As part of this article, we will consider a solution to the problem when a smartphone or tablet that runs on Android suddenly stopped seeing Wi-Fi networks, or any one specific network. Take any phone that runs Android for example. Here he was perfectly connected to the home network, and at one point he simply stopped seeing the home Wi-Fi network. It is not in the list of networks available for connection. And other devices can see and connect to your network without any problems. True, there are situations when no device sees the wireless network. In such cases, you need to check the router, restart it, see if the Wi-Fi indicator is blinking, etc.
In the same way, there are situations when in some public place (restaurant, cafe, store) other devices see and connect to a certain (usually open) network, but your phone or tablet simply does not find it.
It doesn't matter if you have a tablet, a smartphone, or even some kind of TV set-top box. We will consider the problem using the Android operating system as an example. Perhaps looking ahead, I will say that if your Android device has stopped seeing the Wi-Fi network to which it previously connected without problems, then the problem is most likely on the side of the access point (router). And if this network is not yours (there is no access to the router), then it is unlikely that you will be able to do something.
In order not to get confused, let's immediately find out the following:
- If your smartphone (or other device) does not see any Wi-Fi network... At the same time, there are wireless networks in the radius and other devices see them, then the problem is clearly in the device itself. In this situation, you can do the following: disable and re-enable Wi-Fi, restart your mobile device, remove the cover (if any). As a last resort, you can try to reset your phone, or flash it. If even after a factory reset the phone does not see any available wireless networks, then the problem is most likely of a hardware nature. You need to carry it to the service center. It is possible under warranty, if any.
- Well, the second case, a more popular one, which we will consider in more detail, is when Android does not see any one specific Wi-Fi network. And other devices find it and connect without any problems.
Perhaps you have a slightly different problem and these instructions will be useful to you:
- Authentication error when connecting to Wi-Fi on Android - this error can be seen very often. The article contains the main solutions.
- Why the Internet via Wi-Fi does not work on an Android tablet or smartphone - this article will come in handy when the connection to the network is successful, but the Internet does not work.
- The gray Wi-Fi icon on Android is a solution to another popular problem.
What to do if the Android device does not see the Wi-Fi network?
First, let's look at a few simple solutions to apply first:
- Make sure that the wireless network you want to connect to is really there. Check your router. See if other devices can see it.
- Go to the settings of your phone (tablet), disable and re-enable Wi-Fi. Settings may vary depending on manufacturer and Android version. But I think it won't be difficult to find them.
- Reboot your device.
- Be sure to reboot your router. If you have access to it. Even multiple reboots can be performed. Just turn off the power, and after 20 seconds turn it back on.
- Try bringing your device close to the router itself.
The fact is that there are very few solutions on the device itself. Disabling and enabling Wi-Fi, rebooting, factory reset is the maximum that can be done directly on an Android device.
But there is another option - changing the wireless settings on the router itself.
Change the Wi-Fi settings on the router if the phone or tablet does not see the network
You can experiment with changing the Wi-Fi network channel, check the network operating mode, change the channel width. Of course, all of these settings differ depending on your router. But usually they are all on the same page in the router's control panel, in the section with the name: "Wi-Fi", "Wireless network", "Wireless mode", "Wireless".
I wrote about changing the wireless channel on different routers in a separate, detailed article: https://help-wifi.com/sovety-po-nastrojke/kak-najti-svobodnyj-wi-fi-kanal-i-smenit-kanal- na-routere /. Try to put for example a static 6th channel. Or vice versa, "Auto" if you had a static channel installed. After that, we save the settings and reboot the router. We take our smartphone and check if it sees a Wi-Fi network.
In the same place, immediately check that the operating mode is "11bgn mixed". And you can try to change the "Channel width". Also check if your region is set correctly (if you have such a setting).
This is how it looks on TP-Link routers:
If you have an ASUS router:
If after the first change of settings the smartphone does not see the wireless network, then you can try again. Set other settings. For example, another channel, operating mode (only n). If there is no result, then it is better to return the settings to the factory settings (which were installed before the change). You also need to return all settings back if there are problems with connection on other devices.
Hope you were able to connect your phone, tablet, or other device to a Wi-Fi network. If you have any other case, or have questions on this topic, then describe your situation in the comments. Also share your observations and solutions if you managed to solve the problem and the Wi-Fi network appeared in the list of available on Android.
