Nothing can be more boring in this era than not being able to connect to the internet. The web has become of the most important assets and an equally important part of our lives. How annoying will it be when Windows 10 can’t find Wi-Fi to connect to the internet?
Recently, we received reports from our readers where they complained Windows 10 can’t find a network to connect to the internet. Here I shall discuss how you can easily solve the network connection error using some simple solutions.
SOLVED – Can’t See My Wi-Fi Network Windows 10
If your computer is not able to connect to the intended network connection but detects other network connections, there might be something wrong with the internet connection or the network card as well. Let us take a deeper look into what may be causing this error on your computer, and how you can solve them easily.
Note: Before beginning the solutions, attempt a simple workaround. Change the network name and password of the connection that your computer cannot find. After changing the login credentials, check if still Windows 10 can’t find the network.
FIX 1: Reset Your Internet Connection
One of the most basic yet most effective fixes that you can try is to reset the internet connection. Restart both the router and your Windows 10 device. Resetting the network connection should fix issues with the internet, therefore solving your error.
- Turn off the router, and unplug it from the power socket.
- Meanwhile, also put your Windows 10 device on airplane mode, or restart your device.
- Wait for some time, then connect back the router to the power output.
- Restart the modem and check if Windows 10 is able to identify your network connection.
FIX 2: Turn On Network Discovery
Windows 10 was made with users’ privacy in mind. This meant making certain changes that prevented others from snooping onto your device. For any profile, when you turn off network discovery, other devices on your network become invisible, and they cannot connect to your PC.
However, this may also prevent you from connecting to your router. Follow these steps to turn on network discovery:
- Open the Control Panel, and change the View by option to Small or Large icons.
- Click on Network and Sharing Center.
- From the set of additional settings on the top left corner, click on Change advanced sharing settings.
- In the next window that opens, select your profile to expand it.
- Click to select the radio button next to Turn on network discovery.
- Also, make sure the box next to Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices is checked.
- Save the settings by clicking on the Save changes button and restart your PC.
FIX 3: Update The Network Drivers
Outdated or missing drivers can lead to the concerned hardware not performing optimally. Although Windows Updates usually updates the drivers as well, there is a chance that the driver update for your network card may have been canceled.
Luckily, you can solve this by simply updating the network drivers to the latest version. Once you are on the latest version of the network adapter drivers, check if even now your computer can’t find Wi-Fi. Your error should now be fixed.
FIX 4: Update Wireless Network Firmware
If updating the network drivers did not help you and Windows 10 can’t find Wi-Fi, there is a possibility that your access point may require a firmware update to function properly. Usually, these updates are installed automatically, and your service provider takes care of it, but there is a chance that it may have been skipped due to some reason.
The manufacturer website usually hosts the firmware for your network component. Check the website and update the network firmware. If you are not confident about doing this yourself, we recommend calling your service provider and asking them to update the access point.
FIX 5: Adjust Date And Time
Many important settings depend on the date and time of your computer. Since each device is registered to a specific time zone, a mismatch in date and time can lead to many errors on your computer. This is because your device will not be able to sync properly with the Microsoft servers due to the time zone mismatch, leading to many different errors like a computer not detecting your Wi-Fi connection.
Adjust the date and time of your computer and check if the error persists.
FIX 6: Run The Internet Troubleshooter
Even Microsoft understands that there can be errors in Windows 10, and has included a bunch of troubleshooters to solve such errors right in the settings app. One such troubleshooter that you can use is an internet troubleshooter, which can help solve problems with connecting to the internet.
You will find the internet troubleshooter by navigating the following path:
Settings > Update and Security > Troubleshooting > Internet Troubleshooter
Usually, the built-in troubleshooter is capable enough to find what is causing the internet error on your computer. Check if the utility is able to find what is causing the error and fix it. Your error should now be resolved.
FIX 7: Renew DNS Cache
Incorrectly stored DNS cache may be responsible for your device not being able to recognize network profiles. This usually happens to users who keep their devices connected to the internet for a very long period, although it can also happen to others as well.
If you suspect this is the case for you, renew the DNS cache and check if the error persists. The network profiles should appear.
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it. Now you know how to solve if Windows 10 can’t find Wi-Fi. If the solutions above did not help you, you might need to take your device to the service center to get a repair done on your network adapter. Comment below if you found this useful, and to discuss further the same.