If you can’t connect to the internet because your wifi isn’t showing up on your device, you have a problem. It helps to know the cause, but you can take steps to fix the situation even if you don’t.

Issues with your router, ISP, or device can prevent your Wi-Fi network from showing up in the list of available networks. This can be caused by these and more issues:

Try these troubleshooting steps in the order we listed them (from easiest to most complex) until the Wi-Fi network appears:

Move closer to the router. This is the main reason why the wifi network is missing on your laptop, phone, tablet, etc. Routers have a limited range, so moving closer is the best way to see if this is the problem.