How to Fix a Wi-Fi Network That Disappears or Stops Broadcasting Its SSID on Your Windows Laptop

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to Fix a Wi-Fi Network That Disappears or Stops Broadcasting Its SSID on Your Windows Laptop. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

If your office Wi-Fi network name (SSID) is no longer appearing in the list of available networks on your Windows laptop, the issue is usually related to network adapter settings, driver problems, or Windows power management. This guide will help you restore visibility to your network and reconnect your device.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Restart your Windows laptop.
2. Restart your Wi-Fi router by switching it off at the wall, waiting 30 seconds, and switching it back on.
3. Check that Wi-Fi is enabled on your laptop. Look for the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar or check for a physical wireless switch on the side of the device.
4. Move closer to the router to rule out signal range issues.

Detailed Instructions

1. Check Wi-Fi is Enabled in Windows Settings

1. Select Start and then Settings.
2. Navigate to Network & internet.
3. Select Wi-Fi.
4. Ensure the Wi-Fi toggle is set to On.
5. Select Show available networks and look for your office SSID.

2. Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter

1. Open Settings and go to Network & internet.
2. Scroll down and select Advanced network settings.
3. Under More settings, select Network reset or Network troubleshooter.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to diagnose and fix connectivity issues.

3. Reset the Network Adapter

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Network adapters category.
3. Right-click your wireless adapter (often labelled Wi-Fi or Wireless) and select Disable device. Confirm the action.
4. Wait ten seconds, right-click the adapter again, and select Enable device.
5. Check the available networks list for your SSID.

4. Update the Wireless Driver

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your wireless adapter and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
5. Restart your laptop once the update completes.

5. Disable Power Saving for the Wireless Adapter

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your wireless adapter and select Properties.
4. Select the Power Management tab.
5. Clear the checkbox for Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
6. Select OK and restart your laptop.

Troubleshooting

Network is visible on other devices but not your laptop

• This indicates the issue is isolated to your Windows device. Focus on the driver and adapter steps above.
• If you recently installed new security software, temporarily disable it to see if it is blocking wireless discovery.

Network is not visible on any device

• The issue is likely with the router or access point rather than your laptop.
• Check that the SSID broadcast setting is enabled in your router's administration page.
• Contact your IT administrator or Open a Ticket for assistance with router configuration.

If your Wi-Fi network still does not appear after following these steps, Open a Ticket with our Brisbane support team.

For help connecting once the network reappears, see How to connect to Wi-Fi.

Still Having Issues?