surface | Move to a plain mouse pad |
| New mouse works fine | Old mouse is the problem | Tell a grown-up |
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| A kid may check that a mouse cable is seated. | ? |
| A kid may change the mouse battery. | ? |
| Forgetting and rejoining Wi-Fi is done with a grown-up. | ? |
| A kid may unplug the router to restart it. | ? |
Two cases closed in one day! You used the same method for both. Tomorrow you will put the whole checklist together and meet the never list.