Laptop does not find WiFi network - this may be the reason

There are several reasons why your laptop cannot find the WiFi network. We'll show you how to solve the problem.

Laptop cannot find WiFi network

Online: First, check whether your router's WLAN is really switched on. On most routers you will find a small lamp with the signature "WLAN". This lamp should also light up.
Device: To rule out that the router is not defective, pick up another device. Check whether the connection is made using another laptop or your smartphone.
Router: A look into the router cannot hurt in this case either. To do this, enter the IP address of the router in the address line of the browser. In the case of a Fritzbox, for example, this is "192.168.178.1". The correct address can also be found on the back of the router.
Blocking: In each router you can also set that new devices are not allowed. The MAC address is then blocked by the router. Either you allow the MAC address in the router or turn off the filter.

Right-click on the WLAN symbol in the task bar at the bottom right and select the "Open Network and Sharing Center" option.
On the left side you will now find the "Change adapter settings" option. Find the right WLAN adapter here. This is usually titled "WiFi" or "WLAN".
Right-click on the WLAN adapter. If the "Activate" option is available here, select it. Alternatively, you can continue with the "Properties" option.
Click the "Configure" button and switch to the "Driver" tab. The latest updates for the adapter are downloaded and installed using the "Update driver" button.

In the next practical tip, we will show you further solutions if your WLAN does not work.