Having a wireless network available is something that is present almost anywhere today. We have many options to navigate with our devices, but sometimes it is convenient to know some details and see exactly what networks we have. In this article we are going to explain how to view available networks in Windows and their information. We have at our disposal different options for this, very simple and fast to execute. We are going to show what they are.
How to view available networks in Windows
Although it is a simple process, sometimes it can be interesting to know what options there are to see the networks available in Windows 10 . We may have additional information, beyond simply knowing the name of the network and whether or not it is in our range to be able to connect.
Sometimes it helps to know the type of encryption that a wireless network has, for example. In this way we will know if our older devices are compatible or not. Also avoid security problems that could be the entry point of intruders who have the objective of stealing information and controlling the devices. This also helps us know if we are using the proper encryption.
To see the networks available in Windows 10 we can make use of several options. It should be noted that we can see it both with functions and characteristics of the Microsoft operating system as well as make use of third-party applications. We can even run commands to see it from the terminal.
It is interesting to see the available networks not only to be able to see which networks reach us, but also to analyze if all the Wi-Fi repeaters we have are available, to see if we are using a saturated Wi-Fi channel, etc. We will be able to see all this by following the steps that we are going to explain below.
Taskbar
If we start with the most basic, one option we have to see the networks available in Windows 10 is to simply go to the taskbar. There we will find the Wi-Fi icon. Simply clicking on it will show us the list of available networks . If we are connected to one, it will appear connected to us. The rest will appear on the list.
But we do not simply see the list with the names of the wireless networks that we can access, but we can also select the one that interests us and click Properties . A new window will automatically open where we will find more information related to that network.
As we see in the image, we see a lot of data related to that network. For example, we can see the name, the Wi-Fi protocol, the band, the channel to which it is connected, the IP address, etc. All this information can be useful in certain circumstances.
Windows Settings
We can also obtain data from available Wi-Fi networks through Windows settings. We can access and see what networks are in our reach at any given time. It is also a simple process and does not require installing anything.
This time we have to go to Start, click on Settings and go to Network and Internet . There we have to give Wi-Fi and then Show available networks. In this way it will show us a list with all the Wi-Fi networks that are in our range.
But if we want to see more information about the network to which we are connected, we will have to click on Hardware Properties. Beyond showing us data related to the network card, we can also see information about that specific wireless network. We will see data such as the channel you are using, the band used, etc.
Control Panel
One more alternative that we have to see available networks in Windows without having to install anything is to go to the Control Panel . To do this, the easiest thing is to go to Start, write Control Panel and open it. Later we go to Networks and Internet and click on Connect to a network.
As in the previous cases, clicking on Connect to a network will open a new window with all the available networks and we will be able to choose which one to connect to. A simple way to detect those around us. We can also click Properties and it will open a new window with all the data related to the channel it uses, the band, etc.
Symbol of the system
In this case we have a different option to all the previous ones. This time we are going to use the Windows command line to be able to see the wireless networks that are available, as well as all the information that surrounds each Wi-Fi.
We go back to Start, but this time we type Command Prompt. We have to execute the command netsh wlan show networks mode = BsSid . It will show us all the Wi-Fi networks that are within our reach, but also very varied information.
Within the data that we can obtain from each of the wireless networks that appear on the command line, we can see the signal strength measured in percentage, the type of encryption or the channel.
Once again we can know a little more about a specific network. We can know if it is secure or not depending on the type of encryption, if it is on a congested Wi-Fi channel, etc.
Third party programs
All we have seen so far are methods that are integrated with Windows 10. However, one more option that we can take into account to see available wireless networks is to use third-party programs. These applications will also show us information related to Wi-Fi networks, their encryption, power … Data that, ultimately, can help us choose the best option available.
Why have different options to search for Wi-Fi networks
We have seen many methods to view available networks in Windows 10 and their information. We have seen that several are similar and that can make us wonder why consider different methods if only one would work. However the main reason is to avoid possible failures that may arise.
It is not uncommon for a user to encounter the problem that the Wi-Fi icon does not appear on the taskbar. There may even be problems accessing Windows settings. These failures could make it difficult to connect to a wireless network.
The reasons for this are varied. Malware is usually very present, but also a bad configuration or having updated Windows and that update has generated problems and now the Wi-Fi icon does not appear or does not allow us to search for networks normally.
Therefore, these are some options that we can take into account not only to search for Wi-Fi networks available in Windows, but also to see all the information and be able to connect to them. A number of interesting alternatives.