You are working at your home or visiting a public hotspot, and you have Windows 10 installed on your laptop. What to do when your windows 10 can’t find wifi? And you are stuck and cannot start your work even when you have wifi available.
Windows 10 users often encounter issues regarding wifi connectivity. Users are often observed bothering and inquiring about “why Windows 10 can’t find Wifi?” If you are a Windows 10 user, you would be familiar with such issues.
Problems with wifi connection in windows 10 are common. It is annoying for windows ten users when their windows 10 can’t find wifi. But no need to worry! Today there are many solutions available to solve this issue.
Many reasons can create problems, and your windows 10 can’t find a wifi connection. Windows firewall, antivirus software, or the adapter could be why not show wifi connection. There are different methods which you can try to resolve this issue. Let’s discuss the possible ways to get rid of this problem.
How to fix “Can’t see my WiFi Network issue” in Windows 10?
Select windows > settings > network and internet
You have to ensure that your wifi is listed on the network and internet. Otherwise, you will not be able to find a wifi connection. If you can’t find wifi settings on your screen, we have listed some standard solutions that are usually found quite effective in resolving this issue.
- Restart your system to check WiFi settings
- Check date and time
- Installing updates
- Run the Windows network, troubleshooter
- Make sure wifi is available in the device manager
1. Restart your system to check WiFi settings
Restart your system to check if wifi settings are missing on your PC.
- Your router must be connected to a working phone jack or cable connection.
- Select Start > restart or update and restart if any updates are available.
- Sign in as your system is restarted.
- Select Start > Settings > Network and Internet
- The airplane mode must be turned off.
- Your wifi must be turned on. If it is off, go to no Wi-Fi and turn it on.
- Select “connect,” and type your password if asked if your wifi connection appears. Now observe whether wifi is now connected or not.
- Assure that the physical connection of the wifi device is switched on. a light appears on the device if wifi is connected.
2. Check the date and time
Still, Windows 10 can’t find wifi?
- Go to settings, and check the date and time. Assure yourself you are entering the correct date and time.
- Go to settings again, check network and internet and observe whether your wifi name appears. If not, go for solution 3.
3. Installing updates
Install the latest updates to solve common wifi issues. But for this, you need an internet connection. If your wifi is not connected, there are some ways to install the latest updates.
- Use a wired connection to go online.
- Download the updated file to any other PC and transfer it to your laptop through USB.
- To get updates, you can connect to the internet with surface three built-in mobile broadband connectivity.
- After going online, select security and updates and search for updates.
- Updates will download and install if available.
- After updates, restart your system if it doesn’t restart itself.
- Sign in, turn on Wi-Fi, search for your Wi-Fi device, then select connect.
4. Run the Windows network, troubleshooter:
It can be helpful to diagnose the problem and solve it. Here is how it proceeds:
- Select the search box in the taskbar. Type network troubleshooter, then select Identify and repair network problems.
Choose from the options:
- If wifi settings are available, make sure your Wi-Fi name is visible there and select connect.
- If settings are still missing, go-to solution 5.
5. Make sure wifi is available in the device manager
If Windows 10 can’t find wifi and wifi settings are missing in your system, there is a possibility of disabled wifi in the device manager. Follow the given steps:
- In the search box, type device manager and select it from the results.
- Select the network adapter list.
- Double-click the respective Network Adapter, choose the driver tab, and disable the device.
- Select yes in the warning️ box
- Select enable device and restart Network Controller.
- Restart your system by selecting power > restart; if updates are available, select update and restart.
- If wifi settings are now available, turn on wifi, select your wifi name and connect to it.
Still can’t find wifi in windows 10? Let us look at a few other possible solutions to resolve this issue. These few technical approaches will resolve the wi-fi connectivity issue on windows 10.
Solutions For Windows 10 Can’t Find WiFi Network
- Update Network Drivers
- Reset TCP/IP
- Change wireless SSID and password on your modem
- Reset you modem
- Use the Internet Connection troubleshooter
- Make sure DHCP is on
- Set your IP address manually
- Change the number of DHCP users
- Disable Windows Firewall temporarily
- Disable the Airplane mode
- Use ipconfig/release command
- Set the channel width to Auto
- Disable IPv6 on your computer and router
- Delete your wireless profile
- Disable the Family Safety feature
- Disable your antivirus software
- Change the wireless network mode
- Change Fiddler settings
- Check that all required services for Internet Connection sharing are enabled.
1. Update Network Drivers
When you update windows, drivers are updated and installed along with printers, video cards, adapters, and monitors.
If you don’t have a recent driver and you want to update or reinstall it, here is the solution:
- In the search bar, type device manager and select Device Manager.
- Select the category and, find the names of devices, right-click the one you want to update.
- Search updated driver.
- Choose an updated driver.
- If you can’t find a new driver, go for the one on the device manufacturer’s website and follow their instructions.
Reinstall the device driver:
- In the search bar, type device manager and select it.
- Right-click the device name, and select uninstall.
- Restart your system.
- Windows will reinstall the driver.
2. Reset TCP/IP
If you still can’t find wifi in windows 10, you should look at resetting TCP/IP. In earlier times, TCP/IP was an optional component that could be added or removed like other protocols. Windows 2003 can’t be removed because now it is the core component of windows.
In some cases, you may face corrupt TCP/IP, although rare. It may be disturbing because you cannot remove or reinstall it. So, what should be the other possibility? Reinstalling the operating system can be an option.
Another option is to reset TCP/IP to default settings when the system is installed. Use net shell utility for this purpose.
On resetting TCP/IP, all the essential keys will be rewritten in the registry and have the effect of removing and reinstalling the whole TCP/IP stack.
Follow the given instructions to reset TCP/IP:
- Click the start button at the bottom on the left side.
- Search Command Prompt in the search bar, click on Command Prompt icon, and run as administrator.
- If prompted, click yes to make the changes on the computer.
3. Change wireless SSID and password to your modem.
It is another option if you can’t find wifi in windows 10. It is better to change your wifi name and password for security reasons to protect your account and data from stealing by hackers. The default password is not strong enough, and hackers may guess it easily. And it is also easy to remember the password which you create yourself.
You can change the name of your wifi network or SSID (service set identifier) by entering your router’s admin page. For this purpose, you have to follow the given steps.
- Open a web browser of your choice.
- Enter your router’s IP address in the search bar, and press enter. If you see “see your connection is not private, no need to worry. According to Netgear, it is not essential because your router is on your local network and has security.
- Type your router name and password. It’s not the same as your wifi username and password. Try to find it in the router manual.
Tip: The most common usernames are “admin” or “user” or leave it blank, and the most common passwords are “admin” or “password” or leave it blank.
- Click wireless on the left side of your screen. It may be with a different name in different routers. You may also click other buttons to find your wireless router.
- Then, change your wifi name and password. To change the wifi name and password, you must first select a security option.
If you want to change your wifi name, you may have to check a box next to SSID broadcast or something similar.
- At last, change your name and password, click apply or save. Your settings will remain ineffective until you select apply or save option.
4. Reset your modem
It is another option you can go for if your windows 10 can’t find wifi. If you reset your modem, it will restore factory default settings. It will erase all the customized settings, like IP address, wifi settings, DNS, and personalized password.
If you don’t want your custom settings to be erased, you must back up your custom settings. It will be restored after resetting is done.
You may decide to reset the modem if your modem is not working right. And also, you have made some settings that cannot be undone. a Full factory reset turns the modem to its default settings and may fix the following issues:
- Gaming problem
- Routing errors
- Internet issues
- Slow connection speed
- Wireless problems
Following are the steps to reset the modem:
- Keep your modem plugged in.
- Search its reset button.
- Use a paper clip to press and hold the button.
- Release the button when the light starts to flicker.
- Wait until the internet light turns green.
5. Use the Internet Connection troubleshooter.
- Click Start button > settings > network and internet > status
- Under changing your network settings, select network troubleshooter
- Follow the steps, and observe if the problem is fixed
Restart the modem and wireless router. It will create a new connection to the internet service provider.
- Unplug the power cable of the router and modem
- If your modem has a battery backup, remove it.
- Wait for 30 seconds, at least.
- Plug the modem back into the power source, or put the battery in again
- If the light blinks, wait for it to stop blinking
- Plug the router back into the power source
- Wait for a while for the modem and router to start
- Turn on your PC to connect again.
6. Make sure DHCP is on.
If Windows 10 can’t find wifi, make sure DHCP is on. To enable it to follow the steps:
- Select the control panel
- Select network and internet and go for view network status and tasks
- Select wifi which you were connected to
- Click on the details in the window
- Have a look to check if DHCP is enabled, select yes
- At last, close the screen
7. Set your IP address manually
- Open the control panel.
- Go to network and internet > network and sharing center
- Click adopter settings on left
- Find IP address
- Select details to have all details of the network connection
- Set IP address, right-click on local area connection and click properties
- Double click on internet protocol version 4
- Click the IP address, type the IP address, and click OK to apply settings.
8. Change the number of DHCP users.
- Select start > settings > network and internet
- Select wifi, manage known network
- Choose the network you want to change the settings, select properties
- Select edit under IP assignment
- Select automatic DHCP or manual
- If you select automatic DHCP, IP address and DNS server settings are set.
- While selecting manual, you can select IP address settings and DNS server settings.
- Select save once you’re done.
9. Disable Windows Firewall temporarily.
If Windows 10 can’t find Wi-Fi, disable the windows firewall temporarily.
- Open the control panel, then select system and security.
- Now choose windows firewall and select windows firewall wall on or off.
- Click on the fine bubble next to turn off the windows firewall (not recommended) and select OK to save changes.
10. Disable the Airplane mode
Enabling airplane mode in any window prohibits it from connecting to wifi. So, if windows 10 can’t find wifi, enabling airplane mode can be of the reasons.
You can disable it by:
Open settings > select network and internet > select airplane mode > turn off
11. Use the ipconfig/release command
On Windows, use the following information to release and renew the IP address:
- Select Start, and type “
cmd” (no quotes). After that, select OK - Type “
ipconfig/release(no quotes), and press enter - Prompt returns, type ipconfig/renew (no quotes), press enter
- Type “
exit” (without quotes), press enter to close the window
12. Set the channel width to Auto
If your windows 10 can’t find Wi-Fi, try setting the channel width to auto.
- Press the start button.
- Search device manager.
- Double-click network adapters to expand it.
- Select the wireless adapter and hit action.
- Select properties, then advance and click 802.11n channel width for band 2.4, click value and select the down arrow to select auto, and then hit OK.
13. Disable IPv6 on your computer and router
Let us discuss another possible solution for windows 10 can’t find Wi-Fi. The process will follow the given instructions.
- Click on the wifi icon and open the network sharing center.
- Change adapter settings, click on Properties, and select disable IPv6.
- Then press OK to save changes and restart your computer.
14. Delete your wireless profile
When you connect a new wifi network, it stores many profiles. With time, it becomes large. Follow the instructions below to delete the profiles that are not needed more:
- Select the network icon on the right side of your screen.
- Select network settings.
- Click on manage wifi settings.
- Select Manage known networks.
- Select the network you want to delete and hit forget.
- The profile will be deleted.
15. Disable the Family Safety feature
Disable family features according to the steps mentioned. All the restrictions will be removed because of family safety.
Go to http://account.microsoft.com/family and sign in from the Microsoft account of an adult.
Remove by choosing remove at the top of the screen, choose the member you want to remove, and select remove.
16. Disable your antivirus software
If Windows 10 can’t find Wi-Fi, try to disable your antivirus software to fix this issue. It will help you.
- Go to the windows start menu.
- Select windows security.
- Press enter.
- Select virus threat protection on the left side.
- Turn off windows antivirus.
- Select yes to confirm.
17. Change the wireless network mode
To change this, follow the given steps:
- Log in to your router settings.
- Search by your router for phrases like mode, wireless mode, or 802.11 modes.
- (These terms and locations change from router to router)
- Select appropriate wireless mode > select router for specific options > apply and save settings.
18. Change Fiddler settings
It adjusts the current proxy settings at the fiddler point as you launch the fiddler. But if your windows 10 can’t find wifi, you can change the fiddler settings.
19. Check that all required services for Internet Connection sharing are enabled.
If your windows 10 can’t get wifi, check whether all the settings required for an internet connection are enabled. For this, open the Run window and type ncpa.cpl. Then, allow other network users to connect through an internet connection, select the service to enable, and press OK.
