How to fix the Hidden Network problem

Question

So i have been having this problem recently in my Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 (2023) laptop. A few days ago, a Hidden network suddenly appears within the wifi list and thats when my home internet goes almost unuseable. It became really hard to connect to my Home Network and here are the lists of problems i have occured after this "Hidden Network" Appeared.

Problem	Problem
Upon connecting to my home network, there is a high chance of it getting disconnected after a few minutes.	The Wifi slider (Within the Wifi Section of the Quick Settings Panel) It is very persistent to be "OFF" even though i clicked many times to turn it on, it just wouldnt want to be "ON"
Upon connection there is also a high chance of the error "Can't Connect To This Network"	Within the wifi lists, there are times when my Home Network cannot be found, and it requires me to turn on and off the WiFi slider to refresh the lists.

I know these problems i have listed is quite ambiguous so i have attached a Google Drive link in hopes you can see more clearly of my problem. Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11c5I-epX4KDKblc5ThPBOQrRGszqG4zR

Answer 1

Hi there!! My name is David. It’s a pleasure to help you today.

 

As additional information, according to the videos you have shared, the network that appears with the name “Hidden Network” may actually be a network that was intentionally given that name. It could belong to a nearby router, perhaps from a neighbor, and it should not represent a problem for your connection.

Regarding your Wi-Fi issue, in addition to the steps previously indicated, you could try updating the drivers for your wireless network card, downloading the latest from your laptop manufacturer’s website:

https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/legion-series/legion-pro-5-16arx8/downloads/driver-list/component?name=Networking%3A%20Wireless%20LAN&id=E3519D23-890E-4DE1-9064-DE6E7DA2515B

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

 

Let me know if the information shared was helpful. Best regards.

Answer 2

To address the issue with the hidden network and the connectivity problems you are experiencing on your Legion Pro 5 laptop, you can follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Restart WLAN Autoconfig Service: This service manages wireless connections. Restarting it can resolve connectivity issues. You can do this by:
   • Pressing Windows + R, typing services.msc, and hitting Enter.
   • Finding WLAN AutoConfig in the list, right-clicking it, and selecting Restart.
2. Forget and Reconnect to Your Home Network: Go to your Wi-Fi settings, find your home network, and select Forget. Then, reconnect by entering the password again.
3. Update Wi-Fi Drivers: Ensure your Wi-Fi drivers are up to date. You can check for updates in Device Manager:
   • Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
   • Expand Network adapters, right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter, and select Update driver.
4. Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes, updates can resolve underlying issues. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.
5. Adjust Roaming Aggressiveness: If you have access to the advanced settings of your Wi-Fi adapter, consider adjusting the Roaming Aggressiveness setting. Set it to a level that suits your environment (e.g., Medium).
   • Open Device Manager, find your Wi-Fi adapter, right-click and select Properties, then go to the Advanced tab.
6. Minimize Signal Interference: Ensure that there are no physical obstructions or electronic devices causing interference with your Wi-Fi signal. Try to use your device in a location with a strong signal.
7. Network Reset: If the problems persist, you can perform a network reset:
   • Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status, scroll down and select Network reset. This will remove and reinstall all your network adapters and reset networking components to their original settings.
8. Check for Third-Party Connection Managers: If you have any third-party connection managers installed, consider uninstalling them as they may conflict with the built-in Windows connection manager.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the connectivity issues related to the hidden network and improve your Wi-Fi performance.

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References:

• Advanced troubleshooting wireless network connectivity: Troubleshooting
• Optimize Wi-Fi connectivity on Surface devices