Why Is Netgear WiFi Extender Not Showing Up? Complete Fix Guide

Netgear WiFi extender not showing up and you’re wondering how to fix it? Well, this issue can occur due to several major factors, and today we are going to discuss all of them.

We’ve prepared a detailed guide in which you’ll learn how to identify the origin of the issue and how to resolve it as soon as possible.

If your Netgear extender isn’t showing up, you must first check if the extender is broadcasting its SSID. Then inspect and resolve any internet problems and update the Netgear firmware to the latest possible. Lastly, you can perform a factory reset on your extender and adjust the WiFi settings until the network appears in the list.

There is much more behind the solutions, so we recommend reading about the possibilities first and then moving on to the actual solutions.

Why Netgear WiFi Extender Not Showing Up On Network List?

If the WiFi extender isn’t showing up on the network list, it is most likely not recognized. This can happen if the extender is inactive or is not connected to a reliable power source.

Here are some of the well-known causes and a brief description for each of them:

1. Power Issues

If your Netgear WiFi extender is not connected to a reliable power source, it could be stuck on a restart loop, thus not showing in the network list.

2. Wrong IP Address

In case the network doesn’t recognize the extender with the correct IP address that is shown on the network list, you will be unable to view it.

3. Outdated Firmware

If the firmware of your extender is outdated, some network features might not be supported and exclude the device from the network list.

4. Receiver Device Issue

Sometimes older WiFi might appear in the list simply because they are remembered. If there is an issue with the receiver device, the new WiFi might not be discovered.

5. SSID Not Enabled

If you haven’t enabled the SSID broadcast or the channel on which the WiFi is set up is overloaded, the network list will not display the extender.

Having those possibilities in mind, next we’ll start excluding each of them until you’re left with the one and true cause.

How To Fix Netgear Extender Not Showing Up in WiFi List?

Before we proceed any further, have you tried rebooting your receiver device?

If you’re unable to locate the extender in the WiFi/network list, it could be a potential issue with your receiver device so make sure to reboot it before you continue.

If the restart did not help and the WiFi is not there, let’s start applying the solutions below:

Solution #1 Troubleshoot Poor Connection

The general reason why people cannot find their Netgear WiFi extender in the network list is a poor or non-existent internet connection.

The WiFi will not appear in the list if your router is not connected or currently experiencing internet outages.

Make sure to test your internet connection before you target your Netgear extender.

This can happen by connecting your router directly to a PC via Ethernet cable. In case you identify internet problems, make sure to resolve them first.

Here is what you can do to resolve any ongoing internet problems:

Hard Reset

Begin with a hard reset on your router, by unplugging it from the power for about 5 minutes.

Unplug ALL wires

The next step is to unplug all cables and then put them back in their respective ports. Tighten the connection and make sure cables are not damaged.

Interference

Lastly, remove any intact interference that can be disrupting your network. Take away any solid obstructions covering your router, RF receivers, or other WiFi devices nearby.

Once you’re done with all of these steps, reconnect your WiFi extender to the power and try finding it in the network list.

Solution #2 Update the Netgear Firmware

The problem could be related to outdated Netgear firmware. This can often occur if you’ve missed applying firmware updates for a long time, so here are some quick steps to update your extender:

1. On your smart device, go to mywifiext.net.
2. Log in into the control panel using the default credentials (admin/password)
3. Select “Firmware” and follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the update.

Once the update notes have been applied to your extender, it will most likely reboot several times until the update is complete.

Solution #3 Troubleshoot Extender Installation

Now that we’ve addressed some of the possibilities, the next step would be to inspect your extender’s hardware installation.

Down below we have listed some major issues with your extender’s installation that you should take a look at:

Faulty power source – You must ensure that your extender is connected with a reliable power source and is avoiding strips or dividers.

Out of range – Users recommend having your router and extender in the same room to avoid wireless insufficiency.

Interference – Keep your extender away from any cordless phones, aluminum studs, televisions, or other transmitters that might be causing severe interference.

We recommend plugging your receiver into another power source (directly). Do NOT use power dividers as they could cause a series of issues.

Solution #4 Factory Reset the Extender

If your Netgear WiFi extender not showing up even after all of the previous solutions, then we strongly recommend performing a factory reset.

This should erase any corrupted data preventing your extender from being scanned by the network lists and bring back the default setting in case they were misconfigured.

Here is how to factory reset your Netgear WiFi extender:

1. Grab a pen or a paperclip.
2. Insert the instrument you’ve acquired into the small pinhole on the device’s surface.
3. Hold the button down for 15 seconds and wait for the LED on the extender to blink twice.
4. Release the button and wait.

Your device should be active after several minutes so be patient during that time.

Alert: Make sure NOT to unplug it from the power source during the rest.

Solution #5 Enable SSID & Change WiFi Channel

The general issue might be that your network is set to transmit only the 5Ghz network and if your receiver device does not support it, it won’t appear in the list.

In that regard, we’ll first check if the network is enabled at all and then try to set up different WiFi settings.

Follow the steps below:

1. Access your Netgear extender settings (described in Solution #2).
2. Go to Wireless > Wireless Setup and choose to set up the 2.4Ghz network.
3. Tick “Enable SSID Broadcast”.
4. Under Security Options, choose WPA2-PSK [AES].
5. Save the settings and exit the control panel.

Once ready, unplug the extender from the power and plug it again after 1-2 minutes. Then try to find it in the network list.

If it does not work again, go to the settings where you’ve enabled the SSID broadcast and choose another Channel (it doesn’t really matter which channel you choose, you can try with multiple channels until the WiFi appears in the list).

Note: You can also try setting up the 5Ghz network over and hopefully it will work.

Read Next: How to Stop DDoS Attacks on Netgear Router?

Bottom Line:

The solution to a non-working Netgear extender includes a power cycle on both your extender and receiver device. Then you should update the Netgear firmware to the latest possible, fix any internet problems and make sure the SSID broadcast is enabled.

Now that you know why Netgear WiFi extender not showing up, you should be able to resolve the issue at home.

In case the problem is still there and you were unable to help it, you can contact Netgear for additional assistance.