Fix WiFi Not Showing Any Networks

Understanding WiFi Network Detection Issues

How WiFi Network Scanning Works:

When you open the WiFi menu, Windows performs several steps:

1. WiFi adapter activates: Hardware powers on and enters scanning mode
2. Broadcast probe requests: Adapter sends signals on all WiFi channels (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
3. Access points respond: Nearby routers send beacon frames containing SSID (network name)
4. WLAN AutoConfig service processes: Windows service parses beacon data
5. Network list displays: Available networks appear in WiFi menu

If any step fails, no networks appear.

Common Scenarios and Symptoms:

Scenario 1: WiFi icon shows red X, "No networks found"

• Cause: Adapter disabled or driver crashed
• Best fix: Enable adapter (Method 1), restart WiFi services (Method 3)

Scenario 2: WiFi menu empty but adapter shows "enabled"

• Cause: Driver malfunction or outdated firmware
• Best fix: Update WiFi driver (Method 2)

Scenario 3: WiFi worked yesterday, stopped after Windows update

• Cause: Incompatible driver after update
• Best fix: Roll back driver (Method 2) or update to latest

Scenario 4: Other devices see WiFi but PC doesn't

• Cause: Adapter hardware issue or 5GHz band unsupported
• Best fix: Check adapter specs, reset network settings (Method 5)

Scenario 5: WiFi toggle grayed out, can't turn on

• Cause: Airplane mode enabled or physical switch off
• Best fix: Disable airplane mode (Method 4), check laptop WiFi switch

Method 1: Enable WiFi Adapter and Toggle Off/On

The simplest fix: WiFi adapter may be inadvertently disabled in Windows settings or Device Manager. Re-enabling often restores scanning immediately.

Enable via Windows Settings:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to Network & Internet
3. Click WiFi in left sidebar
4. If WiFi toggle is off, click to turn On
5. Wait 5-10 seconds for networks to appear
6. If no networks show, toggle WiFi Off then On again
7. Check if networks appear

Enable via Device Manager:

1. Press Windows + X → Device Manager
2. Expand Network adapters
3. Find your wireless adapter:
   • Common names: "Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6...", "Realtek 8822CE...", "Qualcomm Atheros...", "Broadcom 802.11..."
   • Look for "Wireless", "WiFi", "WLAN", or "802.11" in name
4. If adapter has down arrow icon (disabled), right-click it
5. Select Enable device
6. Wait for "Windows is enabling device" to complete
7. Check network list again

Quick Toggle Method:

1. Click WiFi icon in system tray (bottom-right)
2. Click WiFi tile to toggle off
3. Wait 5 seconds
4. Click WiFi tile again to toggle on
5. Networks should scan and appear

Why this works: Adapter can enter error state where it's technically "on" but not functioning. Toggling forces a full reset of the adapter's power state and reinitializes scanning.

Method 2: Update or Roll Back WiFi Driver

Outdated or corrupted WiFi drivers are the #1 cause of persistent network detection failure, especially after Windows updates that replace drivers with generic Microsoft versions.

Update WiFi Driver (Recommended):

1. Press Windows + X → Device Manager
2. Expand Network adapters
3. Right-click your wireless adapter
4. Select Update driver
5. Choose Search automatically for drivers
6. If Windows finds update, install and restart
7. If Windows says "best drivers installed": They're often NOT the best

Download Driver from Manufacturer (More Reliable):

Step 1: Identify your WiFi adapter:

1. In Device Manager, right-click WiFi adapter → Properties
2. Go to Details tab
3. Select Hardware Ids in dropdown
4. Note the VEN_xxxx and DEV_xxxx values:
   • VEN_8086 = Intel
   • VEN_10EC = Realtek
   • VEN_168C = Qualcomm Atheros
   • VEN_14E4 = Broadcom

Step 2: Download appropriate driver:

• Intel WiFi: Intel Support
• Realtek WiFi: Realtek Downloads (choose Network Interface Controllers)
• Qualcomm Atheros: Usually bundled with laptop manufacturer's support site (Dell, HP, Lenovo)
• Broadcom: Broadcom Support

Step 3: Install driver:

1. Run downloaded driver installer as Administrator
2. Follow installation wizard
3. Restart computer when prompted
4. After restart, check WiFi networks

Roll Back Driver (If Problem Started After Update):

1. Device Manager → Network adapters → Right-click WiFi adapter → Properties
2. Go to Driver tab
3. If Roll Back Driver button is active (not grayed), click it
4. Select reason: "Previously installed driver performed better"
5. Click Yes
6. Restart computer

If Roll Back is grayed out: Previous driver not available. Instead, uninstall current driver and let Windows reinstall generic driver, or manually install older version from manufacturer.

Method 3: Restart WLAN AutoConfig Service

The WLAN AutoConfig service (Wlansvc) manages WiFi scanning and connection. If stopped or hung, no networks will appear even with working adapter.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter
2. Scroll to find WLAN AutoConfig
3. Check Status column:
   • If "Running" → Right-click → Restart
   • If blank (stopped) → Right-click → Start
4. Right-click WLAN AutoConfig → Properties
5. Set Startup type to Automatic
6. Click Start (if service stopped)
7. Click Apply → OK
8. Also restart these dependent services:
9. Find Network Location Awareness → Right-click → Restart
10. Find Network List Service → Right-click → Restart
11. Close Services window
12. Check WiFi networks

Quick Command Prompt Method:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Run: net stop wlansvc
3. Wait 5 seconds
4. Run: net start wlansvc
5. Check networks

If service won't start (error 1068 or 1075):

• Dependencies may be stopped. Start these first:
  • net start RpcSs (Remote Procedure Call)
  • net start nsi (Network Store Interface Service)
  • Then net start wlansvc

Method 4: Disable Airplane Mode and Check Physical Switches

Airplane mode or physical WiFi switches (common on laptops) can disable WiFi scanning entirely, often overlooked by users.

Check and Disable Airplane Mode:

1. Press Windows + A to open Quick Settings
2. Look for Airplane mode tile
3. If highlighted/active, click to turn Off
4. Alternative via Settings:
5. Press Windows + I → Network & Internet
6. Click Airplane mode
7. Turn Off if enabled
8. Check WiFi networks

Check Physical WiFi Switch (Laptops):

Many laptops have dedicated WiFi hardware switches or keyboard shortcuts:

• Physical switch: Look on laptop sides/front for small slider or button (often orange or marked with WiFi symbol)
• Keyboard shortcut: Common combinations:
  • Fn + F2 (Dell, ASUS)
  • Fn + F3 (HP)
  • Fn + F5 (Lenovo)
  • Fn + F12 (Acer)
  • Look for key with WiFi/antenna icon
• Toggle switch or press shortcut, check if WiFi icon changes

Check BIOS/UEFI Settings:

Rare, but WiFi can be disabled in BIOS:

1. Restart computer
2. During boot, press BIOS key (F2, Del, F10, or Esc)
3. Navigate to Advanced or Integrated Peripherals section
4. Look for "Wireless LAN" or "WLAN" option
5. Ensure set to Enabled
6. Save and exit (usually F10)

Method 5: Reset Network Settings (Complete Reset)

Windows 10/11 include built-in network reset that wipes all network configurations and reinstalls adapters. Nuclear option but highly effective for persistent issues.

1. Press Windows + I → Network & Internet
2. Windows 11: Click Advanced network settings → Network reset
3. Windows 10: Click Status → Scroll down → Network reset
4. Read warning: "This will remove and reinstall all network adapters"
5. Click Reset now
6. Click Yes to confirm
7. Computer restarts automatically after 5 minutes
8. After restart, WiFi adapter reinstalls with default settings
9. Check available networks
10. Reconnect to WiFi (need to re-enter password)

What Network Reset Does:

• ✅ Removes all network adapters and reinstalls
• ✅ Resets network components to original install state
• ✅ Clears network cache and stored profiles
• ✅ Resets WiFi adapter to default configuration
• ❌ Doesn't affect personal files
• ❌ Removes saved WiFi passwords (must re-enter)
• ❌ Removes VPN configurations

After reset: You'll need to reconnect to WiFi networks and reconfigure VPNs, but network detection issues are typically resolved.

Method 6: Flush DNS and Reset TCP/IP Stack

Corrupted network cache can prevent WiFi scanning. Flushing DNS and resetting TCP/IP clears this cache.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Run these commands one by one:
3. ipconfig /flushdns (clears DNS cache)
4. Wait for "Successfully flushed..."
5. netsh winsock reset (resets Winsock catalog)
6. netsh int ip reset (resets TCP/IP stack)
7. netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled
8. netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
9. netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
10. netsh int tcp show global (verify settings)
11. Close Command Prompt
12. Restart computer
13. After restart, check WiFi networks

What each command does:

• flushdns: Clears DNS resolver cache
• winsock reset: Resets Windows Sockets API (network programming interface)
• ip reset: Resets TCP/IP protocol stack to clean state
• autotuninglevel: Disables TCP receive window auto-tuning (can cause issues)
• rss: Enables Receive Side Scaling for better performance

Method 7: Check Router Settings and Test with Different Networks

If other devices see networks but your PC doesn't, issue may be router-side or PC only detecting certain frequencies.

Test WiFi Detection:

1. Create mobile hotspot from phone
2. Check if PC detects phone's hotspot
3. If yes: Router-side issue or frequency incompatibility
4. If no: PC WiFi adapter problem (continue troubleshooting)

Check Router Broadcast Settings:

1. Access router admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
2. Login with admin credentials
3. Navigate to Wireless Settings
4. Check SSID Broadcast:
   • If disabled, enable it
   • Hidden SSIDs won't show in network list
5. Check Wireless Mode:
   • Set to "Mixed" or "802.11b/g/n/ac/ax" for maximum compatibility
   • If set to "AC only" or "AX only", older adapters can't detect
6. Check Channel Width:
   • Try changing from 40MHz to 20MHz (2.4GHz band)
   • Some adapters don't support wide channels
7. Save settings and restart router

5GHz vs 2.4GHz Band Issue:

Older WiFi adapters only support 2.4GHz:

• Check adapter specs in Device Manager → Properties → Advanced tab
• Look for "802.11ac" or "5GHz" support
• If adapter is 802.11n or older, it may only see 2.4GHz networks
• Ensure router broadcasts 2.4GHz network (not 5GHz only)
• Some routers separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz into different SSIDs

Method 8: Modify WiFi Adapter Power Management

Windows power saving can disable WiFi adapter to save battery, preventing network scanning.

1. Device Manager → Network adapters → Right-click WiFi adapter → Properties
2. Go to Power Management tab
3. Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
4. Click OK
5. Go to Advanced tab
6. Look for these settings and modify:
   • Power Saving Mode: Set to Disabled or Maximum Performance
   • Roaming Aggressiveness: Set to Highest
   • Transmit Power: Set to Highest
   • Wireless Mode: Set to 802.11a/b/g or Auto
7. Click OK
8. Restart computer

Disable Windows Power Throttling:

1. Press Windows + I → System → Power
2. Click Power mode dropdown
3. Select Best performance
4. Or create custom power plan:
   • Control Panel → Power Options → Create a power plan
   • Choose "High performance" base
   • Under advanced settings → Wireless Adapter Settings → Set to "Maximum Performance"

Method 9: Reinstall WiFi Adapter Driver (Clean Install)

If all else fails, completely remove WiFi adapter driver and let Windows reinstall fresh.

1. Device Manager → Network adapters → Right-click WiFi adapter
2. Select Uninstall device
3. Check "Attempt to remove the driver for this device"
4. Click Uninstall
5. Adapter disappears from Device Manager
6. Click Action → Scan for hardware changes (top menu)
7. Windows detects adapter and reinstalls generic driver
8. Restart computer
9. After restart, check if networks appear
10. If yes but want better performance, install manufacturer driver (Method 2)

Note: Wired Ethernet connection recommended during this process to download drivers if needed. Or download driver to USB beforehand.

Hardware Troubleshooting

Check if WiFi Adapter is Recognized:

1. Device Manager → View → Show hidden devices
2. Check Network adapters section
3. If WiFi adapter missing entirely:
   • Hardware failure or BIOS disabled
   • Try external USB WiFi adapter as workaround
4. If adapter shows yellow exclamation mark:
   • Driver issue or hardware malfunction
   • Check error code in Properties → General tab

Test with External USB WiFi Adapter:

• Borrow or purchase USB WiFi dongle
• Plug into USB port
• If USB adapter detects networks but internal doesn't:
  • Internal adapter hardware failed
  • Consider repair or continue using USB adapter

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My WiFi worked fine yesterday but suddenly no networks show. What changed?

A: Most commonly: (1) Windows Update installed incompatible driver—roll back driver or update to manufacturer's latest, (2) WLAN AutoConfig service stopped—restart it via services.msc, (3) Airplane mode accidentally enabled—check Quick Settings, (4) Power management disabled adapter—disable power saving in adapter properties. If happened immediately after restart, check Device Manager for yellow exclamation on WiFi adapter indicating driver failure.

Q: Other devices in my house see WiFi networks but my PC doesn't. Why?

A: Your PC's WiFi adapter has different capabilities than phones/tablets. Possible reasons: (1) Your adapter only supports 2.4GHz but router broadcasts only 5GHz (or vice versa), (2) Router set to AC-only mode and your adapter is older N-standard, (3) Your adapter's firmware/driver is outdated while other devices updated automatically, (4) Router using DFS channels your region/adapter doesn't support. Test by creating phone hotspot—if PC sees that, router configuration is the issue.

Q: WiFi networks show for 5 seconds then disappear. What causes this?

A: Intermittent detection indicates: (1) WiFi adapter overheating—check laptop vents for dust, use cooling pad, (2) Driver stability issue—update or roll back driver, (3) Power management repeatedly sleeping adapter—disable in adapter properties and power plan, (4) Interference from USB 3.0 devices—move USB dongles away from WiFi antenna area, (5) Adapter hardware failing—test with external USB WiFi as diagnostic step.

Q: I can see hidden WiFi networks (random hex names) but not my router's SSID. Why?

A: You're seeing other networks but not yours means: (1) Router SSID broadcast disabled—enable in router settings, (2) Router and PC on different frequency bands—ensure router broadcasts 2.4GHz if PC doesn't support 5GHz, (3) Router MAC filtering enabled and your PC MAC address not whitelisted, (4) Router firmware glitch—restart router, update firmware. Since adapter detects OTHER networks, hardware and drivers are working—issue is router-side or signal strength.

Q: Network reset fixed the problem but now my WiFi is slower than before. Normal?

A: Network reset installs generic drivers that may lack performance optimizations. Download and install manufacturer-specific WiFi driver (Intel, Realtek, etc.) from their official website for full performance. Also check: (1) Adapter connected to 2.4GHz instead of 5GHz (slower)—reconnect to 5GHz network if available, (2) Power saving mode enabled—set to Maximum Performance in adapter properties, (3) QoS or bandwidth limits on router—check router settings, (4) Channel congestion—use WiFi analyzer app to find less crowded channel.