WiFi networks have become an indispensable part of our life and work. We rely on them to finish work tasks and daily essentials including booking tickets, online studying, sending e-mails, making reservations, video conferencing, and texting to your family.
That’s why when something is wrong with the network, we will be very frustrated. Have you ever encountered a WiFi network not showing up when you connect to it? Here we will explain why this situation happened and provide you with easy solutions.
Why Is My WiFi Network Not Showing Up?
Hidden SSID
SSID refers to the name of your WiFi network. Due to some safety reasons, the SSID might be set to hide. So you can’t find a certain WiFi network in the available network connection list.
Weak WiFi Signals
A router can only cover a limited range. You might get an unstable internet connection unless the router is placed in your room. Especially if your house is large, you might even find some dead zones with no WiFi signal at all.
In addition, some physical obstructions can block the WiFi signals. You just need to move the router. Purchasing a WiFi booster or extender is also a great option.
Interference
Some other electronic devices might interfere with WiFi signals such as microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and security cameras. They can make your device harder to detect the WiFi network.
Disabled WiFi
Sometimes, you might accidentally disable the WiFi services. If you turn on the airplane mode, many connections can be closed including the cellular network, WiFi network, and Bluetooth communication.
Router Issues
A stable internet connection relies on a normal router. If your router is outdated or damaged, it can’t work functionally and might cause WiFi network detection problems.
Before We Start
Make Sure the WiFi Is On
Before taking any solutions, you can check the WiFi connection first. Does your device turn on the WiFi and connect to the correct WiFi network? Normally, you can check the WiFi icon on your device.
Test On Other Devices
If the WiFi network not showing up on your iPhone, you can connect this WiFi network to your tablet or laptop to see whether another device can work properly. If it is not working, the problem might be your router or ISP. Otherwise, you might need other solutions.
How to Fix WiFi Network Not Showing Up?
The following instructions might help you solve this WiFi disappearing issue. Some might need you to operate the fix process on your devices including the iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, and Mac.
Restart Your Router or Device
It can always be the first step when facing internet connectivity problems. You can restart your router. Make sure you have saved important files and no programs are ongoing.
Just unplug your router and wait at least 30 seconds. Then plug in and connect to your devices to check whether the WiFi network shows up. If the problem is caused by the device itself, you can fix it by rebooting your device.
Connect to the Hidden Network
As we talked about above, some networks are not lost but hidden. You can follow the steps to check your hidden network.
Windows: Go to “Settings” and find “Network & Internet”. Select WiFi and tap “Manage Known Networks”. Then click “Add a New Network” and fill in the WiFi name, password, and Security Type. Now you can try to connect to this new network.
Mac: Click on the Apple icon and navigate to “System Preferences” > “Network”. Then press the + button and tap “Create Network”. Choose a connection type. Enter your password and WiFi name.
Check the WLAN AutoConfig Service
If your WiFi network not showing up on Windows, you can check this WLAN AutoConfig Service. It is also known as Wireless Zero Configuration. This service might help you find the WiFi network.
- Press the Windows and R key simultaneously to open the Run box.
- Enter services.msc.
- Look through the list and navigate to WLAN Autoconfig.
- Right-click it and tap the Properties.
- Under the startup type section, select Automatic and click Apply.
- Then you can restart your computer to see if the network shows up.
Run Network Diagnostics Tools
Windows computers and Macs are both equipped with network diagnostics tools. These tools can locate the source of internet issues.
Windows: Go to “Settings” > “Network & Internet”. Click on “Status” and select “Network troubleshooter”. It can automatically diagnose your connectivity issues.
Mac: Press and hold on to the Option key. Then click on the WiFi icon on the Apple Menu bar. Tap “Open Wireless Diagnostics” and it can automatically analyze. When it is finished, click on the info button to learn more details.
Disable the VPN Temporarily
If you are using a VPN, you can close it in case a VPN might make an impact on your WiFi network.
Tip:
If you want a VPN compatible with multiple devices, you can’t miss LightningX VPN. It’s compatible with phones, computers and TVs.
Besides, LightningX VPN offers the best VPN service, you can log in to 3 devices at the same time. It ensures your security, giving you a fast and stable experience.
Check Updates
If you haven’t updated your device for a long time, it might arise some connection problems. However, you should connect to the network to complete updates. You can try a hot spot or cellular network.
- For a Windows computer, you can find Settings and select Update & Security. Tap Windows Update, you can find available updates.
- If you are using a Mac, go to the Apple menu and click System Settings. Then select General in the left-sidebar and press Software Update. iPhone updates follow a similar path.
- For Android phones, you might navigate to Settings > System > Software update.
Contact Your ISP
If these ways are not working, you should contact your ISP for professional support. They can effectively solve your problems.
Conclusion
In this blog, we provide some easy ways to solve the WiFi network not showing up. Whether you are using a Windows computer, Mac, or mobile phone. Hopefully, it can truly fix your problems and bring your WiFi network back.
