There are several solutions to this problem. We discuss 9 ways to fix Windows 10 not showing Wifi networks in this article.
Restart the WiFi network adapter
Network adapter caches have been known to cause problems in the network’s performance in Windows 10. Sometimes they need to be cleared or reset in order for them to perform as usual.
Restart the WiFi network adapter Reset the computer network Run the network troubleshooter Enable Network Discovery on Private network profile Enable Network Discovery on other network profiles Update network adapter driver Run dependency services Remove outdated VPNs Install any pending updates
The network adapter has now been restarted, without rebooting the computer. Check to see if the issue has been resolved.
Reset the computer network
Previously we had discussed restarting the network adapter, but now let us see how we can reset the entire computer network configuration. Resetting refers to reverting all the settings back to their original state, hence any VPN configurations might need to be re-done as they will be deleted after performing this step. This will first uninstall your network adapters and then reinstall them again, using the same drivers, and revert all settings back to the way they used to be. Check if the WiFi tab is now displaying the available networks or not. If not, continue down this thread to look for alternate fixes. Also check out: Reset network settings in Windows 10
Run the network troubleshooter
Windows 10 comes with a nifty utility to troubleshoot the different features and components. It can also be used to troubleshoot any problems the users are facing with their networks. This should fix any known misconfigurations of the adapters which are preventing your computer from discovering new networks.
Enable Network Discovery on Private network profile
Windows 10 now only allows its users to enable Network Discovery on private network profiles. However, there is a workaround to enable it on other profiles as well, which will be discussed later. Network Discovery allows the computer to be discovered by other devices on the same network, including the router. Hence this could be a problem why WiFi networks won’t display on your computer. Now check if the issue has been resolved.
Enable Network Discovery on other network profiles
The Windows 10 settings do not allow its users to enable Network Discovery when they are connected to insecure networks. However, as mentioned before, there is a way to enable Network Discovery on all networks. This can be achieved by creating a rule through a firewall, using the Command Prompt. Once the command executes, close the Command Prompt and check if the error has been eliminated. If not, then Network Discovery might not be the problem.
Update network adapter driver
Drivers are what run the hardware through the operating system and let the two communicate with one another. There is a chance that the driver may have been corrupted, or is simply not compatible with the update that you have recently installed on your Windows 10. First, you need to check what adapter your computer is hosting in order to download the right driver. Once the driver is updated, your problem of not being able to view the available networks should go away. If not, proceed to the following steps:
Run dependency services
The visibility of WiFi networks in the vicinity depends upon several services in which the Operating System is running. We must ensure that they are up and running on your device as well. When done, check to see if the issue is still there.
Remove outdated VPNs
This step is only for those who have any old and outdated VPNs configured on their machines, as it might be a reason why the WiFi won’t display any available networks. First, you need to check if you have any such VPN configurations. You should now be able to view and connect to any WiFi network in your vicinity.
Install any pending updates
If the issue still remains, you should simply restart the computer to install any pending updates which might be altering the behavior of your Operating System. Simply check for updates by navigating to the Start Menu -> Settings -> Update & Security -> Check for updates. If any are downloaded and installed, restart the computer and you’re done! Sometimes even the simplest of things can be the reason for a system malfunction. Which one of these fixes worked for you?
