No Available Wi-Fi Connections in Windows — How to Fix the Issue

If you’re encountering an issue where Windows doesn’t show available Wi-Fi connections, it can be frustrating, especially when you urgently need internet access. This problem can stem from various causes, including hardware issues or system errors. Here’s a guide with solutions to help you restore Wi-Fi access in Windows.

1. Check Your Router and Internet Connection

Before adjusting settings on your computer, make sure the problem isn’t with your router. Try restarting the device, wait a few seconds, and see if Wi-Fi works on other devices. If other devices can connect, the issue likely lies within the Windows system itself.

2. Restart Your Computer

Sometimes, a simple restart can help resolve the issue. This action clears temporary files and restarts all network-related services. After rebooting, try connecting to Wi-Fi again.

3. Check the Status of the Wi-Fi Adapter

It’s possible that the Wi-Fi adapter is disabled. To check this, follow these steps:

  • Open Device Manager by pressing Win + X and selecting it from the list.
  • Find your Wi-Fi adapter in the list and make sure it’s enabled. If there’s a down arrow next to it, right-click and choose “Enable device”.

4. Update Wi-Fi Adapter Drivers

Outdated drivers can often cause connectivity issues. Here’s how to update them:

  1. Go to Device Manager.
  2. Find your Wi-Fi adapter, right-click it, and select “Update driver”.
  3. Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software”.

If Windows doesn’t find any updates, visit the manufacturer’s website for your adapter or laptop and download the latest drivers there.

5. Reset Network Settings

If the previous methods didn’t work, try resetting the network settings:

  1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
  2. Select “Network reset” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Your computer will restart, and all network adapters will return to default settings.

6. Check the WLAN AutoConfig Service

In Windows, the WLAN AutoConfig service manages network detection. Make sure this service is running:

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Find “WLAN AutoConfig” in the list, right-click, and select “Properties”.
  3. In the “Startup type” dropdown, select “Automatic” and click “Apply”.

7. Use Windows Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in tool to diagnose and fix network issues automatically:

  1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  2. Select “Additional troubleshooters” and click on “Network Adapter”.
  3. Follow the prompts to complete the troubleshooting process.

8. Check Network Settings via Command Prompt

If none of the previous methods worked, try these commands to troubleshoot and reset network settings:

  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator by pressing Win + X and selecting it.
  2. Type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
    • netsh winsock reset
    • netsh int ip reset
    • ipconfig /release
    • ipconfig /renew
    • ipconfig /flushdns
  3. Restart your computer after completing the commands.