Quick fixes for the most common issues on school laptops and desktops

Summary

This guide covers simple problems users often encounter on school Windows 11 devices — and the easy steps you can take to fix them before contacting ICT.

Who is this for?

All staff and students using school‑managed Windows 11 devices.

? 1. Camera Not Working (No Image Shown)

Most common cause: the physical privacy slider is covering the camera.

✔ Try this first:

• Check the camera lens at the top of the laptop
• If you see a small shutter or slider, move it fully open

✔ Then check Teams/Camera app:

1. Open Start → Camera
2. If it shows a blocked or dark screen → the slider is still covering the lens
3. If the image works in the Camera app but not in Teams:
   • Open Teams → Settings → Devices
   • Choose the correct camera from the dropdown

? 2. Microphone Not Working

Most common causes:

• Microphone muted
• Volume extremely low
• Wrong device selected

✔ Fix steps:

1. Check your keyboard mute key (often F4, F8, or dedicated mic key)
2. Check your headset mute switch (if using one)
3. Open Settings → System → Sound
4. Under Input, make sure the correct microphone is selected
5. Speak into the microphone — check the input bar moves
6. In Teams, go to Settings → Devices and pick the right mic

? 3. WiFi Issues (No Internet / Not Connecting)

Common causes:

• WiFi switched off
• Wrong network
• Device hasn’t auto‑connected

✔ Fix steps:

1. Click the WiFi icon in the bottom-right corner
2. Ensure WiFi is ON
3. Select your school WiFi
4. Restart the device if still not connecting

✔ If “No WiFi networks found”:

• Make sure Airplane mode is OFF
• Restart the device
• Try toggling WiFi off/on

If the issue continues, ICT may need to check your wireless profile.

? 4. No Sound or Audio Problems

Common cause:

• Volume muted or very low

✔ Fix steps:

1. Press your keyboard volume up key
2. Check you haven’t muted via the taskbar speaker icon
3. Try a different app (YouTube, Teams, Windows Sounds)
4. If using headphones:
   • Check they’re plugged in properly
   • Check the headset isn’t muted
   • Ensure the correct device is selected in Settings → Sound

?️ 5. Screen Display Issues (Dark Screen / No Output)

✔ Try these:

• Make sure brightness is turned up
  (Brightness keys are usually F2/F3 or sun icons)
• Disconnect any external monitor and try the laptop screen alone
• Press Windows + P and choose Duplicate or Extend

? 6. Unable to Sign In

✔ Try:

• Make sure caps lock is OFF
• Use your current school password
• Check internet connection (needed for first login after password reset)

If you recently reset your password:

• Connect via school WiFi first or
• Sign into https://www.office.com to confirm the password works

If still stuck — contact ICT.

?️ 7. OneDrive Not Syncing

✔ Quick checks:

• Check WiFi connection
• Click the OneDrive cloud icon to see errors
• Make sure you are signed into your school account
• Restart OneDrive:
  • Right‑click the icon → Quit OneDrive → reopen from Start

If you see a yellow warning symbol, ICT may need to assist.

?️ 8. Printer Not Appearing / Printing Stopped

(All printers map automatically via Intune + PowerShell)

✔ Quick fixes:

• Restart your device
• Ensure you are connected to school WiFi
• Wait 1–2 minutes after login for printers to map
• Try printing a PDF instead of a Word file

If the printer still doesn’t appear, ICT may need to update your location mapping.

? 9. Laptop Feels Slow or Unresponsive

✔ Try:

• Restart the device
• Close apps you’re not using
• Make sure OneDrive has finished syncing
• Avoid having multiple browsers open with many tabs

Windows updates and Intune policies sometimes run in the background — this is normal.

? 10. Battery Draining Quickly

✔ Tips:

• Reduce screen brightness
• Close heavy apps (Teams, multiple browsers)
• Disconnect unnecessary USB devices
• Keep the device plugged in where possible

If the battery is swelling, overheating, or holding very little charge, report it immediately.

? 11. “This Website is Blocked” (Lightspeed Filtering)

Lightspeed blocks:

• Harmful content
• Social media (depending on policy)
• Gaming sites
• VPNs
• Proxies

If a site should be allowed for teaching/learning, submit a URL request to ICT.

?️ 12. Safeguarding Messages (Senso Monitoring)

Senso may flag words or behaviour automatically.
If you believe something was flagged in error, speak to:

• ICT Services
• Your safeguarding lead

Senso must remain active at all times on student devices.

? 13. Basic “Fix Everything” Reset (Safe to Try)

You can try these safe steps in order:

1. Restart the app
2. Restart the device
3. Log out and back in
4. Check WiFi
5. Check OneDrive
6. Try the web version (Teams, Outlook, Office apps)

These resolve most routine issues on managed Windows devices.

? Still need help?

If none of the above steps work:

? langley.ict@taw.org.uk
☎️ 386727
? https://icts.telfordlangleyschool.co.uk