No WiFi Networks Found in Windows 10 [FIXED]

WiFi networks that you’re in range of show up automatically in the list of available networks. If you have the password to one of the available networks, you can connect to it. If the network isn’t secured, you don’t need a password for it and can just connect to it. If you have the list of available networks open and you see the No WiFi networks found message when you should be seeing at least one network, here are a few things you can try to fix the problem.

No WiFi Networks Found? BASIC CHECKS:

Before you proceed with any of the fixes on this list, perform the following actions and check if the network shows up.

1. Restart your PC.
2. Restart the router.
3. Reset the router.
4. Toggle the WiFi switch on Windows 10 from the Action Center
5. Connect to the network from any other device.
6. Create a hotspot from your phone and try to connect to it.

If there are still no networks showing up in the available networks list, you can try the following fixes.

What to do when you get “No WiFi networks found”

1. Reset Network adapter

Your network adapter might be having trouble that a system restart is unable to fix. In this case, resetting it is a good idea.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the Network and Internet group of settings.
3. Select the Status tab.
4. At the bottom, click the Network reset option.

2. Hidden SSID

It is possible that the SSID or the name for the network you want to connect to is hidden. In order to connect to it, you need to contact your system administrator and find out the name and password for it. Once you know both, you can connect to it.

1. Open the Settings app and go to Network and Internet.
2. Select the WiFi tab.
3. Click ‘Manage known networks‘.
4. Click ‘Add a new Network’.
5. In the window that opens, enter the name of the network, select the security type (check with the network admin), and then enter the password for it.

3. Test range

WiFi networks have a limited range and the range is determined by the router that is used. Generally, a normal household router will be able to cover a single floor of a house or apartment. If your Windows 10 PC cannot get a strong enough signal, it will not show the network.

1. Move your PC as close to the router as possible.
2. Check if the network appears in the list of available networks.
3. If it does, start moving away slowly until the network disappears or you’re back at your original work station.
4. Connect to the network.

This solution is temporary because your problem is essentially that of a weak signal. Try to move your work station, or try to install additional access points that can boost the signal from the router.

4. Update network adapter driver

An outdated network driver can prevent Windows 10 from seeing available networks. Check for and install any driver updates that are available for your network adapter.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand the Network Adapters group of devices.
3. Right-click your network adapter and select Update driver from the context menu.
4. Install any updates that are available, and restart your system.

5. Roll back network driver

It is possible that a driver update was installed and it is what is causing problems. In that case, you will have to roll the driver back to an older version.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Go to the Network adapter group of devices and expand it.
3. Right-click your network adapter, and select Properties.
4. Go to the Driver tab.
5. Click the ‘Roll Back Driver’ button.
6. Restart your PC.

6. Uninstall/disable virtual network adapters

Some apps might install a virtual network adapter on your system. A common example of apps that do this are virtualization apps e.g., VirtualBox. Removing them, or disabling them can fix your network problem.

To disable a virtual network adapter:

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Go to Network and Internet.
3. Select Network and Sharing.
4. Click Change adapter settings.
5. Right-click the virtual network adapter, and select ‘Disable’ from the context menu.

To uninstall the virtual network adapter, uninstall the app that installed it.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Go to Programs.
3. Select Uninstall a program.
4. Go through the list of installed apps, select the one that installed the virtual network adapter, and click the Uninstall button.

7. Disable VPN

A VPN app can modify the network settings on Windows 10 PC and the modifications might result in your system no longer detecting wireless networks.

1. Turn off the VPN service that you’re using, restart the system, and check for networks.
2. Once the networks appear, connect to one and then enable the VPN service again.
3. If the connection disappears or stops working after enabling the VPN, check if the service you’re using is banned by your ISP or in your country.
4. Try using a different VPN service or try using a VPN that only controls your browser or a specific app instead of the network traffic for the entire system.

8. Check for banned/restricted access

A system can be banned from a network. This is done by using its MAC address and blacklisting it in the router. Alternatively, it is possible that only approved MAC addresses are allowed to connect to a network. This is most likely to be the case with a corporate network e.g., at work.

1. Get in touch with the network administrator and ask to add your system to the approved systems list.
2. If you’re having trouble on a home network, connect to the router via a LAN cable, and then manually enter your system’s MAC address to it. The process will differ based on the router you have.

9. Run the Internet Connections troubleshooter

The internet connections troubleshooter might be able to figure out and fix any settings that are incorrect or that have been corrupted by other apps and are preventing you from seeing available networks.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the Update and Security group of settings.
3. Select the Troubleshoot tab.
4. Select and run the Internet Connections troubleshooter. It might be able to force Windows 10 to show available networks.

10. Run Network adapter troubleshooter

The network adapter troubleshooter, like the Internet Connections troubleshooter, can also help.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to the Update and Security group of settings.
3. Select the Troubleshoot tab.
4. Select and run the Network Adapter troubleshooter.

Parting words

One of the above fixes should help resolve the ‘No WiFi networks found’ error. If they don’t, you might have to check if the hardware on your PC has been damaged and take it in for a check-up. A tell-tale sign of hardware damage is if other devices are able to connect to the network you’re trying to connect to but you aren’t.

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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