A missing Wi‑Fi or Ethernet adapter in Windows 10 or Windows 11 is usually restored by re-enabling or reinstalling its driver, resetting the Winsock/TCP-IP networking components, and—only if those steps fail—using Network reset. This guide supports Windows 10 and Windows 11 and applies when the adapter has disappeared from Settings, the taskbar network menu, or Device Manager, or appears with a warning icon or a Device Manager error code.

Prerequisites and compatibility​

  • Sign in with an administrator account. Driver removal, driver rollback, command-line repairs, and Network reset require elevation.
  • Save open work before restarting.
  • If this is a laptop with only Wi‑Fi, download the correct wireless driver from the PC manufacturer’s official support site first, using another device if possible. Save it to a USB drive. This gives you a recovery path if Windows does not automatically reinstall the driver.
  • If Ethernet is missing, test with a known-good Ethernet cable and another router or switch port before changing Windows.
  • Do not download drivers from generic “driver updater” sites. Use Windows Update or the PC/network-adapter manufacturer.
Warning — Network reset is disruptive. It removes and reinstalls network adapters and restores their settings to defaults. You may need to reconnect to Wi‑Fi, reinstall or reconfigure VPN software, virtual switches, or virtualization networking such as Hyper‑V. Known networks can be changed to the Public profile, so file sharing and device discovery may stop until you change the connection back to Private. Use it only near the end of this guide.
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Primary procedure​

1. Confirm whether Windows can still see the physical adapter​

  1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand Network adapters.
  3. Look for the physical adapter. Typical names include:
    • Intel, Realtek, Qualcomm, MediaTek, Broadcom, or Killer
    • Terms such as Wireless, Wi‑Fi, 802.11, Ethernet, PCIe, or GbE
  4. Do not mistake virtual adapters for the physical device. Entries such as VPN adapters, Bluetooth PAN, WAN Miniport, Hyper‑V Virtual Ethernet Adapter, VMware, VirtualBox, or TAP adapters are not usually the adapter you need to restore.
  5. Select View > Show hidden devices. A faded adapter entry indicates a device Windows previously knew about but is not currently detecting.
Expected result: Your Wi‑Fi or Ethernet adapter is visible under Network adapters, either normally, disabled, or with a warning icon.
If the adapter appears:
  • If it has a downward arrow, right-click it and choose Enable device.
  • If it has a yellow warning triangle, right-click it, select Properties, and note the message under Device status. Common useful codes include:
    • Code 22: The device is disabled. Enable it.
    • Code 28: No driver is installed. Install the manufacturer driver.
    • Code 31, 37, or 43: The driver or device failed to start. Reinstall the driver and, if necessary, check for a manufacturer BIOS/firmware update.
  • If it is faded, right-click it and select Uninstall device, then use Action > Scan for hardware changes. Continue with the driver repair steps below if it does not return normally.
If no physical Wi‑Fi or Ethernet adapter appears anywhere in Device Manager, skip ahead to the troubleshooting section after completing the Scan for hardware changes check in Step 3.

2. Check for an accidentally disabled connection​

An adapter may exist in Device Manager but be disabled at the network-connection level.
  1. Press Windows key + R.
  2. Type the following and press Enter:
    ncpa.cpl
  3. In Network Connections, locate Wi‑Fi or Ethernet.
  4. If its icon is gray and the menu offers Enable, right-click it and select Enable.
  5. Wait 10–20 seconds.
Expected result: The icon is no longer gray. A Wi‑Fi adapter should offer available wireless networks; an Ethernet adapter should show an active connection when a working cable is connected.
If Wi‑Fi remains unavailable, also check the laptop’s physical wireless switch, function-key wireless toggle, or airplane-mode key. These controls vary by manufacturer and can disable the radio independently of Windows Settings.

3. Scan for the adapter again​

  1. In Device Manager, select your computer name at the top of the device tree.
  2. Select Action > Scan for hardware changes.
  3. Expand Network adapters again.
Expected result: Windows redetects the adapter and either loads its existing driver or displays it as an unknown device or a device with a warning symbol.
If a device appears under Other devices as Network Controller, Ethernet Controller, or Unknown device, Windows sees the hardware but lacks a compatible driver. Go directly to Step 5.

4. Update the existing adapter driver​

Use this step when the adapter is present but malfunctioning, has a warning symbol, or stopped working after an update.
  1. In Device Manager, expand Network adapters.
  2. Right-click the physical Wi‑Fi or Ethernet adapter and choose Update driver.
  3. Select Search automatically for drivers.
  4. If Windows finds and installs a driver, select Close when finished.
  5. Restart the PC even if Windows does not explicitly require it.
If Windows reports that the best driver is already installed, check Windows Update:
Windows 11
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Windows Update.
  3. Select Advanced options > Optional updates.
  4. Open Driver updates, if available.
  5. Select the applicable network-driver update and choose Download & install.
  6. Restart the PC.
Windows 10
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Update & Security > Windows Update.
  3. Select View optional updates, if shown.
  4. Expand Driver updates.
  5. Select the applicable network driver, then choose Download and install.
  6. Restart the PC.
Expected result: The physical adapter remains listed in Device Manager without a warning icon and reappears in the taskbar network controls or Settings.

5. Reinstall the adapter driver​

Use this when updating did not work, Device Manager shows a driver-related error, or the adapter disappeared after a failed update.
Warning — Uninstalling the adapter temporarily removes network access. Before continuing on a Wi‑Fi-only computer, have the correct manufacturer driver available on local storage or a USB drive. Do not select driver-package removal unless you have the replacement driver or Windows can restore it after a restart.
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  1. In Device Manager, expand Network adapters.
  2. Right-click the physical Wi‑Fi or Ethernet adapter and select Uninstall device.
  3. If the dialog contains Attempt to remove the driver for this device or similarly worded checkbox, leave it cleared for the first attempt.
  4. Select Uninstall.
  5. Restart the computer: right-click Start > Shut down or sign out > Restart.
  6. After restart, return to Device Manager.
Expected result: Windows attempts to rediscover the hardware and reinstall a driver automatically.
If the adapter returns, test it before making any more changes. If it returns with a warning icon or does not return, install the driver package you obtained from the PC manufacturer:
  1. Run the manufacturer’s installer, if it provides one; then restart.
  2. If the download contains extracted driver files instead:
    • In Device Manager, right-click the adapter or Network Controller.
    • Select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers.
    • Select Browse, choose the folder containing the extracted driver files, then select Next.
  3. Restart after installation.

6. Reset Winsock and TCP/IP​

Use this step when the adapter is visible and enabled but Windows cannot connect properly, the network icon remains incorrect, VPN/security software was removed, or application networking is broken after a driver repair.
Warning — These commands reset networking components. They can remove custom TCP/IP settings. Record any static IP address, DNS server, gateway, proxy, or corporate-network configuration before continuing. Restarting is required for the changes to take effect.
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  1. Right-click Start.
  2. Select Terminal (Admin) on Windows 11, or Windows PowerShell (Admin) / Command Prompt (Admin) on Windows 10.
  3. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
  4. Run these commands one at a time:
    Code: 
    netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt
ipconfig /flushdns
  5. Restart Windows.
netsh winsock reset restores the Winsock catalog to a clean state. netsh int ip reset resets TCP/IP configuration and writes actions to resetlog.txt in the current command folder.
Expected result: After restart, the adapter is still present and Windows can obtain an IP address or reconnect to Wi‑Fi. You may need to reconnect to your wireless network manually.

7. Use Network reset only if the adapter is present but still unusable​

Complete this only after the driver and command repairs have failed.
Windows 11
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Network & internet.
  3. Select Advanced network settings.
  4. Select Network reset.
  5. Select Reset now.
  6. Select Yes to confirm.
  7. Allow Windows to restart. Do not power off the computer during the reset.
Windows 10
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Network & Internet.
  3. Select Status.
  4. Scroll down and select Network reset.
  5. Select Reset now.
  6. Select Yes to confirm.
  7. Allow Windows to restart.
Expected result: Windows removes and then reinstalls network adapters during restart. The Wi‑Fi or Ethernet adapter should appear again in Device Manager and in the network controls.
Afterward:
  1. Reconnect to Wi‑Fi by selecting the network icon on the taskbar, choosing your wireless network, and entering its password.
  2. If you use a VPN, corporate endpoint agent, Hyper‑V, VMware, VirtualBox, or custom virtual networking, reinstall or reconfigure its networking components as needed.
  3. If your home or work network should permit sharing, change its profile back to Private:
    • Windows 11: Settings > Network & internet > select Wi‑Fi or Ethernet > select the connected network > Network profile type > Private.
    • Windows 10: Settings > Network & Internet > Wi‑Fi or Ethernet > select the connected network > turn on Make this PC discoverable where appropriate.

Verification of success​

Verify the repair in this order:
  1. Open Device Manager > Network adapters. The physical Wi‑Fi or Ethernet adapter should be listed without a warning symbol.
  2. Press Windows key + R, enter ncpa.cpl, and confirm that Wi‑Fi or Ethernet is enabled.
  3. Open Settings:
    • Windows 11: Network & internet.
    • Windows 10: Network & Internet > Status.
  4. Connect to a known-good Wi‑Fi network or connect Ethernet.
  5. Open Terminal, PowerShell, or Command Prompt and run:
    ipconfig
    Under the active adapter, look for an IPv4 address and a Default Gateway. An address beginning with 169.254. usually means Windows did not receive an address from the router or DHCP server.
  6. Browse to two unrelated websites. If the adapter is present but only one network fails, test another Wi‑Fi network, a phone hotspot, or another Ethernet port before changing Windows again.

Troubleshooting and rollback/escalation​

The adapter is absent from Device Manager, even after scanning​

If no physical adapter appears under Network adapters, Other devices, or hidden devices, Windows is not detecting it. Network reset and Winsock repair cannot restore hardware that firmware or the system cannot see.
  1. Fully shut down the PC.
  2. Disconnect AC power. For a laptop, disconnect its charger; do not open the chassis unless you are comfortable doing so.
  3. Wait 30 seconds, reconnect power, and start the PC.
  4. Enter the BIOS/UEFI setup using the key shown at startup—commonly F2, Delete, Esc, or F10.
  5. Look for a setting such as Wireless LAN, WLAN, Internal NIC, Onboard LAN, or Network Controller. Confirm it is enabled.
  6. Save changes and restart.
If the adapter remains absent, install the current chipset and network drivers from the PC manufacturer, then check for a manufacturer BIOS/UEFI update specifically applicable to your exact model. If neither Windows nor firmware detects an internal adapter, treat it as a likely hardware issue and contact the PC manufacturer or use a supported USB Wi‑Fi/Ethernet adapter.

The adapter returns but has Code 10, 31, 43, or repeatedly disappears​

First use Device Manager > adapter Properties > Driver tab:
  • Select Roll Back Driver if the failure began immediately after a driver or Windows update and the button is available.
  • Restart after rollback.
If rollback is unavailable or fails, uninstall the adapter as in Step 5, then install the manufacturer’s network driver manually. Prefer the PC maker’s driver for laptops and prebuilt desktops because it may include device-specific radio, power-management, or firmware support.

Wi‑Fi is missing but Ethernet works​

Use Ethernet temporarily to obtain the correct Wi‑Fi driver through Windows Update or the PC manufacturer. Also check:
  • Airplane mode is off.
  • A physical wireless switch or keyboard wireless toggle is not off.
  • The wireless adapter is enabled in ncpa.cpl.
  • The adapter is not disabled in Device Manager.
  • Any recently installed VPN, endpoint-security, packet-capture, or virtual-machine software is updated or temporarily removed according to its vendor’s instructions.

The adapter works, but there is “No internet” or no IP address​

If ipconfig shows a 169.254.x.x address, the adapter is communicating locally but is not receiving DHCP information. Test a different cable, router port, Wi‑Fi network, or phone hotspot. If other devices also fail on the same network, restart or troubleshoot the router rather than resetting Windows again.
If the connection works on a phone hotspot but not on the usual router, the PC’s adapter and driver are likely functioning; investigate the router, DHCP settings, MAC filtering, captive portal, or enterprise network policy.

Network reset made VPN or virtual networking stop working​

Reinstall or repair the affected product from its official installer. Network reset intentionally removes adapter configurations and can require VPN clients, Hyper‑V virtual switches, VMware, VirtualBox, and similar products to recreate their network components. Do not repeatedly reset networking; restore the affected application’s own networking configuration instead.

Escalate when Windows cannot detect the adapter​

Escalate to the computer manufacturer when the physical Wi‑Fi or Ethernet device is absent from Device Manager after a cold shutdown, hardware scan, correct chipset/network driver installation, and firmware verification. Include the PC model, Windows version, the adapter’s Device Manager status or error code, whether Ethernet or Wi‑Fi works, and whether the adapter is visible in BIOS/UEFI.

References​

  1. Official source: learn.microsoft.com
    learn.microsoft.com

    netsh winsock | Microsoft Learn

    The netsh winsock command manages the Windows Sockets (Winsock) API network communication in Windows.
    learn.microsoft.com
  2. Official source: support.microsoft.com
    support.microsoft.com

    Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows - Microsoft Support

    Learn how to update or reinstall drivers in Windows using Device Manager.
    support.microsoft.com
  3. Official source: support.microsoft.com
    support.microsoft.com

    Error codes in Device Manager in Windows | Microsoft Support

    Lists the error codes that may be reported by Device Manager and the possible resolutions in Windows.
    support.microsoft.com
  4. Official source: learn.microsoft.com
    learn.microsoft.com

    Reset TCP/IP by Using the NetShell Utility - Windows Server | Microsoft Learn

    Provides information about how to reset TCP/IP by using the NetShell utility.
    learn.microsoft.com
 

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