Wi-Fi Not Showing Up on Windows 11? 10 Fixes to Try in Order

When Wi-Fi disappears from a Windows 11 laptop, the cause is usually small: Airplane mode is on, a hardware switch is off, or the adapter is disabled. The fixes below follow the order Microsoft’s support page recommends, from the quickest checks to the heaviest. Stop at the first one that works.

First, rule out the router

Check whether your phone can see and join the same network. If it can’t, the problem sits with the modem or router. Unplug both, wait about 30 seconds, plug the modem back in, let its lights settle, then plug in the router and give it a few minutes.

If the phone connects fine, the problem is on the laptop. Keep going.

1. Check the physical Wi-Fi switch

Some laptops have a hardware switch for Wi-Fi, or a function key with an antenna icon. If it’s off, Windows won’t list any networks. Turn it on and look again.

2. Turn off Airplane mode and turn on Wi-Fi

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I).
2. Go to Network & internet > Airplane mode and make sure it’s off.
3. Go back to Network & internet and make sure Wi-Fi is on.

Windows key + A opens Quick Settings, where Airplane mode also lives. Toggling it on and off once can bring the Wi-Fi icon back.

3. Run the network troubleshooter

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Status.
2. Select Network troubleshooter and follow the prompts.

You can also run the Network and Internet troubleshooter from the Get Help app.

4. Enable the Wi-Fi adapter

1. Search for Device Manager and open it.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select Enable device.

If the adapter isn’t listed at all, Windows isn’t detecting it. Jump to the driver step below, and if that fails the card itself may be faulty.

5. Restart the WLAN AutoConfig service

1. Press Windows key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Right-click WLAN AutoConfig and select Restart.

That service manages wireless networks in Windows. If it hangs, the network list can go blank.

6. Check the band your adapter supports

Most routers broadcast on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. An older adapter might not see the 5 GHz network. If you only see one band’s networks, try joining one of those.

You can also check the driver setting. In Device Manager, right-click the wireless adapter, choose Properties > Advanced, and confirm that Wireless Mode or Band allows the frequency of your network.

7. Forget the network and reconnect

If the network shows up but won’t connect:

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks.
2. Select your network and choose Forget.
3. Reconnect and enter the password. If you’ve lost it, our guide to seeing your Wi-Fi password on iPhone, Android and Windows 11 shows where it’s stored.

8. Reset the network stack from Command Prompt

Open Command Prompt as administrator (search for “cmd”, right-click, and choose to run as administrator) and run these one at a time, in this order:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

Restart the laptop afterward.

9. Reinstall or roll back the driver

The driver is the software that lets Windows talk to the Wi-Fi card.

Reinstall:

1. In Device Manager, right-click the adapter and select Uninstall device.
2. Check the box to remove the driver if it appears, then confirm.
3. Restart from Start > Power > Restart. Windows will try to reinstall the driver.

Download the latest driver from the laptop maker’s website beforehand, as a backup in case Windows can’t reinstall it. You’ll need another connection for that, such as your phone’s hotspot over a USB cable (here’s how to use your phone as a hotspot).

Roll back: if Wi-Fi vanished right after an update, open the adapter’s Properties, go to the Driver tab, and use Roll Back Driver if it’s available.

It’s also worth running Windows Update (Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates) and installing anything pending.

10. Last resort: Network reset

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
2. Select Reset now, then Yes.

Microsoft says this removes your network adapters and reinstalls them with default settings. If you use a VPN or virtualization software, you may need to set it up again. Keep your Wi-Fi password handy, because you’ll have to enter it afterward.

When it might be hardware

If the adapter never appears in Device Manager, even after a restart and a driver reinstall, the Wi-Fi card may have failed. A USB Wi-Fi adapter is an inexpensive way to confirm: if it connects, the rest of your system is fine.

FAQ

The network shows up but says “no internet.” Is it the same problem?

Not necessarily. If the network appears and connects, start with the modem and router. The commands in step 8 can help here too.

Does a network reset delete my files?

Microsoft describes the reset as affecting network adapters and settings, not personal files. Save your work first anyway, since the PC restarts.

Do I need internet to download the driver?

Yes. Download it before you uninstall the current one, or use another computer and a flash drive.