How to Refresh Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 11
Refreshing the Wi-Fi list in Windows 11 forces your computer to scan for nearby wireless signals and update available networks within 2 to 3 seconds. This action helps you find a missing router, reconnect to a dropped home network, or switch to a stronger signal when your internet acts up.
You can complete this scan directly through the Quick Settings menu or the main Settings app without needing extra tools or third-party apps.
Refresh your Wi-Fi networks in Windows 11 by opening Quick Settings (Win+A), clicking the arrow next to Wi-Fi , and then clicking Refresh. Alternatively, use Windows Terminal commands like Restart-Service -Force -Name “wlansvc” to restart the Wi-Fi service.
What is Wi-Fi?
Wireless internet access (Wi-Fi ) lets your PC connect to networks and routers without physical cables. Connection lists populate automatically, but manual updates reveal new access points.
Why Refresh Your Wi-Fi List?
Delays sometimes prevent computers from showing every available wireless network immediately. Triggering a manual update forces the adapter to search again. Moving to a new room or turning on a mobile hotspot makes this process necessary.
How to Refresh Wi-Fi Networks Using Quick Settings
You can refresh wifi windows 11 networks quickly by opening the Quick Settings panel. Press the Win and A on your keyboard to open the panel, then click the arrow next to the Wi-Fi icon. This action shows all available connections and forces Windows to scan for any new or hidden wireless signals nearby.- Open Quick Settings: Press
Win + Aon your keyboard. This opens a small panel with quick access buttons. - Find the Wi-Fi Section: Look for the Wi-Fi icon in Quick Settings. Click the arrow next to it labeled Manage Wi-Fi connections.
- Click the Refresh Button: In the Wi-Fi list that opens, click the Refresh button to rescan for available networks.
How to Refresh Wi-Fi Networks Using Windows Terminal
You can refresh wifi windows 11 connections by restarting your wireless adapter using Windows Terminal. Open Windows Terminal and run a command to restart the network service, which forces the system to perform a complete scan when the standard menu fails to show missing wireless networks.
- Open Open Windows Terminal by searching for it in the Start menu .
- Choose the PowerShell tab (usually the default).
- Type or copy-paste one of these commands and press
Enter:
Get-Service wlansvc | Restart-ServiceOR
Restart-Service -Force -Name "wlansvc"The Command Prompt tab inside Windows Terminal works too:
PowerShell "Get-Service wlansvc | Restart-Service"OR
PowerShell Restart-Service -Force -Name "wlansvc"Executing these commands restarts the network stack and repopulates the available connections.
Summary
- Refreshing the Wi-Fi list helps you find networks that might not show up right away.
- Windows 11's Quick Settings now has a simple refresh button to scan for networks again.
- You can also refresh Wi-Fi networks by restarting the Wi-Fi service using Windows Terminal commands.
- Try these steps whenever you want to see the latest Wi-Fi networks around you!
You can easily refresh wifi windows 11 networks whenever your connection list fails to update. Use either the Quick Settings panel for a fast manual scan or Windows Terminal to restart the wireless service and find any missing signals around you.
How do I refresh Wi-Fi on 🪟 Windows 11?
Go to the "Start" menu and open "Settings." Navigate to "Network & Internet," then click "Advanced network settings." Select "Network reset," and finally, click the "Reset now" button. Click "Yes" to confirm, and after a system restart, test your Wi-Fi connection.
How do I refresh my Wi-Fi?
If you're already connected to a Wi-Fi network you wish to reset, or one that isn't connecting properly, click the gear icon next to it. Then, click "Forget."
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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