Whether you've prepare a new Wi-Fi network or you're visiting a public hotspot, it can exist very annoying when your Windows 10 laptop tin't find the Wi-Fi network that you know exists.

This is a very mutual trouble, but unfortunately, it can be acquired past a number of things. Anything from your antivirus software, Windows firewall, or the network adapter itself, may prevent the active Wi-Fi network from showing up in your list of bachelor networks.

Walk through this guide, starting from the simplest fix to the more than advanced ones, and hopefully before you get to the end you'll run across the Wi-Fi network testify up in the list.

one. Reset Your Router

Earlier you spend a lot of time troubleshooting why your Windows 10 computer tin't encounter the Wi-Fi network, make sure the network exists in the start place.

  • Use other devices in your domicile to check if they tin access the Wi-Fi network.
  • Attempt using a Wi-Fi scanner on some other computer to view all available networks.
  • If other devices can't see the network, restart your router to get the network working once again.

Once you've confirmed with other devices that the Wi-Fi network actually exists, test accessing information technology again with the troublesome Windows 10 computer. If information technology all the same doesn't work, then movement on to the next steps.

ii. Use the Network Troubleshooter

If there's an issue with your Wi-Fi network adapter that'south easy to resolve, the Windows x network troubleshooter should be able to do it. This makes it the best first thing to effort.

Select the Start menu, type Settings, and select the Settings app.

In the Settings window, select Update & Security.

Select Troubleshoot in the left navigation carte, then select Additional troubleshooters in the right pane.

Scroll down the listing of troubleshooters and select Network Adapter. Select the Run the troubleshooter button that appears.

The troubleshooter wizard will walk yous through steps as information technology checks various adapter and arrangement settings that are the well-nigh probable crusade of your network issues. If the troubleshooter is successful, reboot your organization and you should be able to meet the Wi-Fi network now.

If information technology can't detect the outcome, you'll need to motility on to the adjacent steps.

3. Reset Your Network Adapter

The get-go thing to try, considering it resolves the result most frequently, is to reset the Wi-Fi network adapter.

This is easy to do. Open the Windows Control Panel and select View network condition and tasks under the Network and Internet section.

Select Change adapter settings in the left navigation pane.

This volition open a list of all available network adapters on your organization. You'll meet this list in the left pane. Notice the agile Wi-Fi adapter that y'all're using and right-click it. Select Disable from the menu.

This will completely disable your active Wi-Fi adapter. It'll reset any data that was buried and completely disconnect you from any network. Expect a full infinitesimal and then repeat the process to a higher place. This time select Enable from the menu.

Now when you select the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar, you should encounter the active network that you couldn't see before.

If y'all still don't run into it and then y'all'll need to go along on to the next troubleshooting footstep.

4. Switch Wireless Network Fashion

If the router that's operating the network doesn't provide a network using the way that your Wi-Fi adapter is using, your Windows 10 PC won't be able to run into the Wi-Fi network. To test if this is the example, effort changing the network mode.

Follow the same procedure in a higher place to select Change adapter settings. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter again and select Properties. In the Wi-Fi Properties window, select the Configure button.

Select the Advanced tab, select Wireless Mode in the Property window, so apply the Value dropdown to select the wireless mode.

If your Wi-Fi adapter displays multiple modes in this dropdown, you should select the i with every bit many modes equally possible. This volition let your adapter to "see" networks that are using any i of these modes. Select OK when y'all're done.

Restart your computer and so check if yous can now find the Wi-Fi network.

5. Disable IPv6 Protocol

In some cases, if you've enabled the IPv6 protocol on your system, it can cause issues when trying to connect to networks or the cyberspace. Disabling this protocol often resolves issues like this.

To do this, use the same procedure equally above to navigate to the Wi-Fi Properties window. Roll down the connectedness items listing and observe Internet Protocol Version six (TCP/IPv6). Deselect the checkbox to the left of this option.

Select OK. Now restart your estimator and check if the Wi-Fi network is now visible in the listing of networks.

6. Update Your Network Driver

An outdated network driver can often pb to issues with the network card accessing any networks at all. For this reason, it's always a skilful idea to make sure your network drivers are updated.

Launch Device Manager past right-clicking the Starting time menu and selecting Device Manager.

When the Device Manager opens, expand Network adapters in the tree. Right-click on your wireless adapter and select Update driver.

This volition launch the driver update magician. Select Browse my computer for drivers. The wizard will notice the most recently downloaded driver for your wireless adapter and will try to reinstall information technology.

You lot'll need to try this option since you tin't accept the magician search the internet automatically for drivers. One time the driver is updated, restart your computer and check if you tin can run across the wireless network.

seven. Reset TCP/IP

Some other useful tip that often resolves networking problems is resetting all TCP/IP connections manually. This can help clear any network connexion bug that may exist interfering with your network card's ability to view available networks.

To practise this, launch the command prompt as ambassador. Select the Commencement menu, type command, and correct-click the Command app.

In the control prompt window, blazon the following lines and press Enter after each.

  • netsh int ip reset
  • netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled
  • netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
  • netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled

Once you lot've run all of these commands, restart your computer and test the Wi-Fi connexion again.

8. Obtain New IP Settings

The trouble with your Windows ten PC not being able to notice your Wi-Fi network may non actually be finding the network, only making the connection. This can happen when the IP address that your reckoner has conflicts with some other device already on the network.

This tin can happen when you oasis't continued to the network for a long time and a new device receives your old IP address. To see if this is the crusade, try releasing and renewing your IP accost in the command prompt.

Select the Start menu, type command, and select the Control Prompt app.

At the command line, type ipconfig /release and printing Enter.

In the text after this command, you will meet the IPv4 IP address go blank.

Next, in the command line, type ipconfig /renew and press Enter.

When this command is finished, yous'll see a new IP address appear in the IPv4 Address field.

At present select the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and see if your Wi-Fi network now shows up.

ix. Temporarily Disable Antivirus

If you've gotten this far and nevertheless can't come across your Wi-Fi network, it is possible that your antivirus software may exist blocking it.

To test if this is the case, temporarily disable antivirus protection. Most antivirus apps have an icon on the right side of the taskbar. You lot tin can usually right-click this icon and select Pause protection.

Alternatively, you can open up the antivirus app and observe the network protection card. In this window, there's usually an option to toggle network protection off.

Once you've disabled protection, check if your Wi-Fi network shows up.

10. Temporarily Disable Windows Firewall

If that doesn't work, plough to Windows Firewall as a possible culprit. Temporarily turn off the Windows Firewall to test this.

Select the Starting time menu, type Firewall, and select Windows Defender Firewall.

In the Windows Defender Firewall app, select Plow Windows Defender Firewall on or off in the left card.

This will open a window where y'all can customize protection. Select the radio button to Turn off Windows Defender Firewall nether both sections.

Select OK and then restart your computer. When it starts back up, cheque that Windows 10 can now find your Wi-Fi network.

Windows 10 Can't Discover Your Wi-Fi Network

If you've gotten this far, y'all only have a few other options. Yous may need to replace your Wi-Fi network adapter, and so contact a computer technician to practise this for yous if yous don't know how to do information technology yourself.

However, before you take this step, accept your computer to a local Wi-Fi hotspot and check if your network adapter tin encounter another Wi-Fi network. If it can't, then it'southward far more than likely the network adapter is the issue and you should supersede it.