( Solved ) Windows 10 not showing all Wi-Fi networks

Sometimes we notice that Windows 10 doesn’t show all the available Wi-Fi networks especially when the Wi-Fi network that we want to connect to isn’t on the list.

Windows 10 not showing all Wi-Fi networks could be a result of many network-related issues especially after a feature update installation. This can be resolved by restarting the Wi-Fi network adapter, run the network troubleshooter, reset the PC network configuration, update the network adapter driver, or install any pending updates.

When your Windows 10 device fails to display a Wi-Fi network that you wish to connect to, it can be very frustrating and annoying especially when you can see other Wi-Fi networks and your Wi-Fi network works on other devices. To fix this issue, there are several methods that you can use. They include:

Here is what to do when your Windows 10 not showing all Wi-Fi networks

1. Restart Wi-Fi network adapter
   

The network adapter is responsible for connecting to wireless networks and caches data which sometimes causes issues on Windows 10 network’s performance. All it takes to fix this is by clearing the cache or resting the Wi-Fi adapter. To restart the Wi-Fi network adapter without restarting your PC, on the bottom-right corner, right-click the Wi-Fi icon in the notification tray and then click on ‘Open Network’. Right-click on the Wi-Fi icon and select ‘Go to Settings’. On the Wi-Fi Settings page under Related settings, click on ‘Change adapter options’. On the pop-up window, right-click on the Wi-Fi network and select ‘disable’ from the dropdown list. Wait for around 5 seconds and then right the Wi-Fi name and click on ‘Enable’. Check if you can see all the available Wi-Fi networks, if not then move to the next solution.

1. Run network troubleshooter

By default, Windows 10 comes with a utility feature that you can use to troubleshoot different components and features including the Wi-Fi. To run the network troubleshooter, click the Start menu and select Settings. From the Settings page, select ‘Update & Security’ and then Troubleshoot. Finally, click on troubleshooters from where you will see two options – Internet connections and network adapter. Choose Network adapter and proceed while following the on-screen instructions. Your PC should now be able to discover new networks. If the issue persists, then go to the next solution.

1. Reset the PC network configuration

Resetting the computer’s network configuration is another method that has been reported to work on most Windows 10 PCs. What it means is that thisreverts all network settings to how they were before. This deletes all settings like VPN configurations that might have been configured. Press Windows key + I to open settings and then select ‘Network & Internet’ from the menu. On the Status pane, scroll down and select ‘Network Reset’. On the next screen, confirm that you want to reset the network by clicking the ‘Reset now’ button. This uninstalls all your network adapters and then reinstalls them, then reverts all the settings to their default status. Now, go back and check if this issue has been resolved. If not, then keep scrolling for an alternative solution.

1. Update the network adapter driver

Drivers are very important software since they run the PC hardware via the operating system by letting the two communicate with each other. When your PC fails to display all the Wi-Fi networks, then there’s a chance that the network driver has been corrupted or incompatible with an update recently installed on your Windows 10 PC. The first step to take is to check the adapter that your PC needs and download the correct one. Go to the Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + R to open Run and then type in the Run dialog box ‘devmgmt.msc’. Locate and expand the Network Adapters and take note of the device name. Go to your browser and visit the manufacturer’s website and look for a matching adapter and download the latest driver available. When the download is done, go back to the Device Manager page and right-click on the network adapter. To perform the update, click on ‘update driver’ from the menu and click on ‘Browse My Computer for drivers’ in the update driver window popup. Navigate to where you downloaded the driver on your PC and click the file to update.

1. Install any pending updates

If the problem persists, then restarting your PC will solve it by installing any pending updates that might be influencing the operating system’s behavior. To check if there are any pending updates, open Settings by pressing the Windows key + I and clicking on Update & Security from the Settings menu. Select ‘Check for updates’ to check for any updates. If there are any, download them and install them then restart your PC and finally check if the issue has been resolved.

FAQs

Why can’t I see any Wi-Fi networks on my computer?

This could be due to several factors that are network-related. Try moving close to the router and be in range.

Can my laptop detect other Wi-Fi networks apart from mine?

Yes, your laptop can detect all available Wireless connections that are in range and compatible with the laptop’s Wi-Fi adapter. If your Wi-Fi adapter is old and can probably only detects older Wi-Fi standards like 802.11g, then it won’t detect the new Wi-Fi standard like the 802.11n.