mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: That their laptop can see multiple Wi-Fi networks…
A user reports that their laptop can see multiple Wi-Fi networks but cannot connect to any of them. Other devices in the same location connect without issue. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1201 exam often tests the distinction between the ability to scan/detect networks (Layer 2 passive/active scanning) and the ability to authenticate/associate (Layer 2 authentication handshake), leading candidates to incorrectly suspect hardware or interference issues when the real problem is credential mismatch.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The laptop has an incorrect or outdated Wi-Fi password saved for the networks.
The laptop can see multiple Wi-Fi networks (indicating the wireless adapter is functional and scanning is successful) but fails to connect to any of them. This points to a common credential mismatch issue: if the saved password for a network is incorrect or outdated, the 4-way handshake (WPA2/WPA3) will fail, preventing association even though the SSID is visible. Other devices connecting successfully rules out router-side problems.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The laptop's wireless adapter is disabled in Device Manager.
Why it's wrong here
When a wireless adapter is disabled in Device Manager, its hardware interface is completely deactivated by the operating system. This state prevents the adapter from scanning for available Wi-Fi networks or transmitting any signals, meaning the laptop would not display any SSIDs in its network list. Therefore, if the user reports seeing multiple networks, the adapter must be enabled and functioning at a basic level.
- ✗
The Wi-Fi router is out of range.
Why it's wrong here
If a laptop is able to 'see multiple' Wi-Fi networks, it inherently means that its wireless adapter is receiving broadcast signals from those access points. Being 'out of range' would prevent the laptop from detecting any network SSIDs whatsoever, or at best, only extremely weak, intermittent signals from a single distant source. The ability to list several networks confirms that the device is within the operational broadcast radius of multiple routers.
- ✓
The laptop has an incorrect or outdated Wi-Fi password saved for the networks.
Why this is correct
An incorrect or outdated Wi-Fi password, also known as a Pre-Shared Key (PSK), will prevent a laptop from successfully authenticating with an access point, even if the network's SSID is clearly visible. The laptop can detect the network and attempt to connect, but the authentication handshake will fail due to the credential mismatch. This scenario perfectly aligns with seeing networks but being unable to establish a connection, often resolved by 'forgetting' the network and re-entering the correct password.
- ✗
The laptop's Bluetooth is interfering with Wi-Fi.
Why it's wrong here
While Bluetooth and Wi-Fi often share the 2.4 GHz frequency band and can cause interference, this typically manifests as intermittent connection drops, reduced throughput, or erratic signal strength, rather than a complete inability to connect to any visible network. Such interference would degrade the quality of an existing connection or make establishing one difficult, but it wouldn't prevent the initial authentication process across all available networks if the passwords were correct. A total connection failure across multiple networks due to Bluetooth interference is less common than a credential issue.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Hardware and Components
Key term
Laptop
A portable personal computer that integrates a display, keyboard, touchpad, battery, and internal components into a single clamshell device for mobile computing.
Key term
WPA2
WPA2 is a security protocol used to protect Wi-Fi networks by encrypting data transmitted between devices and the access point.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.