Why Doesn’t My Laptop Show WiFi? | Fix It Fast

Your laptop won’t list any Wi-Fi networks or the Wi-Fi switch is missing. That points to one of three buckets: software toggles are off, the driver or system stack needs a refresh, or the radio can’t see a usable signal. Start with quick checks, then move to system fixes and router tweaks.

Laptop Not Showing Wi-Fi Networks: Quick Checks

Run through these in order. They take minutes and solve a big share of “no Wi-Fi shown” cases.

• Toggle Airplane mode off, then back off again to refresh radios.
• Reboot the laptop and the router. Power cycling often clears stale states.
• Move closer to the router and try a phone hotspot to isolate device vs. router.
• Check for a physical wireless switch or Fn combo on the keyboard.
• Make sure the router isn’t using a hidden SSID or a band your card can’t use.

Fast Triage Table

Laptop Won’t Show Wi-Fi Option: System Fixes

Pick your platform and work through the steps. Screens may differ by version, yet the paths stay close.

Windows: Bring Back The Wi-Fi Toggle

Turn Airplane Mode Off

Open Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane mode and switch it off. Many laptops also have a radio button; press Fn plus the antenna or plane button.

Re-enable The Adapter

Go to Settings > Network & Internet > All network settings > More network adapter options. Right-click Wi-Fi > Enable. If it’s already enabled, choose Disable, then Enable.

Power Settings That Hide Wi-Fi

Device Manager > Network adapters > your Wi-Fi card > Properties > Power Management. Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power,” then OK.

Reset The Network Stack (Safe Commands)

Open Command Prompt (Run as administrator) and run, one line at a time:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

These commands rebuild Winsock, refresh IP, and clear DNS. After a restart, the Wi-Fi list often returns. See Microsoft’s guide for the same sequence: Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows.

Reinstall Or Update The Driver

In Device Manager, right-click the Wi-Fi adapter > Uninstall device (check “Delete the driver” if you plan a clean install) > OK, then reboot. Next, install the vendor driver. For Intel cards, grab the latest package here: Intel Wi-Fi drivers for Windows 10/11.

Start WLAN Services

Press Win+R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Find “WLAN AutoConfig.” If Startup type is Disabled or Manual, set it to Automatic and click Start. Also start “Network List Service” and “Network Location Awareness.” Close the window and check the Wi-Fi list again.

Undo VPN And Security Filters

VPN clients and endpoint suites install filter drivers that can disrupt the Wi-Fi stack. Remove those clients and reboot. Reinstall after Wi-Fi returns and test again.

Check BIOS Or UEFI Wireless Setting

Many business laptops let you disable radios at firmware level. Enter the firmware setup at boot and confirm Wireless LAN is enabled. Save and exit.

Roll Back A Problem Driver

If Wi-Fi vanished right after a driver update, Device Manager > Adapter > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver can restore a working build. You can also pick an older package from your laptop maker.

Clear Known Networks And Rebuild

Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. Remove entries you no longer use, then connect fresh. A long, stale list sometimes delays scans.

Full Network Reset (Last Resort)

Settings > Network & Internet > All network settings > Network reset. This removes and reinstalls all adapters. You’ll reconnect to Wi-Fi after the reboot.

macOS: Restore Wi-Fi Menu And List

Forget And Rejoin

System Settings > Wi-Fi > Details next to your network > Forget This Network. Rejoin from the list and enter the password. If the Wi-Fi menu itself is missing, continue below.

Create A Fresh Network Location

System Settings > Network > Locations > Edit Locations… > add a new one, then apply. This gives you clean network prefs without touching other profiles. Apple documents Locations in its Mac help pages.

Re-add The Wi-Fi Service

In Network settings, click the plus button, choose Wi-Fi, create, then Apply. If screens differ on older macOS, Apple’s Wi-Fi help page walks similar paths: Mac can’t connect to Wi-Fi.

Run Wireless Diagnostics

Hold Option and click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar, then choose Wireless Diagnostics. Let it scan; save the report if you plan to contact your vendor.

Extra macOS Steps (Expert)

If Locations and re-adding the service don’t help and you still don’t see any SSID, power off Wi-Fi, then delete the network preference files inside /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ (such as com.apple.airport.preferences.plist) and restart. Rejoin Wi-Fi after the reboot. Do this only if you’re comfortable restoring settings.

NVRAM And SMC Resets

On Intel-based Macs, resetting NVRAM and SMC can clear stubborn radio states. On Apple silicon, a full shutdown and power on sequence resets similar subsystems. Apple’s help pages show the button combos by model.

Linux: Radio Kills And NetworkManager

Undo Soft Or Hard Blocks

Run rfkill list. If you see “Soft blocked: yes,” run rfkill unblock all. A “Hard blocked: yes” line points to a physical switch or a BIOS setting that disables the radio.

Turn Wi-Fi Back On With nmcli

nmcli radio wifi on
nmcli device wifi list
nmcli device wifi connect <SSID> password <pass>

NetworkManager references include the nmcli manual and Fedora quick tips for Wi-Fi commands.

Linux Service Checks

Confirm NetworkManager is running: systemctl status NetworkManager. Start it if needed. If you use another stack, make sure only one network manager is active. Then scan with iw dev and nmcli device wifi list.

Linux Drivers And Firmware

Match the kernel module with the chipset. For Intel, install the linux-firmware or the distro package that supplies iwlwifi blobs, then reload with modprobe -r iwlwifi and modprobe iwlwifi. Watch dmesg for load errors.

Router Or Access Point Factors That Make Wi-Fi Disappear

Sometimes your laptop is fine and the access point setup hides the network list. Fix these and scans start showing networks again.

• Hidden SSID: Don’t hide the name; it adds friction without real security. If the SSID must stay hidden, add the network manually.
• Band mismatch: A 2.4 GHz-only card won’t see 5 or 6 GHz. Enable both bands or add a 2.4 GHz SSID.
• Channel mess: Pick non-overlapping channels on 2.4 GHz (1/6/11) and an 80 MHz width on 5 GHz in busy areas.
• Security mode: Use WPA2 or WPA3. Some mixed modes trip older clients. Test a plain WPA2-PSK network.
• AP isolation: This won’t hide SSIDs, yet it can block connectivity after join. Leave it off for home use.
• Firmware age: Update router firmware, then reboot.

Apple publishes router settings that also serve non-Apple gear well.

• DFS channels: Some clients can’t see 5 GHz DFS channels. Pick a non-DFS channel like 36–48 or 149–161 to test.
• Channel width: 160 MHz looks fast near the router yet reduces range. Try 80 MHz on 5 GHz for a steadier list of SSIDs.
• One name for all bands: Use the same SSID on 2.4 and 5 GHz so roaming stays smooth across bands.
• Band steering: If “Smart Connect” sends devices to a band they can’t hold, test with it off, then tune once Wi-Fi reappears.

Set WPA2 or WPA3, use one SSID, and then reboot after changes.

Clean Install Of Drivers And Firmware

Driver confusion can hide the Wi-Fi switch or the list. A clean pass often clears it.

• Windows: Remove the adapter in Device Manager with “Delete the driver,” reboot, then install a fresh package from Intel, Qualcomm, Realtek, or your laptop maker.
• macOS: Wi-Fi drivers ship with macOS. Keep macOS up to date, and reset network settings as above.
• Linux: Update the kernel and headers, then the firmware package for your chipset. Check dmesg for firmware load errors.

Pro Tips That Save Time

• Name 2.4 and 5 GHz the same and let devices choose; keep 6 GHz with the same SSID if your gear can use it.
• Keep router firmware and laptop BIOS current before chasing rare bugs.
• Write down the exact adapter name (e.g., Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201) so you can fetch the right driver build.
• On shared PCs, test from a second user account. Profile problems can hide radios per user.
• If the list loads but is empty at one location, check for local interference: microwave ovens, baby monitors, and cordless phones saturate 2.4 GHz.

Safety Steps Before You Reset Anything

Note SSIDs, Wi-Fi passwords, and VPN settings. If you rely on a static IP, write it down. After a network reset or plist cleanup you’ll need those details.

When Hardware Is The Culprit

Signs include Wi-Fi vanishing across operating systems from a dual-boot drive, odd noises from inside the chassis, or a broken antenna lead near the hinge. If a USB Wi-Fi dongle works while the internal card doesn’t, the onboard radio or antenna likely needs service.

Useful Paths And Commands At A Glance

When Windows Only Shows “Hidden Network”

You may see a generic “Hidden Network” entry while your own SSID is nowhere to be found. That points to a router that hides the name or uses a band or channel your card won’t scan. Test by manually adding the SSID and password, then switch the router to broadcast the name and a standard channel. If the network appears after you unhide it, leave it visible for easier joins and faster scans.

Step-By-Step Flow You Can Follow

1. Check Airplane mode, physical switches, and move near the router.
2. Restart the laptop and the router. Test a phone hotspot.
3. On Windows, re-enable the adapter, run the commands above, then install the current driver.
4. On macOS, create a new Location and re-add the Wi-Fi service.
5. On Linux, clear rfkill blocks and switch Wi-Fi on with nmcli.
6. Fix router items: unhide SSID, set sane channels, use WPA2 or WPA3.
7. Only then use a full network reset in Windows.
8. If the list still stays empty, try a USB Wi-Fi adapter to rule out hardware.

Next Steps If Wi-Fi Still Stays Missing

Collect details before you contact your vendor: laptop model, Wi-Fi chipset, driver version, Windows build or macOS version, router model, band in use, and a note about where the failure starts. That snapshot lets a technician zero in on the true blocker fast.

If you work with a technician, keep a short video of the steps you tried, plus screenshots of settings and command outputs, so everyone sees the same picture fast, clearly.