The most common choice for internet browsing among users is via WiFi. It’s no surprise since almost everyone has a wireless connection at home to avoid using up their mobile data allowance. However, sometimes things can go wrong, and you may find that your home network doesn’t appear on your mobile or other devices.
While you may be familiar with the name of your home network, there are instances where it suddenly becomes unavailable, leaving you unable to connect. Luckily, there are solutions to resolve this connection issue. If your home router’s WiFi isn’t appearing, it could be due to misconfiguration, software issues, or hardware errors in the devices themselves. In any case, let’s explore what you can do to reconnect to your router.
Wi-Fi not showing up
There can be several factors contributing to this situation, but the good news is that there are various solutions available to fix the problem. Let’s start with some basic troubleshooting steps to help you regain access to your home router’s WiFi network.
Reboot the router and the device
If you’re unable to see your home WiFi connection on any device but can see your neighbors’ networks, a possible cause of the issue is your router. In such cases, the first step is to restart both the router and the device you’re using to connect to the WiFi network.
To restart the router, simply turn it off and wait for about 30 seconds before turning it back on. This helps to rule out any temporary software glitches. If the problem persists after the restart, you’ll need to proceed to the next troubleshooting step.
Device SSID
For your Wi-Fi network to be accessible to you and others, it’s important to ensure that the Service Set Identifier (SSID) transmission is enabled. When the SSID transmission is disabled, your network won’t be visible to any of the devices in your home, and manual configuration will be required to connect.
Disabling the SSID transmission is often done for security purposes. To check the SSID settings, you’ll need to access the router configuration page by typing the address 192.168.1.1 in your browser’s address bar. You’ll then be prompted to enter the username and password, which can usually be found on a label attached to the router. Once you’re logged in, locate the ‘SSID’ or ‘Wi-Fi name’ section and ensure that it is set to be visible or enabled.
Compatibility problem
Another possible reason for the connection problem could be that the device you’re trying to connect with is not supported. This could be the case if your mobile phone, tablet, PC, or Smart TV is old and unable to connect to 5 GHz networks. This would explain why only the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network is visible.
Alternatively, if your router is dual-band and it used to appear as one network name but is now not visible on any of your devices, electromagnetic interference might be occurring. If you’ve recently changed the router’s position, try placing it back where it was before to see if that resolves the issue.
Hardware failure
In addition to the potential hardware failure of the router, it’s important to consider that the issue could also lie with the TV, mobile, or tablet itself. If the Wi-Fi connection appears on your smartphone but not on your PC, it’s possible that there is a specific network card failure in the PC. In such cases, updating the firmware of the network card may help.
Conversely, if the Wi-Fi connection doesn’t appear on any of the devices, it’s recommended to contact your internet service provider to verify the line’s status. If the connection is available, it indicates a hardware issue with the router, which may need to be replaced. If you purchased the router from a store and it’s still under warranty, contacting the store for assistance is advised. If the problem is isolated to a single device, then the issue lies with that particular device, and you may need to update the software or seek repair from a specialized technical service.