WiFi Network Not Showing Up or Can’t Find WiFi in Windows?

Try one of these easy fixes

Whether you’ve set up a new Wi-Fi network or you’re visiting a public hotspot, it can be very annoying when your Windows 10 laptop can’t find the Wi-Fi network that you know exists.

This is a very common problem, but unfortunately, it can be caused by a number of things. Anything from your antivirus software, Windows firewall, or the network adapter itself, may prevent the active Wi-Fi network from showing up in your list of available networks.

Walk through this guide, starting from the simplest fix to the more advanced ones, and hopefully before you get to the end you’ll see the Wi-Fi network show up in the list.

1. Reset Your Router

Before you spend a lot of time troubleshooting why your Windows 10 computer can’t see the Wi-Fi network, make sure the network exists in the first place.

Once you’ve confirmed with other devices that the Wi-Fi network actually exists, test accessing it again with the troublesome Windows 10 computer. If it still doesn’t work, then move on to the next steps.

2. Use the Network Troubleshooter

If there’s an issue with your Wi-Fi network adapter that’s easy to resolve, the Windows 10 network troubleshooter should be able to do it. This makes it the best first thing to try.

Select the Start menu, typeSettings, and select theSettingsapp.

In the Settings window, selectUpdate & Security.

SelectTroubleshootin the left navigation menu, then selectAdditional troubleshootersin the right pane.

Scroll down the list of troubleshooters and selectNetwork Adapter. Select theRun the troubleshooterbutton that appears.

The troubleshooter wizard will walk you through steps as it checks various adapter and system settings that are the most likely cause of your network issues. If the troubleshooter is successful, reboot your system and you should be able to see the Wi-Fi network now.

If it can’t find the issue, you’ll need to move on to the next steps.

3. Reset Your Network Adapter

The first thing to try, because it resolves the issue most often, is to reset the Wi-Fi network adapter.

This is easy to do. Open the Windows Control Panel and selectView network status and tasksunder theNetwork and Internet section.

SelectChange adapter settingsin the left navigation pane.

This will open a list of all available network adapters on your system. You’ll see this list in the left pane. Find the active Wi-Fi adapter that you’re using and right-click it. SelectDisablefrom the menu.

This will completely disable your active Wi-Fi adapter. It’ll reset any data that was cached and completely disconnect you from any network. Wait a full minute and then repeat the process above. This time selectEnablefrom the menu.

Now when you select the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar, you should see the active network that you couldn’t see before.

If you still don’t see it then you’ll need to continue on to the next troubleshooting step.

4. Switch Wireless Network Mode

If the router that’s operating the network doesn’t provide a network using the mode that your Wi-Fi adapter is using, your Windows 10 PC won’t be able to see the Wi-Fi network. To test if this is the case, try changing the network mode.

Follow the same procedure above to selectChange adapter settings. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter again and selectProperties. In the Wi-Fi Properties window, select theConfigurebutton.

Select theAdvancedtab, selectWireless Modein the Property window, and then use theValuedropdown to select the wireless mode.

If your Wi-Fi adapter displays multiple modes in this dropdown, you should select the one with as many modes as possible. This will allow your adapter to “see” networks that are using any one of these modes. SelectOKwhen you’re done.

Restart your computer and then check if you can now find the Wi-Fi network.

5. Disable IPv6 Protocol

In some cases, if you’ve enabled the IPv6 protocol on your system, it can cause issues when trying to connect to networks or the internet. Disabling this protocol often resolves issues like this.

To do this, use the same procedure as above to navigate to the Wi-Fi Properties window. Scroll down the connection items list and findInternet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6). Deselect the checkbox to the left of this option.

SelectOK. Now restart your computer and check if the Wi-Fi network is now visible in the list of networks.

6. Update Your Network Driver

An outdated network driver can often lead to issues with the network card accessing any networks at all. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to make sure your network drivers are updated.

Launch Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selectingDevice Manager.

When theDevice Manageropens, expandNetwork adaptersin the tree. Right-click on your wireless adapter and selectUpdate driver.

This will launch the driver update wizard. SelectBrowse my computer for drivers. The wizard will find the most recently downloaded driver for your wireless adapter and will attempt to reinstall it.

You’ll need to try this option since you can’t have the wizard search the internet automatically for drivers. Once the driver is updated, restart your computer and check if you can see the wireless network.

7. Reset TCP/IP

Another useful tip that often resolves networking issues is resetting all TCP/IP connections manually. This can help clear any network connection issues that may be interfering with your network card’s ability to view available networks.

To do this, launch the command promptas administrator. Select the Start menu, type command, and right-click the Command app.

In the command prompt window, type the following lines and pressEnterafter each.

Once you’ve run all of these commands, restart your computer and test the Wi-Fi connection again.

8. Obtain New IP Settings

The problem with your Windows 10 PC not being able to find your Wi-Fi network may not actually be finding the network, but making the connection. This can happen when the IP address that your computer has conflicts with another device already on the network.

This can happen when you haven’t connected to the network for a long time and a new device receives your old IP address. To see if this is the cause, try releasing and renewing your IP address in the command prompt.

Select the Start menu, typecommand, and select theCommand Promptapp.

At the command line, typeipconfig /releaseand pressEnter.

In the text after this command, you will see the IPv4 IP address go blank.

Next, in the command line, typeipconfig /renewand pressEnter.

When this command is finished, you’ll see a new IP address appear in the IPv4 Address field.

Now select the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and see if your Wi-Fi network now shows up.

9. Temporarily Disable Antivirus

If you’ve gotten this far and still can’t see your Wi-Fi network, it is possible that your antivirus software may be blocking it.

To test if this is the case, temporarily disable antivirus protection. Most antivirus apps have an icon on the right side of the taskbar. You can usually right-click this icon and selectPause protection.

Alternatively, you can open the antivirus app and find the network protection menu. In this window, there’s usually an option to toggle network protection off.

Once you’ve disabled protection, check if your Wi-Fi network shows up.

10. Temporarily Disable Windows Firewall

If that doesn’t work, turn to Windows Firewall as a possible culprit. Temporarily turn off the Windows Firewall to test this.

Select the Start menu, typeFirewall, and selectWindows Defender Firewall.

In the Windows Defender Firewall app, selectTurn Windows Defender Firewall on or offin the left menu.

This will open a window where you can customize protection. Select the radio button toTurn off Windows Defender Firewallunder both sections.

SelectOKand then restart your computer. When it starts back up, check that Windows 10 can now find your Wi-Fi network.

Windows 10 Can’t Find Your Wi-Fi Network

If you’ve gotten this far, you only have a few other options. You may need to replace your Wi-Fi network adapter, so contact a computer technician to do this for you if you don’t know how to do it yourself.

However, before you take this step, take your computer to a local Wi-Fi hotspot and check if your network adapter can see another Wi-Fi network. If it can’t, then it’s far more likely the network adapter is the issue and you should replace it.

Ryan has been writing how-to and other technology-based articles online since 2007. He has a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering and he’s worked 13 years in automation engineering, 5 years in IT, and now is an Apps Engineer.Read Ryan’s Full Bio

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WiFi Network Not Showing Up or Can’t Find WiFi in Windows?#

1. Reset Your Router#

2. Use the Network Troubleshooter#

3. Reset Your Network Adapter#

4. Switch Wireless Network Mode#

5. Disable IPv6 Protocol#

6. Update Your Network Driver#

7. Reset TCP/IP#

8. Obtain New IP Settings#

9. Temporarily Disable Antivirus#

10. Temporarily Disable Windows Firewall#

Windows 10 Can’t Find Your Wi-Fi Network#

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