Why Does My Laptop Show No Connections Available? | Quick Fix

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Windows shows “No connections available” when the Wi-Fi adapter is off, drivers are missing, Airplane mode is on, or no networks are in range.

Your laptop says “No connections available,” the Wi-Fi icon looks empty, and the list of networks is blank. That message usually points to a simple switch being off, a driver hiccup, or a nearby network issue. The steps below move from quick checks to deeper fixes, so you can get back online without guesswork.

Laptop Says No Connections Available: Fast Fixes

Start here. These checks take minutes and often restore the network list right away.

Tip: Work near your router during testing. Walls, metal, and distance can hide weak networks that your phone still sees.

Quick Checks That Clear The Message

  • Toggle Airplane mode off, then on, then off again.
  • Turn Wi-Fi on from Quick Settings or the Settings app.
  • Some laptops have a keyboard key or side switch that kills wireless. Make sure it’s on.
  • Reboot the laptop and power-cycle the router (off 15 seconds, then on).
  • Check another device. If that device also can’t see the network, fix the router first.

What The First Checks Tell You

What To Check What You See What It Means
Airplane mode Plane icon lit; Wi-Fi list empty All radios are off; turn off Airplane mode
Wi-Fi switch or key Wi-Fi button says Off; no toggle in flyout Hardware or function key disabled the radio
Distance from router Phone sees only weak bars; laptop shows none Signal too low for the adapter to list networks
Router status lights Wi-Fi light off or red Router wireless is off or faulted; reboot or re-enable
Other devices Everything shows no networks Local outage or router failure, not a laptop fault
Ethernet test Internet works by cable Router is fine; issue sits with the laptop’s Wi-Fi path

Use Windows’ Built-In Tools

Windows can scan the adapter, restart services, and re-enable settings for you. Open the Network troubleshooter from Settings or the Get Help app and follow the prompts. It can flip the right switches and repopulate the network list. See Microsoft’s Wi-Fi fix page for the current path.

Confirm Wi-Fi Is Enabled

  1. Press Windows+I → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → turn Wi-Fi On.
  2. Open Quick Settings (taskbar clock area) and make sure Wi-Fi is lit.
  3. If there’s a wireless key on the keyboard, press it once. On many models it’s a tower icon or a radio wave symbol.

Forget And Re-Add A Saved Network

Saved profiles can block a fresh scan. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, remove old entries, then reconnect clean with the correct password.

Check Bands And Placement

Older laptops see 2.4 GHz everywhere, while 5 GHz needs a closer spot. If your router splits bands, try the 2.4 GHz SSID for range testing. Move USB 3.0 hard drives or hubs away from the Wi-Fi antenna area; they can add noise near 2.4 GHz.

No Wi-Fi Networks Showing On Laptop: Deeper Fixes

If the list still won’t load, move on to driver work, services, and a clean network stack.

Update Or Reinstall The Wireless Driver

Drivers control how the adapter scans and joins networks. A bad update or an old build can hide nearby SSIDs. You can install a fresh package from the laptop maker, from the adapter maker, or through Device Manager.

  1. Open Device Manager → expand Network adapters → right-click your wireless adapter → Update driver.
  2. If that doesn’t change anything, download the latest vendor package and install it. For Intel radios, use the current package on Intel Wi-Fi drivers for Windows.
  3. Still stuck? In Device Manager, choose Uninstall device (leave the driver files), then Scan for hardware changes to reload the driver clean.

Make Sure Services Are Running

Press Windows+R, type services.msc, and check these:

  • WLAN AutoConfig — set to Automatic; running.
  • Network List Service — running.
  • Network Location Awareness — running.

If any are stopped, start them. If they stop again, update the driver first, then try a network reset as a later step.

Reset The Network Stack

This clears corrupted Winsock entries and resets IPv4/IPv6. Use an elevated terminal.

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

Reboot after the last command. If the adapter was stuck in a bad state, the scan list returns on the next boot.

Use Windows’ Full Network Reset (Last Resort On Software Side)

Network reset removes and reinstalls adapters, then returns settings to defaults. You’ll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and any custom IP settings afterward. The steps live in Settings; see the “Network reset” notes on this Microsoft support page.

Check Power Settings That Starve The Radio

Open Device Manager → your wireless adapter → Properties → Power Management. If you see Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, uncheck it for testing. Then open Control Panel > Power Options and set the wireless adapter policy to Maximum performance while plugged in.

Try A Different Band Or SSID Name

Some access points hide the 5 GHz SSID when the device is far away. If your router supports both bands under one name, test with split names: one SSID for 2.4 GHz, one for 5 GHz. This makes band testing clear and helps older adapters latch onto the right one.

Scan For Hidden SSIDs Only After Basics

If your router hides the SSID, the list will look empty even when the signal is strong. Turn broadcast back on while you troubleshoot. Hidden networks add extra steps and make Wi-Fi look broken when it isn’t.

USB 3.0 Noise Near 2.4 GHz

If the network list appears only when you unplug a USB 3.0 drive or hub, that hardware may be adding radio noise. Use a short extension cable to move the device away from the laptop’s antenna area, or use the 5 GHz band while the drive is active.

Fix Path By Symptom

Match your laptop’s behavior to the set of steps that fits best.

Symptom Likely Cause Try This
Wi-Fi toggle missing in Quick Settings Adapter disabled or driver fault Enable in Device Manager; reinstall driver; run troubleshooter
Airplane mode keeps turning on Keyboard toggle or stale setting Toggle via Settings; tap the function key once; reboot
Only 2.4 GHz shows up Range limit or old adapter Move closer; update driver; split SSIDs; test 5 GHz near the router
List appears, then vanishes Power saving or service stop Disable adapter power saving; confirm WLAN AutoConfig is running
Nothing appears on any device Router fault or outage Power-cycle the router; check ISP app; test a phone hotspot
Works on Ethernet only Radio off or antenna issue Hardware switch on; reseat antennas (serviceable models); USB Wi-Fi test

Driver Sources And When To Use Them

There are three good sources for wireless drivers: your laptop maker, the adapter maker, and Windows Update. If the laptop vendor posted a fresh build, start there. If the adapter is Intel and the vendor page is stale, use the current package from Intel’s driver page. If both are older and the card is very new, let Windows Update try first, then roll back if the result drops the radio.

How To Roll Back A Driver

  1. Device Manager → wireless adapter → Properties → Driver tab.
  2. Pick Roll Back Driver if the button is active.
  3. Reboot and test the scan list again.

Router Tweaks That Help Laptops Show Networks

You can leave the laptop alone and tune the access point for a clean scan list.

  • Band choice: Enable both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Keep names simple and unique.
  • Channel width: Start with 20 MHz on 2.4 GHz; go 40 MHz on 5 GHz if the area isn’t crowded.
  • Auto channel: Let the router pick a clear lane; test 1/6/11 on 2.4 GHz if manual.
  • DFS caution: Some laptops skip DFS channels when drivers are old. If 5 GHz vanishes, pick a non-DFS channel and retest.
  • Guest SSID: Turn it off for testing to reduce clutter.

Airplane Mode, Toggles, And Hidden Knobs

Airplane mode cuts radios across Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular. If the plane icon sits on the taskbar, go to Settings > Network & internet > Airplane mode and turn it off. If it flips itself back on, press the keyboard radio key once to sync the state.

When A USB Adapter Saves Time

If the internal card won’t scan even after a reset, plug in a compact USB Wi-Fi adapter for a quick path online. If the USB stick finds networks at once, you’ve isolated the issue to the internal card or its antennas. Keep the adapter at arm’s length from USB 3.0 drives during testing.

Clean Network Profiles

Old profiles can fight each other. In Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, prune any that you no longer use. Then reconnect to your main SSID. This clears bad passwords, wrong bands, and stale security modes.

When To Suspect Hardware

After a clean driver install and a full reset, the “No connections available” message can still show up if the card is loose, the antennas popped off, or the card failed. Signs include a missing Wi-Fi entry in Device Manager or a permanent No wireless devices found line in the troubleshooter. On models with an easy access door, reseat the card and antenna leads. On sealed designs, book a service visit or keep using a low-profile USB adapter.

Keep It Stable After You Fix It

  • Stay on stable drivers from the vendor or the adapter maker.
  • Avoid registry “tweakers” that claim to boost Wi-Fi.
  • Give the router a simple SSID and password without special characters that some old cards choke on.
  • Use 5 GHz for speed near the router and 2.4 GHz for range around the house.
  • If Windows updates cause repeats of this issue, keep a copy of the last known good driver in a safe folder.
Shortlist: run the troubleshooter on Microsoft’s Wi-Fi help, refresh the driver with the latest from Intel’s page if you use an Intel radio, and keep Network reset as a final step.