In Windows 10, viewing available wireless networks around your PC is easy. All you need to do is click on the network icon, which opens the network flyout containing all available Wi-Fi networks nearby. But this is not the case in Windows 11.
In Windows 11, if you click on the network or wireless icon, it brings up the Quick Settings flyout. So, you might be interested to know how to view available wireless networks in Windows 11.
There are three ways to view available Wi-Fi networks in Windows 11. You can either use the Quick Settings or the Settings app to view Wi-Fi networks.
Three methods:
1. View networks from desktop
2. View networks via Settings
3. View networks via Command Prompt/PowerShell
Method 1 of 3
View available wireless networks from desktop in Windows 11
Step 1: Click on the network/volume/battery icon in the system tray area of the taskbar to open Quick Settings flyout. Alternatively, you can also use the Windows logo + A keyboard shortcut to open Quick Settings in Windows 11.
Note that you cannot click specifically on the network icon. However, you can click anywhere on the network/volume/battery icon to reveal the Quick Settings flyout.
Step 2: On the Quick Settings flyout, click on the right-arrow icon next to the Wi-Fi icon to see available Wi-Fi networks. Click on a network entry to see the Connect button.
As you can see in the picture above, the number of radio waves in the icon next to a network name indicates the signal strength. The flyout also displays if an available network is password protected or not. Note that we do not advise connecting to open or unprotected wireless networks.
Also note that the flyout might not show wireless networks if the Wi-Fi is turned off. So if the Wi-Fi is turned off, you will see a “Wi-Fi is off” message instead. To turn on the Wi-Fi, move the toggle button at the top right to the On position.
Method 2 of 3
Use Settings to view available Wi-Fi networks in Windows 11
Step 1: Open the Settings app. You can use the search or use the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.
Step 2: On the left-pane of Settings, click Network & Internet. Now, on the right-side, click Wi-Fi to go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi page.
Step 3: Here, click on Show available networks to view all available wireless networks, including the Wi-Fi network to which your PC is currently connected.
Click on a network entry to see the Connect button.
Method 3 of 3
Use Command Prompt or PowerShell to view available networks in Windows 11
Most users might not need this but documenting the Command Prompt way just for the reference.
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell using the search.
Step 2: At the Command Prompt or PowerShell window, copy and paste the following command and then hit the Enter key to view available networks.
netsh wlan show networks
As you can see, the Command Prompt or PowerShell, in addition to the SSID (network name), displays the authentication type as well as the encryption type for all networks.
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