When a Wi-Fi network stops appearing in your device’s list, it can feel alarming — but most of the time, the fix is straightforward. Let’s work through the possibilities.

Check the Basics First

  • Is the router powered on? Check its lights.
  • Are other devices (phone, tablet) able to see the network?
  • Is Wi-Fi turned on on the device that can’t see it? Check that airplane mode is off.

If other devices can see the network but one laptop can’t, the problem is the laptop. If no device can find the network, the problem is the router.

If the Problem Is Your Laptop

Enable the Wi-Fi Adapter

  1. Press Win + X and choose Device Manager.
  2. Expand Network adapters. If your Wi-Fi adapter has a yellow warning icon or is greyed out, right-click it and choose Enable device.

Restart the WLAN AutoConfig Service

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Scroll to WLAN AutoConfig, right-click it, and choose Restart.

Update the Wi-Fi Driver

In Device Manager, right-click your wireless adapter and choose Update driver. If Windows finds nothing, visit the laptop manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your model.

If the Problem Is the Router

Check the Network Band

If your router broadcasts on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, and you can see one but not the other, the 5GHz radio may have been disabled in the router settings. Log into your router admin page (usually 192.168.1.1) and verify both radios are enabled.

Check the SSID Broadcast Setting

Routers have an option to hide the network name (SSID). If someone turned that on, the network will not appear in scans. In your router’s Wireless settings, look for SSID Broadcast or Hide SSID and make sure broadcast is enabled.

Restart the Router

Unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait two minutes for it to fully boot before scanning again.

Still not seeing it? Ask us and we can help narrow it down further.