Do the computer does not find wifi. Why is Wi-Fi not visible? Solving the problem when there is no Internet connection turned on

The laptop does not see wifi, what should I do?

In this article we want to tell you why the laptop does not see Wi-Fi and how to quickly restore access to the Internet yourself. If you encounter a one-time error in WiFi operation, you cannot set up a wireless connection on a new computer, or no router is displayed in the list of available connections, this article will help you quickly get rid of the problem and restore a stable Internet connection.

Possible reasons

Several system components are involved in creating a wireless connection on a computer or laptop:

Network adapter. This element is present in all computers and is responsible for processing and sending any data over a local or global network. Also, the adapter processes all signals from the Wi-Fi router. If a component does not work, in most cases, this is the reason why the laptop does not connect to the Internet;
Hardware Drivers– this is a set of utilities that ensure correct interaction between the hardware and software parts of a network connection;
Router(another name is a router) is the device itself that creates a wireless connection network through a cable or modem from the provider.

It is enough for at least one of the above components to fail, and you will no longer be able to connect to the Internet or will experience frequent connection interruptions.

There are cases when the laptop produces a normal one-time failure and it is enough to reboot it to correct the error.

There can be many reasons for a WiFi connection to fail. These may include the following:

1 The router freezes or breaks down;

2 The wireless network adapter has failed;

3 Outdated drivers or they are not installed at all in the OS;

4 Operation of anti-virus software;

5 Temporary technical failure on the provider's side.

Note that the problem of connecting to the global network may be expressed in the fact that the laptop does not see only one router or does not recognize any access points at all (at the same time, you are sure that other gadgets detect routers within a given radius).

Below are detailed instructions with step-by-step actions to resolve each type of problem.

Turn on the WiFi module on the laptop

Often the reason why a laptop does not see available connections is that it is not configured correctly. To get started, check the following settings:

Laptop location. The device must be within sight of the router. As a rule, standard routers are capable of transmitting a signal within a radius of 50 meters. Please note that brick walls and other massive fences can reduce the radius of a WiFi network signal by 30%-35%;
Other gadgets connect to access points without problems? If your smartphone or tablet also does not connect to Wi-Fi, the problem lies in the operation of the router. The computer does not see the network, but the phone does? Then you should check the operation of the component drivers and configure the router;
Wireless discovery mode must be enabled. To do this, move the pointer to the WiFi icon on the taskbar and click on it. If you see the following “Wireless Network Disabled” window, it means that network discovery is temporarily inactive on your computer.

To activate it, click on the indicated tile with the antenna icon:

Fig. 1 - turning on the wireless network

A window of available wireless networks will appear, in which you can select the desired router. Now the laptop sees the network:

Fig.2. Result of wireless connection activation

Enabling the network adapter does not always help solve the problem; if this hardware component is not functioning correctly, you will not be able to enable the wireless connection. What and how to do, read below.

You can also activate the wireless connection using the keyboard. To do this, simultaneously hold down the Fn + F2 key. Depending on the laptop model, the F8, F10, F12 keys may also be responsible for turning on the network.

Note: In some laptop models, the WiFi module can be turned on using a switch located on the side of the gadget.

Fig.3. Activating the wireless connection on the keyboard

On HP Pavilion laptops, you can control the wireless connection using the F12 key, which has a built-in indicator light. If this indicator is highlighted in red, Wi-Fi will not work. Press Fn + F12 to activate it. As a result, it will be highlighted in white.

Fig.4. Turn on the wireless light on your HP keyboard

Checking the functionality of the equipment

The laptop sees the network, but does not connect to the Internet? This means that the problem lies in the operation of the network equipment. First you need to check that the equipment is installed and working properly.

To programmatically fix the network card, you need to start the Windows 10 Device Manager. Open the Device Manager by right-clicking on “Start”:

Fig.5. Opening Device Manager

A list of all hardware components connected to the PC will appear in a new window. Open section "Network adapters" and select the item labeled “Network Adapter” (it may have different full names, it all depends on the laptop model and the type of network card).

1 Right-click on the object.

2 Select Enable to activate the device if the equipment is turned off. If there are problems with the operation of the equipment, the system will prompt you to run the diagnostic tool.

Fig.6. Enabling the adapter in Device Manager

3 Double-click on the object to get to the equipment properties, and check the operation status in the “Device Status” column. The figure below shows the appearance of the properties window after turning it on (the system determines that the driver for the Network Adapter is installed correctly).

Fig.7. Checking the operation of the network adapter

Checking the operation of the router

The first and most common reason why a laptop does not see WiFi is a one-time failure in its operation or a switched off router. When the router is turned on, the indicators are always blinking.

It is common for network equipment to freeze or malfunction, just like any equipment. The solution to the problem may be a simple reboot of the router.

If you were able to establish a connection with the router, but the connection says “No connection,” we recommend rebooting the router. To do this, first press the “Power” key (located on the back panel of the modem).

Then unplug the device and wait a few minutes. After waiting a few minutes, plug the router into a power outlet and press the power button.

Fig.8. Enabling/disabling the router

Now re-check the list of available networks on your laptop. The desired network should appear in the list of objects. Following these simple steps will solve the problem in most cases.

Installing and updating drivers

If you recently installed or reinstalled Windows, the problem may be that the required drivers are missing. Let's consider what to do if the laptop does not see Wi-Fi, but other gadgets connect to the router without problems.

Please note that the operating system never displays information that there is a driver error or is not installed. The user can only independently see such a picture in the “Device Manager”; an exclamation mark may appear opposite the component, indicating a problem.

Fig.9. Device operation error in task manager

To install or update WiFi adapter drivers, follow these steps:

1 Go to Device Manager.

2 Right-click on the section "Network adapters" and select "Update hardware configuration".

Fig. 10. Automatically update hardware drivers

3 To install drivers manually, go to "Network adapters" and find Network Adapter in the equipment name, right-click, then select "Update driver".

Fig. 11. Updating the Wireless Driver

4 In the Windows Assistant that opens, you need to choose how to install or update drivers.

Automatic search— Windows will independently search and install the necessary software for the equipment.

Perform a search on this computer— choose this method if you already have downloaded drivers for network equipment that you need to specify.

Fig. 12. Built-in Assistant window

If the automatic search for drivers does not bring results, you can update the drivers by downloading them from the official website of the laptop manufacturer. For example, for owners of devices from Hewlett Packard, just go to the official website hp.com and go to the “Support” section - "Programs and Drivers".

On all official websites of laptop manufacturers, there is a section with drivers and programs for any model, bit depth and OS, just enter the name or select from the list, it depends on the search for the necessary components. The method is described in the article for the HP Pavilion laptop, but it is not much different from other laptops.

Another way to download drivers is to use the DriverPack Solution utility. With its help, you can automatically install drivers for all connected devices:

Fig. 14. DriverPack Solution utility window

After the driver installation is complete, turn on WiFi and check if the laptop finds the network.

Setting up the router

Often users encounter a problem from the category “the laptop does not see my wifi network, but others do.” In this case, you should configure the router, since its parameters may not be compatible with the laptop, and this happens.

In addition to a short-term malfunction of the Wi-Fi router, the reason why the laptop does not see the network may be incorrect configuration of the router or incompatibility of some of its parameters with your PC. This is why the computer does not see a specific access point.

To configure the router, you should use another laptop or smartphone that connects to the access point without any problems.

Follow the instructions to check your router settings:

1 Connect the router to another device that “sees” it;

2 Now go to the browser (it doesn’t matter whether you are working from a phone, tablet or other laptop - all settings fields and methods for changing parameters will be the same for your router);

3 In the address bar, enter the local host address - “192.168.1.1” (or “192.168.0.1”, enter the address without quotes). As a result of entering the correct address, an authorization window will appear in the settings.

Standard values: login– admin and password— admin. If this combination does not work, look at the bottom cover of the router itself - it shows the login information for the configuration window;

Fig. 15. Bottom cover of the router

Fig. 16. Login to router settings

Next, the router configuration window will open. Please note that its interface differs depending on the device model, firmware version or production region. The first parameter that we need to find and configure for compatibility between the router and the computer that does not see it is encryption type.

4 Go to the tab "Wireless Mode" and in the “Protection” field, select the simplest type of data encryption – WEP. This will make it easier for the computer to access the network. Standard WEP is sufficient for home use with a very low chance of an attacker hacking into your network;

Pay attention! In the settings of each router it is also possible to completely disable access point protection. You SHOULD NOT disable the encryption type, as this will lead to the consumption of your traffic by other people, a decrease in connection speed and a significant increase in the amount of payment for the Internet.

Moreover, a law has been passed to protect each wireless connection with a password for access.

Fig. 17. Setting up router encryption

The next parameter is the access password. We recommend checking whether you enter the correct code word when trying to connect to a WiFi router on a laptop. To view and change your password, go to the tab again "Wireless Mode"— “Protection” and in the “Key” field, check the code word (connection password);

Fig. 18. Checking/changing the router access password

Also, the laptop may not see Wi-Fi due to a discrepancy in the number of supported communication channels on the computer and the router. Try selecting different values for this configuration in the router settings and, after applying each of them, connect to the network again.

Go to the window "Wireless Mode"- "Settings" . Select the number of channels. To begin with, it is recommended to try connecting the value “Auto”, if it does not work, set the value manually, selecting the appropriate option. This WiFi setup will help solve all problems associated with the router not working properly.

Fig. 19. Selecting the number of communication channels

Conclusion

Now you know what to do if WiFi on your laptop does not work. You can solve problems and errors of a non-working Wi-Fi network by step-by-step checking the functionality of all network components and their correct configuration.

First, you should check simple reasons: whether the router is turned on or not frozen, whether the drivers are installed/updated, look at the correct password in its settings. To configure compatibility between your laptop and router, change the encryption type or the number of communication channels used.

If the laptop does not connect to any wireless networks, activate the connection setup window or fix errors in the network adapter.

Thematic videos:

I am glad to welcome you, dear visitors, to the website! In today's article we will take a closer look at what to do if your laptop does not see the wi-fi network. Today, a wi-fi network can be found very often, especially in big cities.

In restaurants, pubs, bars, cinemas, service stations, etc. This list can be continued endlessly, besides, the lion's share is also distributed through a wi-fi router.

The laptop does not find the WiFi network.

If the router whose network you cannot connect to belongs to you, try using the instructions,

But what should you do if you are sure that wi fi is definitely there and you even see it on another device (smartphone, tablet, etc.), but your laptop or netbook does not find a single wi fi network? Let's take a closer look at this problem.

After all, in fact there are not so many reasons. It is enough just to check each of them one by one. For some, there must be access to a router.

1. Check available networks in your radius.

By the way, if we talk about the range of a wi-fi router, here we can note distances from 10 m (in an apartment or house) to tens of kilometers (in open areas without obstacles and on an industrial scale).

Among the factors that affect the range of a wi-fi network are data transmission protocols (802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n), room walls, tree foliage (due to water content, which has a dampening effect on wi-fi) , included microwave (also uses microwave frequencies), other wi-fi networks.

If you know other factors that affect signal attenuation, write about them in the comments.

To increase the range of the Wi-Fi network, you can use intermediate devices. But this is closer to industrial use.

If you have access to the router, then it would not be superfluous to reboot it by simply turning off and on the power.

2. Is Wi-Fi turned on on your laptop?

In order to turn it on, you just need to press the power button or the key combination (fn+F1-F12) to turn on wi fi, depending on the model of your laptop.

Then click on the “Connections” icon next to the clock. Select "Change adapter settings" and make sure that "Wireless network connection" is active (right-click → "enable").

3. Check if wi-fi is turned on on the router?

Everything is clear here - the network and power cables are connected. The router should show signs of life (there is a light indication).

If there is no indication, the problem is in the wires, the socket or the router itself.

4. The driver is not installed or is out of date.

Another reason why a laptop adapter may not see wi fi is the lack of a corresponding driver on the laptop.

To check the version, open Device Manager (right-click on My Computer → Manage). In the window that opens, select “Device Manager” → “Network Adapters”. Here, in addition to the network connection, there should be a similar entry:

If it is not there, you need to download and install the required driver.

If the device still appears in “Network adapters”, right-click on it and select “Properties”. And in the new window, in the “Driver” tab, pay attention to the “Development date” item.

If the difference with the current date is significant, you need to update this driver from the official website of the developer.

5. Service center.

If you do not experience any of the above breakdowns, then it makes sense to contact a specialized service center. Perhaps the problem is with your router (if the laptop sees other networks) or the laptop itself (if it does not display any networks, but you are sure of their presence).

The laptop may suddenly stop seeing the Wi-Fi network - both yours and, in principle, all access points nearby. Why does this happen and how to quickly fix the error?

The laptop does not see your Wi-Fi network - why is this happening?

The error can manifest itself in different ways: when only yours is missing from the list of points, or when the list of networks disappears altogether. In the latter case, a “No connections available” notification appears on the network panel, and a red cross appears on the network icon next to the date in the lower right corner.

If you suddenly see a “No connections” message on the network panel, try restarting your computer first

If there are no connections available at all, then the problem is most likely in your PC:

the network adapter malfunctioned - restart the PC and router (disconnect it from power for at least 20 seconds), if necessary, run the built-in diagnostic tool;
the Wi-Fi function was turned off (by the system, a virus, or accidentally by the user);
the wireless adapter drivers have become corrupted (again, a virus could be the cause - be sure to check your PC for malicious codes and then reinstall the driver using the instructions below);
the drivers of the same adapter did not receive updates on time - install the latest version (it is advisable to download the latest version from the official website of the laptop);
the WLAN configuration service has been deactivated.

These reasons should be kept in mind only if you know that nearby (neighbors, for example) have their own routers that your laptop has seen. Otherwise, also accept the methods with setting up the router.

If there is only one access point, then something is wrong with your router settings

If there are any access points in the list except yours, feel free to go to the settings of your router. Most likely, this is where the problem lies:

the wrong communication channel has been established;
there is a conflict in router names (if there are identical routers within the range);
failure of the network device - here we reset the router settings through the Reset function (reset to factory settings) and, if necessary, configure it again (many routers have a quick setup option, so this will be easy).

Before following the instructions below, place your laptop closer to the router and connect to the Wi-Fi network through another device, such as a smartphone, to make sure that the router is actually sending out a signal.

If all visible access points have disappeared from the network panel

We’ll tell you in order what needs to be done if suddenly all the nodes that the computer previously saw disappeared from the panel.

Running diagnostics

Windows independently fixes many problems using built-in diagnostic tools. To run the tool for checking network modules, do the following:

Call up the context menu of the network icon at the bottom right using RMB (right mouse button) - click on the first line “Diagnostics of problems”. Or click on the “Diagnostics” link on the network panel itself, where a message about no connections is written.
Click on the first line “Diagnostics problems” to launch the tool
We are waiting for the completion of the search for problems on the PC related to Wi-Fi.
We are waiting for the problem search to complete
If any problem is identified, the firmware will ask you to confirm that the fix has been applied. We confirm and wait for the product to solve the problem.
As a result, we get a report on the work done: a green tick means that the cause of the error has been eliminated. All that remains is to open the network panel and check whether access points have appeared there.
When the problem is fixed, a report will appear
If the tool doesn't detect anything, move on to other solutions.
The tool may not find any problems with the wireless adapter

We turn on Wi-Fi itself on the laptop

Make sure that the wireless connection is not disabled in the OS settings:

If you use Windows 10, click on the network icon at the bottom right with the right button - select open parameters. Now in the second or first section on the left, click on the link “Network and Sharing Center”.
In the case of “seven”, you can launch the center directly from the context menu of the network icon.
Go to the center through the context menu of the network icon on the “Taskbar”
You can also get to the center through the “Control Panel”. Click on R and Windows - in the “Open” line, write control and press “Enter” on the “keyboard”.
Execute the control command in the window
We look for and open the link leading to the center.
On the panel, launch the “Network and Sharing Center” block
Already in the very center, click on the second link on the right.
In a new window with connection tiles, look for a wireless connection. If it is gray, it means that the Wi-Fi function is now deactivated on the “computer”.
Find the wireless network in network connections
Right-click on the tile and select enable.
Select "Enable" from the context menu
We are waiting for activation to occur.
Please wait until the network is activated
The tile should become brighter. Open the network panel and see if access points have appeared.
The tile should turn blue, which will indicate its activity
You can turn on Wi-Fi through a key combination on the laptop (Fn and one of the function buttons F1 - F12 - it usually displays a tower with a signal). On Acer, for example, this is the F3 button.
Find the Wi-Fi network icon on one of the function buttons
Click on Fn (to the left of “Start”) and on the function key - the “Wi-Fi” indicator on the laptop, if any, should light up.
Hold down Fn and one of the function keys
In the “ten”, the activation of the option is as follows: hold down Windows and A - in the menu on the right we look for the Wi-Fi tile. If it is a pale shade, click on it.
In the notification area, find the wireless network tile
The status "Enabled" will appear on the tile.
When you click on a tile, it will turn bright blue.

Defuse a virus on a PC

You can find and remove viruses through the classic Windows Defender program, or using third-party antiviruses or portable scanners, for example, the same Dr. Web CureIt, AVZ and others. If possible, choose extended scan rather than quick scan.

Use a portable antivirus, such as Dr., to scan. Web CureIt

Reinstall or update the wireless adapter driver

First, let’s try to reinstall (uninstall and reinstall) through the Windows “Device Manager” tool:

A quick method that can be used with any version of Windows - hold down R and Windows and enter the value devmgmt.msc. If you don't want to write it yourself, just copy and paste.
Run the command devmgmt.msc at the line
In version 10, an additional Start menu is available (called by right-clicking on the icon or a combination of Windows and X) - in it we click on the manager line.
In the Start button menu, click on "Device Manager"
We open the block with network adapters - we are looking for a device with the phrase Wireless LAN (it can also be Wi-Fi).
Find the item with Wireless or Wi-Fi in network adapters
Right-click - first click on the first item to update. To update, you will need the Internet - find an opportunity to connect to another network, for example, create an access point on your phone if you have mobile Internet, or visit a cafe with your laptop (most of these establishments have free Wi-Fi).
Select an update function from the list
In a new window, follow the link to launch an automatic search for an upgrade on the network.
Click on “Automatic search for updates”
We are waiting for it to complete.
Wait for the driver search to complete
If the update wizard still doesn’t find anything, click “Close” and proceed to reinstalling the driver.
The system may display a message indicating that the latest drivers are installed on the PC.
In the context menu, select deletion - confirm that you want to remove the device.
Confirm device removal
Now select the Desktop item at the top with the left key and in the “Action” menu at the top click on the item to update the configuration - the device will appear in the list again. We reboot and check if any access points have appeared.
Select Configuration Update from the Action menu

Download drivers from the manufacturer's official website

You will need the exact name of the laptop model to search for “firewood”. In our case, this is a model from Asus:

Go to the official Asus page with laptops - select your series.
Select the desired laptop series
We look for and open the section of the site with the specific current laptop model.
Find your model and open the section with it
Go to the support block at the top right.
Click on the "Support" section
We launch the first tab with drivers and utilities.
Go to the “Drivers and Utilities” block
Choose your operating system.
Select your OS from the list
Scroll down the list to Wireless. Click on “Download”.
Click on "Download" in the Wireless menu
We open the downloaded archive, run the installation file in it and install the “firewood” on the PC as a regular program - follow the simple instructions of the installation wizard. Reboot the PC and check whether access points have appeared or not.
In the downloaded archive, open the driver installer

Of course, the interfaces of websites from different manufacturers differ from each other, so if you don’t have Asus, you’ll have to dig a little into the resource. Many sites already have a separate general section for drivers, in which you usually need to fill out a form to find the necessary software for a specific model.

Checking and “repairing” OS system files

It never hurts to check the system files for integrity - especially if it turns out that your “laptop” has viruses (they spoil them - the system as a whole begins to slow down). To check if the missing networks error is due to corrupted files, follow the steps:

On the “Start” panel (if you have “seven”), open the menu with standard utilities - look for “Command Prompt”, right-click on it and click on the option to launch the console with administrator rights.
Run Command Prompt as Administrator
Another launch method is to open the “Run” window through “Windows” and R, write a simple cmd code and execute it through the hot combination Shift + Ctrl + Enter.
Execute the cmd command via Shift + Ctrl + Enter
We enter the code sfc /scannow and press “Enter” for subsequent execution.
Paste sfc /scannow and press Enter
We are waiting for the verification to complete - it can last about half an hour or more.
Wait while searching and fixing unhealthy files is completed
When 100% appears, the correction will be completed, but if in the editor you see a message that not all files could be disinfected, run the same check - just first boot your laptop in safe mode.
Read the report on fixing damaged files

Video: how to recover Windows system files

Let's see if the WLAN auto-configuration service is active

The WLAN Auto Configuration system service is responsible for connecting to Wi-Fi access points. You need to check its activity as follows:

Go to the Control Panel section called System and Security. Click on the title “Administration”.
Go to the "Administration" section
In the list of system tools that opens, select “Services”.
Open Services
"Service Manager" can be activated in another way. To do this, type Win+R and enter in the displayed area: services.msс. Then apply the code - click on OK.
Execute the code services.msс in the “Open” line
"Service Manager" will open. To quickly find the “WLAN AutoConfig Service” element, list all services in alphabetical order by clicking on the “Name” column title.
Sort the list by “Name” parameter
Find the name of the service you need. If the status “Working” is not set opposite its name, then in this case it is necessary to activate it. Double-click on her name with the left mouse button.
If the "Status" line does not contain the word "Running", then the service is disabled
The service properties window opens. If the Startup Type field is set to Disabled, then click on it.
Look at the Startup Type menu
A drop-down list will open where you need to select “Automatic”. Then click on "Apply" and OK.
Select automatic startup type
After returning to the main interface of the “Service Manager”, highlight the name “WLAN Auto Configuration Service”, and on the left side of the shell click “Run”.
The service will be activated.
The selected service will be immediately enabled
After this, the status “Working” will be displayed opposite its name and the problem with the lack of connections will be solved.
The status should be “Running”

Video: how to solve the “No connections available” problem

If the laptop treacherously does not display only your Wi-Fi

If any access points except your home one appear on the panel, go to the settings of the network device.

Change the communication channel in the router settings

First of all, set automatic detection of the communication channel. Let's consider the procedure for one of the router models from TP-Link:

Paste one of the number combinations into the browser's address bar: 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.0.254.
Enter or paste the address into the line to launch your router’s personal account
Write your login and security key to log into your router personal account. Usually there is one word admin for two values, but if you have previously changed it, enter the data you set. For some routers, other combinations may work - they are indicated on the back of the device on the label.
Enter the word admin in both fields
Go to the second section “Interface Settings” and to the block for wireless networks.
In "Interface Settings" open the third section for the wireless network
After the access point there will be a “Channel” item. Set the drop-down panel to “Auto”.
Put an automatic communication channel in the menu
Select the country if the wrong one was specified.
If necessary, indicate your country
Scroll down the page and click on the button to save.
Save all settings using the button below
Reboot the router and look at the result of the procedure.

Set a different access point name (SSID)

We go to the router’s account and in the same “Wireless Network” tab we look for the section with WPS settings - in the SSID field we write a new name for the access point. We also save the changes.

In the SSID field, write a new connection name

Resetting the network device settings to factory settings

You can return the previous settings that the router had after purchase through the account interface. In some models of TP-Link routers, you need to go to the “Device Operation” tab at the top and open the “System Reboot” block. Check "Factory settings" and press the start button.

Select restart with factory reset

In other router models, go to the Factory Defaults block and click on the Restore button.

Other TP-Link interface may have a Restore button

If you don’t want to go into your account, find the Reset button on the back of the router - hold it pressed for a few seconds. When the indicators blink, you can release and configure the router again.

Press the Reset button on the back of the router

Usually the setup happens automatically. As a last resort, you can use the quick setup function.

Run the router quick setup wizard

Video: how to reset a router to factory settings

If your laptop does not connect to any network, run diagnostics using the built-in Windows tool; check if Wi-Fi is enabled on the device and the service for WLAN auto-configuration is enabled; remove viruses and restore system files using the Command Prompt. Reinstalling wireless drivers will also help. If only your point is missing from the list, the problem lies in the router - change the communication channel, the name of the access point, or reset all settings to the initial ones using the Reset button.

Android users often complain about not being able to connect to a public or home Wi-Fi network. Therefore, for all those who have encountered a similar problem, we have prepared material containing the causes and troubleshooting methods.

Why doesn't my phone see the wifi network?

Problems affecting the display of access points are conditionally related to problems:

On the mobile device side.
On the router side.

To resolve problems with displaying Wi-Fi networks, you need to correctly diagnose the problem. To identify the cause, the best way is to connect another mobile device. If the second smartphone also does not see the wireless network, then the problems are related to the router or incorrect settings. To clarify the latter, it is better to connect to another access point.

Possible problems and solutions

Problem 1: My phone's Wi-Fi is turned on, but the hotspots aren't showing up

Reason: failure of the Wi-Fi module on the phone

Sometimes your phone may experience problems that prevent you from displaying a list of available access points. This problem is most often observed in custom firmware, where the Wi-Fi/mobile network is not debugged.

Solution:

If problems started after changing the firmware/communication module, flash the system back to the factory.

Problem 2: the phone does not see Wi-Fi at home

Reason 1: incorrect router settings

If the phone does not see only the home network, but shows other access points in the house/apartment or in other places, the router is probably not configured correctly to work with your phone. Then you need to log into the router management console and double-check the settings.

Solution:

Make sure that the mobile Internet distribution function is activated. To do this, open the “Wireless Network Settings” section; the name of the item differs from one manufacturer to another. It is important to check the boxes next to “Enable router wireless broadcasting” and “Enable SSID Broadcasting”.
Change your network mode to a less modern standard, such as 11b or 11g. Since some phones are equipped with outdated standards and do not always see the Wi-Fi network with new standards.
Also change the region, channel and channel width if the above recommendations are unsuccessful.

If the router broadcasts a signal at a frequency of 5 GHz, but the phone only supports a frequency of 2.4 GHz, the network will not be displayed on the phone.

Reason 2: the frequency range is not set correctly

If your smartphone has a dual-frequency Wi-Fi module installed, the default mode is set to auto. Thus, the phone detects access points operating at a frequency of 2.4 and 5 GHz. If the settings are set to work only on one frequency, routers broadcasting a signal on another frequency will not appear in the phone menu.

Solution:

Check the module’s operating mode in the phone settings: phone settings – Wi-Fi – advanced settings in the drop-down list – Wi-Fi frequency range – automatic mode.

Problem 3: The network periodically appears and disappears

Reason 1: weak antenna signal, interference

If an access point appears on your phone at different intervals and then disappears, it’s likely that the router’s antenna is set to low transmitter power. It is worth paying attention to the number of icon divisions in the line with the name of the access point. One or two bars indicate a weak signal.

Signal strength is also affected by interference. For 2.4 GHz routers, a large location near access points with the same operating frequency is critical. And also working equipment: microwave oven, joysticks, mice, etc. For models broadcasting a signal at a frequency of 5 GHz, even a sheet of paper is considered interference.

Solution:

Increase the transmitter power to the maximum level. To do this, open the router configuration console and select the “Advanced wireless network settings” section. Set the value to "High" and then save the settings.

Remove objects that interrupt the antenna and interfere with the free propagation of the signal. Move the router away from equipment that creates interference - microwave oven, wireless mice and keyboards, etc.

Reason 2: The option to hide access points with low signal is active

There is a feature in Wi-Fi settings that allows you to hide the display of access points where the signal strength is low or frequently interrupted. Deactivating this option will expand the number of available access points nearby.

Solution:

Open your phone settings – Wi-Fi – advanced settings in the drop-down list – uncheck the “do not use weak connection” option.

Problem 4: the phone does not receive Wi-Fi at home, but works stably with other access points

Reason: router malfunction or firmware damaged

If no device connects to your home access point, but connects reliably to neighboring routers, and changing the router settings has no effect, your home router is likely broken. Sometimes the firmware crashes.

Solution:

Perform a factory reset and/or update the firmware. If performance is not restored, replace the router or take it to a service center.

Reason: failure of the Wi-Fi module in the phone

Wi-Fi failure is a rare occurrence. Usually other modules also fail at the same time - Bluetooth and/or GPS. To identify a breakdown, you should carefully check the settings on your phone and router. Connect with other equipment at a frequency of 2.4 and 5 GHz. If changing the firmware/communication module is unsuccessful, you should contact a service center. If a module failure is confirmed, the motherboard removed from another device is often replaced to restore it.

Conclusion

Finding the problem is not difficult if you determine on which side the problem occurred. If no action has been taken to change the settings/firmware, and the network does not see a specific phone, then the problem lies in the mobile device. If the access point is not visible to other smartphones, then the problem is related to the router. It is also impossible to exclude interference due to other access points and equipment operating at the 2.4 GHz frequency.

It would seem that what could be simpler than connecting a router to a computer? It's only a matter of a couple of minutes. But sometimes the result can be completely unexpected, for example, the computer does not see the router, and it is impossible to enter the router settings. What to do in such a situation? For those who want to try to fix the problem themselves, here are some simple tips. But first, a few words about the possible causes of the failure.

Why the computer does not see the router: possible reasons

As for the reasons, there can be quite a lot of them, from a banal incorrect connection to equipment malfunctions, including the router itself and the corresponding ports on the computer (physical breakdowns or software failures of the device itself will not be considered in detail).

However, the main prerequisites for the fact that the computer does not see the WiFi router, depending on the situation, are the following:

incorrect connection;
incorrect access parameters;
lack of network card drivers;
inoperability of the Wi-Fi module;
hidden network.

What to do if the computer does not see the router during a direct connection?

Let's start with a situation where a user tries to connect to the router for initial setup via a cable directly. It seems that all the cables are connected correctly, but still there is no connection. Well, the router doesn’t see the computer, even if you crack it. What to do?

First of all, if you are absolutely sure that all cables are connected correctly, check whether the address of the router itself is entered correctly in the web browser. In most cases this is 192.168 with the last two digits being 0.1 or 1.1 (other addresses may apply for some non-standard models).

The entry address can be found on a special sign located on the back of the device. There is also a login and password that must be entered when entering the settings.

If everything is entered correctly, but the router is not visible, a simple reboot of the router by pressing the On/Off or Power buttons for 10-15 seconds may help. However, it is best to disconnect the router from the power supply completely, maintaining the same interval. If even after this the computer does not see the router, you can try to reset the router settings to factory settings. To do this, there is a small hole in the bottom of the case in which there is a barely noticeable Reset button.

Checking the correct connection

If the previous actions did not have an effect, you should check the correctness of the direct connection.

Try plugging the network cable into a different connector on the router or performing similar actions on the computer's network card. If this doesn't work, the cable itself may be damaged. In this case, simply replace it and try to enter the settings again.

Connectivity diagnostics and testing of Ethernet ports

Also, the situation when the computer does not see the Wi-Fi router may be due to a breakdown of the ports themselves. As already mentioned, use a different port or “ring” the one to which you are connecting.

However, the reason may also be in the network adapter. In this case, you should make sure that all the necessary drivers for it are installed in the system (and correctly). If the device is marked with a yellow icon with an exclamation mark in the corresponding device manager, the drivers need to be reinstalled. Also, as an option, you can completely remove the device and then reboot the system when the driver is installed automatically. In the case of non-standard equipment, you must use original disks or specify the location of the driver installation file on your hard drive manually.

To obtain more detailed information, it is necessary to diagnose the connection. It is performed from the adapter settings section, which is located in the network connections menu located in the standard “Control Panel”. If problems are detected, the system will notify you that they have been resolved.

Checking network attributes

Finally, the reason that the computer does not see the router when using a wireless connection may be the network hiding set in the settings.

In this situation, you need to connect to the router directly via cable, enter the wireless mode settings and uncheck the box to enable SSID broadcasting (for TP-Link models). In other devices, this may be the item for hiding the network name, setting simply hiding the network (SSID), or something else like that. After this, it is advisable to reboot the device in the manner described above. In addition, it would be a good idea to restart the main computer system (as they say, you never know).

Conclusion

In most cases, the above methods help correct the connection situation. If none of these solutions helped, in order not to replace the equipment, you will need to reflash the device. Doing this yourself at home is quite problematic, so it is best to contact a service center. If such actions do not produce results, you will have to carry out a full diagnostic of the router to determine whether there are faults, and if any are identified, replace the device.

But, as practice shows, the most common problems are incorrect entry of addresses and parameters when entering settings, breakdowns of cables and ports, lack of drivers for network cards and wireless modules, as well as set parameters for hiding networks. So at least one of the proposed methods will help.