Why Is My Laptop Not Detecting My Wi-Fi But Detecting Others?

The laptop might not detect your Wi-Fi but detect others because of software glitches, SSID visibility, or IEEE standard issues in the router or laptop. Some laptops fail to detect any specific Wi-Fi due to Wi-Fi frequency, Driver issues, MAC address filtering, or Hardware issues. Additionally, router settings can affect how your laptop detects Wi-Fi networks. There are many possible causes, so you must find out what is causing the problem. 

How Can I Fix My Laptop Not Detecting My Wi-Fi But Detecting Others?

If your laptop does not detect any particular Wi-Fi, don’t worry. It is not a very difficult issue to resolve. The only thing you need to know is what the issue is, then you can fix it yourself.  Let us help you find out why your laptop is not detecting your Wi-Fi, even though it is detecting others. 

Our first problem is addressing the fundamental issues that are responsible for network detection. Step by step, we will tackle each one. When we are done with the basics, we will work on more advanced stuff.

You need to fix one thing before you can solve the problem. You have to make sure your router is on. Often, we turn the router off by accident. If your router is working, let’s look at the problems step by step.

• Software Glitches:

Routers and laptops are basic electronic devices. So, it is common for them to have software glitches. Basically, a glitch is a temporary malfunction. And some types of glitches can stop your laptop from detecting Wi-Fi networks.  

Solution: 

To fix the glitch, restart your laptop and Wi-Fi router. There’s a power button on your router. Turn it off and wait a minute. Then turn the router back on. Hopefully, this will fix any glitches your device might have.

• Repeater Issue:

If you use repeaters to extend your Wi-Fi network, your laptop may sometimes not detect the network. The repeater extends the wireless signal of the main router. The repeater will not be visible online if the main router does not have an internet connection. As a result, your laptop can’t detect Wi-Fi connections. 

Solution:  

The first thing you need to do is to verify the repeater is connected to the main router and ensure that it has a stable internet connection. After that, you have to restart both the main router and repeater to reestablish the network connection. Then check your repeater’s placement to ensure that it is within range of your main router and not obstructed by anything. We hope this will resolve the issue if the repeater causes it.

• SSID Visibility:

Your router settings can affect how well your laptop detects Wi-Fi networks. If the SSID (network name) is set to hide, your laptop will not automatically display it. A hidden network setting protects Wi-Fi from cyber attacks. However, it can also cause you the problem that you are currently facing. 

Solution: 

You should first check your router’s settings to ensure SSID visibility is enabled. YOu will find SSID Visibility settings under the wireless settings of your router. Additionally, ensure that the encryption type (for example, WPA2) and password on your laptop match those configured on the router. If you want your Wi-Fi hidden, you must manually enter its name and password to connect.  

• IEEE Standard:

IEEE standards determine the data transfer rates and frequency bands of Wi-Fi devices. There’s a chance your laptop and router won’t communicate if they use different standards. Make sure your laptop and router support the same IEEE standard. If your laptop only supports 802.11n and your router uses 802.11ac, it might not detect the network.

Solution:

If your laptop and router have incompatible IEEE standards, you can upgrade your router. Alternatively, you can use an external Wi-Fi adapter and adjust router settings.

• Wi-Fi Frequency:

There are different Wi-Fi frequency bands, like 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Some laptops only support one frequency band. If your laptop doesn’t support the frequency band your router is using, the laptop won’t detect it. In most cases, Wi-Fi frequency causes your laptop not to detect any specific network, so don’t miss these steps. 

Solution 1: 

Nowadays, most routers run on 5 GHz for better coverage. If your laptop is on 2.4 GHz, switch to 5 GHz. To switch, open Device Manager from the Start menu. Next, enable the display of hidden devices under View. Then expand the Network adapters list.

After that, you need to right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and choose Properties. Click on the Advanced tab. Find the band selection option (may vary by adapter). Select 5GHz from the drop-down menu. Click OK to save the changes.

Solution 2:

Your laptop might not support the 5GHz band if it is old. To connect it to Wi-Fi, you will need to change your router’s band to 2.4GHz. First Connect a mobile device or laptop to the Wi-Fi, open your browser, and enter the router’s IP address. Access the router’s configuration page using admin credentials.

Then, go to Advanced Settings / Advanced Wireless. After that switch the band to 2.4GHz. Keep in mind that this change may reduce the network’s capability.

• Driver Issues:

You need Wi-Fi drivers for your laptop’s operating system to communicate with the Wi-Fi adapter. Your laptop may not detect Wi-Fi if its drivers are outdated or incompatible. 

Solution: 

The solution is to update the driver. To update the Wi-Fi driver you need to open Device Manager. Then you have to expand the Network adapters section. After that, you have to right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select Update driver.

Then you have to choose “Search automatically for updated driver software” and let Windows find and install the latest driver for your Wi-Fi adapter. If the driver causing this problem it will be resolved. 

• Mac Address Filtering:

MAC address filtering restricts network access to devices with specific MAC addresses on routers. In case your laptop’s MAC address does not list in the router’s allowed devices list, it will not be able to detect or connect to the network. 

Solution: 

The solution is to access the MAC address filtering in your router and then add the MAC addresses of your laptop there. First, you need a phone that can detect that Wi-Fi. You then have to open a web browser and enter the IP address of the router.

Then you need to log into the administration panel. After that, you have to find the settings for MAC address filtering. You have to enter your laptop’s MAC address. If you go to the network settings of your laptop, you will find the MAC address. Make sure you save your changes and restart your router.

• Hardware Issues:

The Wi-Fi Adapter On Your laptop may be having a hardware issue in rare cases. There may be a faulty adapter or a loose connection causing this problem. The router itself might have a problem.

Solution 1:

There may be a problem with your router if you cannot detect it with any of your devices. If that is the case, you will need to change your router. Additionally, if this issue only occurs with your laptop and none of these solutions work, your laptop adapter might be faulty. Then you need to take your laptop to a service center, where they will replace the faulty adapter. 

Solution 2: 

There are two easy solutions as well. You can use an external USB Wi-Fi adapter. You will have to pay around $20 for this. All you have to do is plug it into your laptop’s USB port. Alternatively, you can connect your laptop to your router using an Ethernet cable. 

Conclusion

The above solutions can help you resolve the issue of your laptop not detecting your Wi-Fi network by troubleshooting and applying them. It may require checking for software glitches, repeater issues, SSID visibility, IEEE standards compatibility, Wi-Fi frequency support, driver updates, MAC address filtering, or even hardware issues. You can regain Wi-Fi connectivity with patience and determination.

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