Why Is My WiFi Not Showing On My Laptop? (And How to Get It Back!)
So, you’re all set to stream your favourite series, or maybe join a work call, and – poof – no Wi-Fi in sight! If you’re wondering why your laptop’s acting like Wi-Fi doesn’t exist, you’re not alone. It’s a right pain, but we’ve got some tips to help you sort it.
Let’s troubleshoot why your laptop might be hiding the Wi-Fi from you and get it back to work!
- Is your WiFi really on?
Let’s start with the basics: some laptops have a physical Wi-Fi switch or a function key (often one of the F-keys) that can turn WiFi on and off. It’s a sneaky wee thing and easy to hit by mistake. No judgement from us, we all miss it sometimes!
- Try a wee restart – sometimes, that’s all it takes!
A classic trick that works more often than you’d think! Laptops are a bit like us – they sometimes need a wee nap to sort themselves out. Just restart your laptop. A quick restart clears out temporary glitches and might be all you need to get WiFi back up and running.
- Check if aeroplane mode is being a dafty
Aeroplane mode doesn’t just hide WiFi; it shuts it off completely. Sometimes it’s turned on by accident or by another app, making it look like your WiFi’s missing when it’s just hiding.
Go to your laptop’s settings or look for an aeroplane icon on your keyboard (usually one of the F-keys). If it’s on, turn it off, and see if your WiFi pops back up.
- Are other devices seeing WiFi? Maybe it’s the router…
If your phone and other devices are showing WiFi just fine, it’s likely something on the laptop itself. But if no device can find the WiFi, the issue could be with your router or connection.
Try giving your router a classic off-and-on restart. (Just unplug it, wait for about 10 seconds, and plug it back in).
- Time for a network reset
If all else fails, a network reset can wipe out any glitches or temporary settings that might be hiding the Wi-Fi option. It’s like giving your Wi-Fi a fresh start.
- Windows: go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Scroll down and select Network reset, then follow the steps to reset.
- Mac: go to System Preferences > Network. Select Wi-Fi, then click the “-” button to remove it, and re-add it by clicking the “+” and selecting Wi-Fi again.
Just remember – after a reset, you might need to re-enter your WiFi passwords, so have them ready!
Hopefully, one of these tips has brought your WiFi back from its hiding spot. If it’s still playing hard to get, it could be time to call in the experts (BrawBand). Get in touch with us and we’ll be glad to help work out what the problem is.
In the meantime, keep this list handy so that the next time WiFi does a disappearing act, you’ll know just how to sort it!
