Why Doesn’t WiFi Show Up On My Laptop? | Quick Fix Guide

Guide / By

Wi-Fi missing on a laptop usually points to a disabled adapter, outdated drivers, a radio switch off, or router settings that hide the network.

What This Issue Looks Like

You click the wireless icon and see no networks. Or the Wi-Fi toggle is gone from Settings. Maybe your phone sees the home router but the notebook shows a blank list. These signs all trace back to the radio, drivers, or the router not offering a signal your device understands.

Quick Checks To Try First

These are low-effort steps that fix the bulk of Wi-Fi not showing cases. Work through them in order; it saves time and avoids rabbit holes.

  • Toggle Airplane Mode off, then on, then off again.
  • Turn Wi-Fi off and back on. Use the taskbar, menu bar, or a keyboard key with a small antenna icon.
  • Move next to the router. Walls and microwaves can wipe out a weak signal.
  • Reboot the router and the laptop.
  • Check if the network is hidden. If so, add it by SSID and password.
  • Try a phone hotspot. If that appears, your adapter works and router needs attention.

Fast Actions And What To Expect

Action Where Expected Result
Airplane Mode cycle Windows Settings or Mac menu bar Wi-Fi list refreshes; networks appear
Hardware Wi-Fi key Laptop top row or side switch Radio turns on; icon lights up
Router power cycle Unplug 30 seconds Clean broadcast; stale sessions cleared
Forget & rejoin Known networks list New handshake; wrong keys cleared
Move closer Same room as router Weak signal issues ruled out
Hotspot test Phone tethering Separates router faults from PC faults
Check bands Router admin page 2.4 GHz enabled for older adapters
Restart services Windows services Wi-Fi toggle returns in Settings

Wi-Fi Not Showing On Laptop: Causes And Fixes

When the list stays empty, match the symptom to the most common root causes below and take the linked step. Two official guides are gold for step-by-step help on both platforms: the Windows Wi-Fi troubleshooter and Apple’s page on Mac Wi-Fi problems.

Symptom: Wi-Fi Toggle Missing In Windows

This usually means the adapter is disabled, the driver failed, or the WLAN AutoConfig service isn’t running.

Turn The Adapter Back On

Press Win + X → Device Manager → Network adapters. Right-click your wireless adapter and choose Enable if you see that option. If it’s already enabled, pick Disable, wait five seconds, then Enable to force a reset.

Start WLAN Autoconfig

Open services.msc. Find WLAN AutoConfig. Set Startup type to Automatic and click Start. Without this, Windows won’t scan or show SSIDs.

Reinstall Or Update The Driver

In Device Manager, right-click the adapter → Uninstall device → check “Attempt to remove the driver” only if you have a fresh package ready, then reboot. Or use Update driver and point to the vendor package you downloaded earlier.

Symptom: Networks Appear On Other Devices, Not On This PC

The router may be set to channels or bands your adapter can’t use. Old 2.4-only cards won’t see 5 GHz names. Non-6E hardware can’t see 6 GHz at all. If the SSID sits on channel 12/13, some adapters in certain regions won’t list it.

Match Bands And Channels

Log in to the router and turn on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Use mixed modes (like 802.11n/ac/ax). Pick common channels (1, 6, or 11 on 2.4; a mid channel on 5). If you’ve enabled 6 GHz, keep a 2.4 or 5 GHz SSID with the same name so older gear can connect.

Symptom: Mac Shows No Networks

First, toggle Wi-Fi off and on from the menu bar. If the list stays empty, restart the Mac and the router. Then open System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi and check that the interface is present and turned on. Use Wireless Diagnostics from the Wi-Fi menu to scan.

Renew Leases And Clear Old Profiles

In Network settings, remove stale entries from Known Networks, then add the SSID again. Use Renew DHCP Lease when connected but slow to fetch an address.

Symptom: Hidden Or Renamed SSID

If broadcast is off or the name changed, the laptop won’t list it. Add it by hand using the exact SSID, security type, and password. After a router reset, many units fall back to default names and mixed security, which can confuse older clients.

Windows-Specific Fixes That Work

Run The Built-In Troubleshooter

Open Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters. Run Network Adapter. It resets adapters, clears caches, and flips services back on.

Reset Network Stack

Open an elevated Command Prompt and run these one by one, then reboot:

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

Stop Power Saving From Parking The Radio

In Device Manager → your Wi-Fi adapter → Power Management, uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” Do the same under Control Panel → Power Options → Change plan settings → Advanced → Wireless Adapter Settings → set to Maximum Performance on battery and plugged in.

Mac-Specific Fixes That Help

Use Wireless Diagnostics

Hold Option and click the Wi-Fi icon, then pick Wireless Diagnostics. Run a scan, save the report, and apply the channel and signal tips it gives.

Reset Network Settings On macOS

Remove Wi-Fi from Network settings, apply, then add it back. Delete old files in /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ with NetworkInterfaces.plist and com.apple.airport.preferences.plist in the name, then reboot. Rejoin the SSID.

Test With Ethernet Or A USB Wi-Fi Dongle

If Ethernet works and a separate USB adapter sees networks, the built-in radio may be faulty.

Router And Access Point Settings To Review

Security And Compatibility

Use WPA2 or WPA3. Avoid mixed WPA/WEP modes. If the laptop is older, try WPA2-Personal (AES) for a clean handshake. Recheck MAC filtering and guest network rules; both can block the list from populating.

Band Steering And Smart Connect

Many routers steer clients between 2.4 and 5 GHz. That helps once connected, but during scans it can hide one band. If devices can’t see the SSID, split the names per band, connect each once, then merge again if you like.

Country Region And Channels

Pick the correct region so the router uses legal channels. Some adapters ignore channels that don’t match their region code, which makes the network vanish on just that device.

What The Symptom Often Tells You

Use this map to jump straight to the likely fix. It saves guesswork when the clock is ticking.

Symptom Likely Cause Best First Step
No Wi-Fi toggle Disabled adapter or stopped service Enable adapter; start WLAN AutoConfig
Only other devices see SSID Band/channel mismatch Enable 2.4 & 5; pick common channels
Only this laptop drops list Driver or power saving Update driver; set max performance
Network reappears after reboot Stale cache or hung stack Run troubleshooter; reset stack
Hidden network won’t join Wrong security or SSID Add by hand; match mode and name
Mac shows nothing Interface off or profile mess Toggle Wi-Fi; clear known networks

When Hardware Might Be The Culprit

If the laptop fell, overheated, or lived near liquids, the antenna pigtails or the card can fail. A USB Wi-Fi adapter is a quick proof test. If that works in the same spot, the internal radio needs repair or a replacement module.

Smart Habits That Keep Wi-Fi Visible

  • Keep OS and drivers current. That includes firmware for the router.
  • Name 2.4 and 5 GHz the same only if every device handles band steering. If not, split names.
  • Use strong, simple security modes and avoid old WEP or TKIP.
  • Place the router up high and away from thick walls and appliances.
  • Limit USB 3.0 interference near the router; it can spray noise into 2.4 GHz.

A Short Step-By-Step Plan

  1. Cycle airplane mode, then Wi-Fi.
  2. Reboot router and laptop; stand next to the router.
  3. Forget and rejoin the SSID; test a phone hotspot.
  4. On Windows: enable the adapter, start WLAN AutoConfig, run the troubleshooter, update the driver, and reset the stack if needed.
  5. On Mac: run Wireless Diagnostics, clear known networks, renew leases, and re-add Wi-Fi if profiles are corrupted.
  6. Review router bands, channels, region, security, and any filtering.
  7. Test with Ethernet or a USB Wi-Fi adapter to rule out hardware.

If You Still Don’t See Your Network

Create a fresh user account and test there. User profiles can carry odd policies and VPN items that hide networks. Try a Linux live USB or a different OS install drive; if networks appear, the hardware is fine and the issue sits with software on the original install. If nothing sees the SSID, call the ISP and ask about a line issue or a replaced router that now uses a new band plan. Document what changed after each step.

Common Missteps That Waste Time

A few habits keep this problem alive far longer than it should. Skip these and you’ll cut hours off the fix.

  • Typing the SSID by memory while the router name actually changed after a reset.
  • Leaving VPN apps running during tests. Many block local discovery until paused.
  • Using mixed WPA/WEP modes. Pick one modern option and retest.
  • Forcing 40 MHz only on 2.4 GHz, which clashes in busy apartments. Use 20 MHz.
  • Keeping “Smart Connect” on while phones and laptops fight over bands. Split names during testing.
  • Trusting a range extender with a weak backhaul. Test near the main router instead.
  • Skipping driver releases from the laptop maker. Install the vendor package, not just a generic one.
  • Ignoring region rules. Channels that work on travel routers may be invisible at home.