How to Fix WiFi Not Showing Up in Windows 11

If Wi-Fi is not showing up in Windows 11, first check whether the Wi-Fi control is missing, all networks are absent, or only your home network is unavailable. Turn off Airplane mode, enable the wireless adapter, restart the PC and router, and test the router with another device. If those checks fail, restart WLAN AutoConfig, run Windows diagnostics, reinstall or update the correct wireless driver, and use Network reset only as a last Windows-side fix.

Is Wi-Fi missing completely, or is Windows 11 failing to find your network?

Identify the symptom before changing settings. A missing adapter needs a Windows, firmware, or hardware check; one missing network usually points to the router or its wireless settings.

Wi-Fi option is missing from Windows 11

This means the taskbar has no Wi-Fi icon and Settings has no Wi-Fi page or toggle. Windows may not be detecting the wireless adapter, the adapter may be disabled in Device Manager, a keyboard switch may be off, or the driver may be missing.

No Wi-Fi networks appear in the available networks list

If the Wi-Fi toggle is present but the list is empty, Windows has some wireless functionality but cannot find nearby networks. Airplane mode, a stopped WLAN AutoConfig service, a disabled adapter, interference, or a driver problem can cause this.

Your home Wi-Fi network is missing, but other networks appear

The computer's adapter is probably working. Restart the router, check whether its wireless radio is enabled, and test the network with another device before changing Windows drivers.

Open Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi. If that page is present, Windows is exposing a wireless interface. Then open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings and look for a wireless adapter. An adapter shown as disabled can usually be enabled without reinstalling anything.

Check these five things before changing drivers

These checks apply to Windows 11 Home and Pro on supported desktop and laptop hardware. You need an Administrator account for some later steps, but these checks do not normally require elevated privileges. Restarting the PC and router is safe. Network reset is not a first step because it removes saved network information.

1. Turn off Airplane mode. Open Settings > Network & internet and make sure Airplane mode is off. Confirm that Wi-Fi is on. If the Wi-Fi toggle is unavailable, continue to the adapter checks instead of repeatedly switching Airplane mode.
2. Check for a hardware control. Some laptops have a physical wireless switch or a function-key shortcut with an antenna symbol. Pressing the correct key may require holding Fn. Do not assume every function key controls Wi-Fi; use the markings or the computer manufacturer's instructions.
3. Enable the adapter. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings. Under network adapters, select the wireless adapter and choose Enable if Windows shows it as disabled. The adapter may be named Wi-Fi, Wireless, or after its manufacturer.
4. Restart the PC. A restart reloads the wireless driver and Windows networking services. Choose Restart rather than Shut down and immediately powering the machine back on if Fast Startup is enabled.
5. Restart the router and test another device. Unplug the router's power, wait until its lights go out, reconnect it, and allow it to finish starting. Check the same Wi-Fi network with a phone or another computer. If no device can see or join it, focus on the router, its wireless settings, or the internet service rather than Windows.

If another device connects successfully but Windows 11 still cannot see the network, continue with the adapter and service steps. Save open work before restarting. You do not need to back up personal files for these checks.

Fix the Windows 11 Wi-Fi adapter in the safest order

Work through these fixes in order. The first steps restart a service or run diagnostics. Driver changes come later, and Network reset is the last Windows-side option.

Restart WLAN AutoConfig

WLAN AutoConfig manages wireless network discovery and connections. Restarting it requires Administrator permission.

1. Press Win + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find WLAN AutoConfig, double-click it, set Startup type to Automatic, and select Start or Restart.

Win + R > services.msc > WLAN AutoConfig > Startup type: Automatic > Start or Restart

3. Close the Services window and open the available Wi-Fi networks again.

The expected result is that the Wi-Fi list repopulates. If the service is already running and no networks appear, continue to diagnostics and Device Manager.

Run Windows network diagnostics

Windows 11 can check the active network adapter and apply a limited set of repairs. Running the troubleshooter does not normally require Administrator permission, although Windows may request it for a repair.

1. Open the troubleshooter.

Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Network and Internet > Run

2. Follow the suggested repair and restart if Windows requests it.

Diagnostics may report that no adapter is available; the exact message varies. That result points toward a disabled, missing, or driver-related adapter rather than a simple connection problem.

Inspect the adapter in Device Manager

Open Device Manager. Windows may request Administrator permission. Expand Network adapters.

Win + X > Device Manager > Network adapters

A functioning wireless device normally appears with a name containing terms such as Wi-Fi, Wireless, 802.11, WLAN, or a known manufacturer name. If the adapter has a down-arrow icon, right-click it and choose Enable device.

If it has a yellow warning icon, right-click it, choose Properties, and read the Device status message. Also check Other devices for an unknown network controller; that often means Windows lacks the correct driver.

If the adapter does not appear under Network adapters, check Other devices before assuming it has failed. If it appears nowhere, continue to the hardware and firmware checks in the final section.

Update, roll back, or reinstall the correct driver

Get the wireless driver from the computer manufacturer's support page, using the exact model and Windows 11 version. For a custom desktop, use the motherboard manufacturer's page. For a separate USB or PCIe adapter, use its manufacturer. Do not install a random driver merely because its name contains Wi-Fi.

If the adapter is visible, right-click it in Device Manager and choose Update driver. If the problem began immediately after a driver update and Roll Back Driver is available under Properties > Driver, use that option instead.

If updating does not help, download the correct driver first and disconnect from the internet if necessary. Then choose Uninstall device in Device Manager. Only select an option to remove the driver package if you already have the replacement driver ready. Restart Windows and run the manufacturer's installer.

The expected result is that the adapter returns without a warning icon and the Wi-Fi toggle and network list reappear. If the adapter remains absent, Windows may be unable to communicate with it, the driver may not match the device, or the adapter may be disabled in firmware or failed.

Use Network reset only after the other fixes

Network reset removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, VPN adapters, virtual network adapters, and other network settings. You will need to reconnect and may need to reinstall or reconfigure VPN software.

Use Network reset only when the adapter appears to work but Windows networking remains corrupted after the earlier steps. It does not repair an adapter that Windows cannot detect.

1. Open the reset page and select Reset now.

Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset > Reset now

2. Allow Windows to restart.
3. Open the Wi-Fi list, select your network, and enter its password. Reinstall or reconfigure any VPN or virtual networking software that no longer works.

The expected result is a fresh Windows network configuration and a working Wi-Fi list. If Wi-Fi is still missing after Network reset, resetting again will not repair a missing or failed adapter; investigate the driver, firmware, router, or hardware.

How to confirm Wi-Fi is working again

Select the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar, choose your network, select Connect, and enter the password. A successful connection should show Connected, secured in the network list.

Open more than one website, preferably sites on different domains. One page loading can come from a cached result, while several pages provide a better check of DNS and internet access. If a browser still reports no internet, select the connected network and check whether Windows says No internet rather than Connected, secured.

Check the adapter again in Windows:

Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Properties

The page should show the connected network and a valid local IP configuration. In Device Manager, the wireless adapter should remain listed without a warning icon.

Restart the PC and reconnect. The network should still appear after startup and should reconnect automatically if you selected Connect automatically. If it vanishes again after a restart, record when it happens. A repeated failure after sleep may indicate a power-management or driver issue. A failure across every device points more strongly to the router or its wireless configuration.

What to do if no Wi-Fi option appears after all of that

If the Wi-Fi adapter is absent from Device Manager, first check Other devices for an unknown network controller and install the exact driver from the computer or adapter manufacturer. If the adapter is missing from both locations, check the system's BIOS or UEFI settings for a disabled internal WLAN device. The setting's name varies by manufacturer, so do not change unrelated firmware options.

A laptop with a physical wireless switch may keep the adapter hidden until the switch is turned on. A USB Wi-Fi adapter may have failed, may not be seated correctly, or may need a different USB port. For an internal card, hardware failure becomes more likely when the correct driver is installed, the firmware setting is enabled, and the adapter never appears.

If your home network is missing on every device, inspect the router's wireless indicator and settings, confirm that wireless broadcasting is enabled, and check whether the network name was changed or hidden. A hidden network can be joined manually, but do not alter router security settings until you know the router is the cause.

Use Ethernet temporarily if the computer has a network port. It gives you internet access to download the correct driver and helps separate a Windows wireless problem from a wider router or service outage. If the adapter still does not appear after the correct driver and firmware checks, contact the computer or adapter manufacturer for hardware service or replacement.

Conclusion

Match the symptom to the appropriate fix and stop once the network returns. If Windows still cannot detect the adapter after the correct driver and firmware checks, use Ethernet and arrange hardware service or replacement instead of repeating Network reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Wi-Fi network missing, but other networks are visible in Windows 11?

The router may be offline, its wireless radio may be disabled, or its network name may have changed or been hidden. Test the network on another device and restart the router before changing the Windows driver.

Will Windows 11 Network reset delete my files?

No. It does not remove personal files, but it removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, VPN and virtual adapters, and other network settings. You will need to reconnect afterward and may need to reinstall or reconfigure VPN software.

How do I know if my Wi-Fi adapter has failed?

If the adapter does not appear in Device Manager or under Other devices after installing the correct manufacturer driver and checking the BIOS or UEFI setting, Windows may not be detecting the hardware. Test with a known-good USB Wi-Fi adapter or Ethernet to confirm the rest of the system works.