Missing Wi-Fi on a laptop usually stems from a disabled adapter, hidden SSID, band mismatch (2.4/5/6 GHz), or router settings like WPA3-only.
Nothing rattles a workday like a laptop that can’t see your own Wi-Fi. Before you swap routers or reinstall your OS, run through the checks below. They target the usual culprits and help you get the network list back fast.
Wi-Fi Network Not Showing On Laptop: Quick Checks
- Toggle Airplane mode off, then turn Wi-Fi off and back on.
- Move closer to the router; walls, appliances, and USB 3.0 cables can drown out 2.4 GHz.
- Confirm the router is broadcasting the SSID and that it isn’t hidden.
- If the router uses a combined name for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, try a split name for each band.
- Check if your laptop supports the band in use: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E).
- Reboot the router and modem; wait a full minute before reconnecting.
- Restart the laptop; then scan for networks again.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fast Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Your network missing, others visible | SSID hidden or filtered by router | Enable SSID broadcast, or add the network manually |
| All networks missing on this laptop | Adapter disabled or driver fault | Enable the adapter; update or reinstall the driver |
| Only 5 GHz networks missing | Old 2.4-only adapter, or 5 GHz disabled on router | Use 2.4 GHz or upgrade adapter; enable 5 GHz on router |
| Only 2.4 GHz missing | Router set to 5 GHz-only | Enable 2.4 GHz on the router |
| Only this network missing on this laptop | Band mismatch, DFS channel, WPA3-only, or country code mismatch | Pick non-DFS channel; allow WPA2/WPA3; align region |
| 6 GHz SSID missing | Laptop lacks Wi-Fi 6E or OS/driver too old | Use 2.4/5 GHz, or update hardware, OS, and driver |
| Network appears, then vanishes after a minute | Router on DFS channel paused for radar checks | Wait or choose a non-DFS channel |
| Weak signal even near router | Power-saving mode or antenna issue | Set adapter to maximum performance; check antennas |
Windows Steps That Restore Missing Networks
Start with the built-in help. Open Settings → Network & Internet and run the Network troubleshooter. It can re-enable services, refresh the adapter, and fix profile glitches. For full steps from Microsoft, see the Wi-Fi connection guide.
- Turn Wi-Fi on from the quick settings tray; make sure Airplane mode is off.
- Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Disable, then Enable your Wi-Fi adapter.
- Device Manager → Network adapters → your wireless card → Update driver. If the newest build breaks things, try the previous driver.
- Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Internet Connections → Run.
- Network reset: Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset. This removes saved profiles and reinstalls adapters.
- If your router is set to WPA3-only, switch it to WPA2/WPA3 mixed and test.
- If only 6 GHz is missing, update Windows 11 and your Wi-Fi driver; many laptops need recent builds for 6 GHz.
Add A Hidden Network On Windows
Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks → Add network. Type the exact SSID, choose the security type, enter the password, and check Connect automatically.
Quick Adapter Reset
A fast toggle often revives scanning. Disable the adapter, wait ten seconds, then enable it. If the list stays empty, uninstall the adapter in Device Manager and reboot so Windows reloads a clean driver and rebuilds profiles.
MacBook And macOS Steps
Open Control Center and toggle Wi-Fi off and back on. If Wi-Fi is missing in Network settings, add the service again in System Settings → Network. Apple support steps show where to add it.
- Click the Wi-Fi icon → Wi-Fi Settings → scroll to your SSID. If you still can’t see it, click Other… and enter the exact name and password.
- Remove stale entries: System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Known Networks → Forget your SSID, then join fresh.
- Update macOS and any vendor Wi-Fi utility; then restart and scan again.
- If your router uses only WPA3, switch to mixed mode and retry.
- Still no 5 GHz or 6 GHz? Test with a phone hotspot to rule out the laptop. If the laptop sees the hotspot, adjust the router band and channel.
Router Settings That Hide Networks
Routers can hide a network without meaning to. A few settings control whether a laptop can even see the SSID. Log in to the admin page and check the items below.
| Router Setting | What It Does | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| SSID broadcast | Shows the network name in scans | Turn it on, or add the network manually on the laptop |
| Band selection | Picks 2.4, 5, or 6 GHz | Enable both 2.4 and 5 GHz; use 6 GHz only if the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6E |
| DFS channel | Shares radar-sensitive 5 GHz range | Use a non-DFS channel to improve visibility |
| Security mode | Sets WPA2, WPA3, or mixed | Select WPA2/WPA3 mixed for widest device support |
| Channel width | Sets 20/40/80/160 MHz lanes | Wide lanes raise speed but can cut range; try 40 or 80 MHz |
| Country/region | Applies legal channel limits | Match the country to your location |
| Smart Connect or band steering | Combines bands under one name | If clients fail to see it, split the SSIDs by band |
Split SSIDs For Testing
Give 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz unique names while you test. This makes scanning predictable and tells you instantly which band the laptop can see. Once the list looks right, you can keep split names or rejoin under one label if everything behaves.
Wi-Fi 6E And 6 GHz: Common Roadblocks
A laptop without a Wi-Fi 6E adapter cannot see 6 GHz at all. Even with the right card, you need current drivers and a recent Windows 11 build. Range is shorter than 5 GHz, so the SSID may appear only in the same room. If your router offers only 6 GHz for new devices, turn on 5 GHz until the laptop is updated.
Hidden SSID: Join It Safely
Hidden networks don’t broadcast a name, so you must enter the details by hand. On Windows, use Add network. On a Mac, use Other… in Wi-Fi settings. If you use MAC filtering on the router, add the laptop’s address before you try to join.
Advanced Fixes When The List Stays Empty
- Check for a hardware Wi-Fi switch or an Fn key combo that disables radio.
- In Device Manager, uninstall the wireless adapter and reboot to reload the driver cleanly.
- Disable third-party VPN or firewall apps and rescan.
- Reset the router to factory defaults, then set a simple SSID and password to test.
- Place the router away from cordless phones, baby monitors, and USB 3.0 hubs.
- If you run a mesh, make sure all nodes use the same country setting and that the guest network isn’t the only SSID left on.
- Test with a USB Wi-Fi adapter that supports 5 GHz; if that sees the SSID, your internal card needs a driver or a replacement.
Final Fixes Checklist
- Laptop Wi-Fi on, adapter enabled, and drivers current.
- Router broadcasting the SSID on bands your laptop supports.
- No DFS channel during testing; use a clear, standard channel.
- Security set to WPA2/WPA3 mixed while you diagnose.
- Hidden SSID added by hand only if you choose to keep it hidden.