Why Does My Laptop Say No Networks Available? | Fix It Now

Laptop Says No Networks Available: Fast Checks

Start here. These take seconds and often clear the scan list.

• Turn Wi-Fi off, then on again. On Windows, use the system tray or Settings. On Mac, use the menu bar toggle.
• Check Airplane mode. Make sure it’s off.
• Look for a hardware switch or function key (often with a signal icon). Some models cut power to the radio at the hardware level.
• Move closer to the router. Walls, floors, and appliances can shrink range fast.
• Try your phone’s hotspot. If that shows up, your laptop can scan, and the issue likely sits with the router.
• Reboot the laptop and the router. A clean start clears stale states.

Quick Diagnosis Map

Match what you see with a likely cause and a fast action.

Fix “No Networks Available” On Windows And Mac

Windows 11/10: Step-By-Step

1. Confirm the radio state. Open Settings > Network & Internet. Make sure Wi-Fi is On and Airplane mode is Off.
2. Run the troubleshooter. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, then run Network Adapter. Microsoft’s guide collects helpful checks in one place (Windows Wi-Fi help).
3. Restart the WLAN AutoConfig service. Press Win+R, type services.msc, press Enter, then right-click WLAN AutoConfig and pick Restart. If Startup type isn’t Automatic, set it to Automatic and apply.
4. Toggle the adapter. Open Device Manager > Network adapters. Right-click your wireless adapter, choose Disable device, wait five seconds, then Enable.
5. Clean reinstall the driver. In Device Manager, right-click the adapter > Uninstall device (tick “Delete the driver software” if offered). Reboot; Windows reloads a fresh driver. If your vendor provides a newer package, install that after the reboot.
6. Reset network settings. Use Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. This rebuilds the stack and wipes stale profiles. Save VPN details first.
7. Use quick commands. Open an elevated Command Prompt and run, one per line:

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

8. Power settings. In Device Manager > your adapter > Power Management, untick “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” On laptops, set the wireless adapter to Maximum Performance under Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Advanced.
9. BIOS/UEFI check. Some systems let you disable the wireless radio in firmware. If nothing else works, enter the firmware menu and confirm Wi-Fi is enabled.

Rebuild Known Networks And Profiles (Windows)

Glitched profiles can hide the list or block joins. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. Remove stale or duplicate SSIDs, then scan again. If a vendor suite controls Wi-Fi, turn it off and let Windows handle connections.

Windows Service And Driver Notes

If the list goes blank after waking from sleep, the radio may be powered down too aggressively. Keep WLAN AutoConfig on Automatic and reduce sleep timers while you test. For drivers, match the exact adapter string in Device Manager. A driver from the laptop maker is usually the safest pick; chipset packages can help on older builds, but only when the model lines up.

macOS: Step-By-Step

1. Toggle Wi-Fi and check the menu bar. Turn Wi-Fi off, then on. Click the Wi-Fi icon to see status messages and recommendations.
2. Run Wireless Diagnostics. Hold Option, click the Wi-Fi icon, choose Open Wireless Diagnostics, then follow the prompts. Apple documents the tool in detail (Wireless Diagnostics).
3. Forget and rejoin. Go to System Settings > Wi-Fi > Details next to your network, pick Forget This Network, then join again.
4. Renew the IP lease. In System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Details, use Renew DHCP Lease. This clears stale addressing.
5. Create a fresh Wi-Fi service. In System Settings > Network, click the … button, choose Add Service, pick Wi-Fi, and apply. Remove the old service if the new one works.
6. Safe Mode test. Restart while holding Shift to load only core extensions, then test scanning. If networks appear in Safe Mode, a login item or extension may be blocking the radio.

macOS Profile Cleanup

Old profiles and VPN helpers can interfere with scanning. In System Settings > Privacy & Security > Profiles, remove network or VPN profiles you no longer need, then reboot. If you rely on a corporate profile, ask your admin before removing it.

Router And Home Setup Checks

If your laptop scans but finds nothing near your usual spot, the access point may be the culprit. Work through these quick wins.

• Confirm SSID broadcast. Log in to the router, make sure the Wi-Fi network name is broadcasting and not hidden.
• Enable both bands. Turn on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Many older adapters scan 2.4 GHz better at range.
• Check channel width and mode. Set 2.4 GHz to 20 MHz and a mixed mode (b/g/n). Reserve wide channels for short-range use.
• Reduce crowding. If many neighbors sit on the same channel, pick 1, 6, or 11 on 2.4 GHz and a clear DFS-safe channel on 5 GHz.
• Restart and update the router. A quick reboot and a vendor update often clears stuck radios.
• Try a different location. Lift the router off the floor and away from thick walls, metal shelves, and large appliances.
• Guest network test. Enable a guest SSID with simple settings and see if your laptop can see it. If it appears, tighten settings step by step.

Advanced Fixes When Nothing Shows Up

Windows Services And Logs

When the Wi-Fi list stays empty on Windows, confirm that WLAN AutoConfig is running and set to Automatic. If the service stops after sleep, a restart can restore scanning. For deeper insight, generate a built-in wireless network report; it opens as an HTML page with timestamps, errors, roaming events, and driver details that point to the next step. Save a copy and compare after each change while you test.

Clean Driver Paths

Driver stacks can get messy after upgrades or vendor suites. A clean path avoids stale files. Remove the adapter from Device Manager with the “Delete the driver software” box checked, reboot, then install the latest package from the laptop maker. If the vendor driver lags, a chipset driver from Intel, Qualcomm, MediaTek, or Realtek may help, but match the exact model string to avoid mismatches.

macOS Deep Checks

Wireless Diagnostics can capture a live trace and suggest settings. If scan lists flicker or go blank, create a new network location in System Settings > Network, then add Wi-Fi to that location and test. Try Safe Mode; if the list returns, remove recent login items or kernel extensions tied to VPN, security, or traffic shaping.

Public Networks And Captive Portals

In airports and cafes, the scan list may be long, yet your laptop still claims nothing is available after sleep. Toggle Wi-Fi once, then open a browser and visit a plain HTTP site to trigger the sign-in screen. If the portal never loads, forget the network and rejoin from scratch. On Windows, clear the Web Credentials for that SSID. On Mac, remove the entry from Keychain Access, then try again.

USB Tethering And Test Adapters

A fast way to split radio versus software problems is to test with a different path. Connect your phone with USB tethering or plug in a small USB Wi-Fi dongle. If networks appear at once, your internal card or antenna may be at fault. Keep a tiny dongle in your bag for travel; it’s cheap insurance when hotel Wi-Fi is the only option.

Second-Stage Shortcuts And Paths

Keep these at hand for repeat fixes and fresh installs.

When It’s Hardware

Sometimes the wireless card or antenna fails. Signs include a missing adapter in Device Manager or System Information, no Bluetooth on combo cards, or errors like “Code 10.” If a known-good USB Wi-Fi dongle sees networks on the same laptop, the internal card likely needs service. For recent purchases, use the warranty. For older gear, a USB adapter is a quick workaround and a good spare for travel bags.

Prevention Tips That Stick

• Keep vendor drivers handy. Save the latest Wi-Fi package from your laptop maker in a setup folder.
• Update on your schedule. OS updates can ship new drivers. After each big update, test scan and join before a trip or deadline.
• Trim saved networks. Remove old SSIDs and captive portals you no longer use.
• Watch VPN, filters, and security suites. If scan lists vanish after installing one, test with it disabled or uninstalled.
• Mind power plans. On battery, some vendors cut radio power too aggressively. Use balanced plans unless you need extreme savings.
• Keep a backup path. A short Ethernet cable or a USB-C adapter can save a day of work when Wi-Fi acts up.

Final Checklist For “No Networks Available”

Run these steps in order when that message shows up again. Toggle Wi-Fi and Airplane mode, then scan next to the router. Restart the laptop and the router. On Windows, restart WLAN AutoConfig, flip the adapter off and on, then try a clean driver install and a full network reset. On macOS, use Wireless Diagnostics, forget the SSID, renew the lease, and create a fresh Wi-Fi service. If nothing appears, test a phone hotspot or a USB Wi-Fi dongle. When those work, plan a repair for the internal card. If nothing scans on any device in the room, fix the router first.

Why Your Laptop Shows “No Networks Available”

It’s a plain message with a narrow set of triggers. Either the radio can’t listen, the software that controls scanning isn’t healthy, or no access point nearby is broadcasting in a way your adapter can read. Tackle those three buckets and the list returns. For reference later, Microsoft’s Wi-Fi page and Apple’s diagnostics guide are dependable starting points. Keep a small USB adapter in your bag so you can connect during outages. It pays off during trips.