Hello, (Apologies in advance if pictures are too big, I'm not sure how to resize them in this platform) I turned on my laptop and it couldn't detect any Wi-Fi network anymore. Here is what it looks like: Taskbar connections bar No "Wi-Fi" option in Network & Internet settings: Here are the steps I have taken so far in chronological order: Step: I have run different Windows troubleshooters Conclusion: None find anything Step: I have tried to enable IPv6 for Wi-Fi in Network and Sharing Centre -> Change Adapter settings : Conclusion: Didn't work, since in the center to see the networks, Wi-Fi doesn't show up as an option Picture: Step: I have tried setting the WLAN AutoConfig to Automatic in the CTRL+R -> services.msc window Conclusion: This was already set to automatic and didn't do anything: Picture: Step: I have tried using the Network reset option in the settings Conclusion: Didn't seem to change anything Step: I had a VPN which I removed. However, this was a university VPN, which appeared in the connections bar, so not a commercial VPN through an app, just a VPN that was set up through the Windows VPN settings. Conclusion: Didn't seem to change anything I would really appreciate it if someone could provide a solution on how to fix this issue.

Hi Calvo Peiro, Nicolas . Sorry for the delay, Go back to Device Manager, right click on the network adapters node, select Scan for hardware changes. See if the WiFi adapter reappears in the list. If it still doesn't appear, click on View> Show hidden devices, see if your WiFi adapter is there, possibly uninstall it and then restart the laptop. Do you know the exact model of your WiFi adapter?

I had this problem after trying to update windows. The update kept failing to install & eventually began crashing my pc*. It wouldn’t load past the main windows screen & if it did it would often crash. I did a factory reset & tried all the steps above & nothing worked. solution: added my home wifi under networks manually. Disabled all drivers & then enabled them. Connected to my phone’s hotspot & checked for updates on drivers & it worked! I installed the new driver & my network finally appeared! I had no clue as to what I was doing but it could be something so simple. Hopefully this helps someone in the future. Because I for one, was ready to toss my pc.

Solution for me - Start - services - search WLAN Autoconfig - if it is turned off, turn it on and set it to launch automatically

Had this happen when I took my computer for a short weekend trip. After getting to our destination my wifi was no longer registering as being on my system - tried most of the things above and when I tried the one about going into BIOS I noticed a setting for LAN wake on AC power only - SOOO I plugged in my computer to power charger and low and behold my wi-fi came back! Hope this helps someone else as it was several hours of me trying all sorts of things and this simple plugging in the battery charger fixed it!

Wi-Fi completely disappeared from computer in Windows 10. How to fix?

Calvo Peiro, Nicolas 40

Hello,

(Apologies in advance if pictures are too big, I'm not sure how to resize them in this platform)

I turned on my laptop and it couldn't detect any Wi-Fi network anymore.

Here is what it looks like:

Taskbar connections bar
No "Wi-Fi" option in Network & Internet settings:

Screenshot network settings

Here are the steps I have taken so far in chronological order:

Step: I have run different Windows troubleshooters Conclusion: None find anything
Step: I have tried to enable IPv6 for Wi-Fi in Network and Sharing Centre -> Change Adapter settings: Conclusion: Didn't work, since in the center to see the networks, Wi-Fi doesn't show up as an option Picture:

Screenshot no IPV6

Step: I have tried setting the WLAN AutoConfig to Automatic in the CTRL+R -> services.msc window Conclusion: This was already set to automatic and didn't do anything: Picture:

Screenshot WLAN AutoConfig

Step: I have tried using the Network reset option in the settings Conclusion: Didn't seem to change anything
Step: I had a VPN which I removed. However, this was a university VPN, which appeared in the connections bar, so not a commercial VPN through an app, just a VPN that was set up through the Windows VPN settings. Conclusion: Didn't seem to change anything

I would really appreciate it if someone could provide a solution on how to fix this issue.

Ethan Woodie 0 Reputation points

2023-12-04T19:17:38.98+00:00

I'm having the exact same issue after having to reset my computer recently. I've followed to steps in this thread: verified that the wifi adapter is enabled in the BIOS, check on the network adapter node of the device manager, scanned for hardware changes and showed hidden devices. This made the wifi adapter appear on the list, but nothing else changed. Wifi was still completely gone from all options and menus, etc. I uninstalled it and restarted my computer, but apparently it didn't reinstall? Now the wifi adapter doesn't show up on the device list, even after scanning for hardware and showing hidden devices.

Tried a network reset, didn't fix it. I may have to try reinstalling windows or something, but before I do, is there anything else I can try? Thanks.
Calvo Peiro, Nicolas 40 Reputation points

2023-12-04T19:51:12.41+00:00
Hello,
That's pretty interesting because out of nowhere today, the problem happened to me again and I couldn't fix it using these methods either. I looked more into it, and for me it says it is a hardware problem. But I think that it is a wrong error message and it is a software problem from the solution that I found:
SOLUTION
DISCLAIMER: This worked for me but do this at your own risk, I have no idea of what I am doing.

I went to Device Manager -> Action -> Add legacy hardware -> Recommended -> Network Adapters -> Microsoft -> Network Adapter Microsoft Hyper-V for WiFi -> Add it

Then I restarted my computer

Then my computer wouldn't restart, so I restarted it 3 times until it went into repair mode

Then by going into repair mode, the computer brought back the network adapter

COMMENTS (PLEASE READ)
So basically, by breaking the computer, it went into repair mode, which fixed the problem.

If this was a hardware problem, doing this wouldn't fix it.

The problem came back later and I had to do it again.

This is not a viable thing to do so I am going to backup my important files and reinstall windows, but maybe it helps you for now.

Also, i don't know if this is related, but my screen projector driver doesn't work anymore, so I can't connect to a monitor (further reason for me to reinstall windows).
Ethan Woodie 0 Reputation points

2023-12-04T22:22:30.46+00:00

Well just as a heads-up: I reset my PC (again), reinstalled Windows 10, and it didn't fix anything. The missing driver is back, but wifi options are still completely gone from my PC, and I'm at a loss for what to try next.
CHADOLS 0 Reputation points

2024-01-07T19:53:01.7033333+00:00

Encountered this issue today, too. It’s likely a hardware problem. I’ll get a USB WiFi adapter and see if it works.
Calvo Peiro, Nicolas 40 Reputation points

2024-01-09T10:49:52.6866667+00:00

@CHADOLS Let me know if that works, i've been using ethernet for now.
Calvo Peiro, Nicolas 40 Reputation points

2024-01-09T10:51:03.9866667+00:00

@Ethan Woodie it's not ideal but at least with my laptop (ASUS), if I need to use wifi, i restart it 3 times without logging in and the repair mode activates which fixes it temporarily.
Victor Torres 5 Reputation points

2024-01-16T20:19:01.09+00:00

As stated by other comments go to Device Manager and locate your network adapter. In my case I was able to see it with a "⚠️" next to it and I just disabled it and enabled it again and it worked without having to restart or do anything else. Either way it's the second time this exact issue happened to me... I wonder why it happens...
Tobi Sund 0 Reputation points

2024-05-03T19:01:11.5866667+00:00

Victor, your response worked for me today!
cyruz 0 Reputation points

2024-05-24T23:12:40.86+00:00

I have the same issue i tired all the ways and i was in windows 11 and i rolled back to windows 10 its still same am using a Asus tuf and have media tek wifi driver please someone help to fix this isssue

Accepted answer

franco d'esaro 286 Reputation points

2023-01-26T17:31:46.68+00:00

Hi Calvo Peiro, Nicolas.

Sorry for the delay, Go back to Device Manager, right click on the network adapters node, select Scan for hardware changes. See if the WiFi adapter reappears in the list. If it still doesn't appear, click on View> Show hidden devices, see if your WiFi adapter is there, possibly uninstall it and then restart the laptop. Do you know the exact model of your WiFi adapter?
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2 people found this answer helpful.
Calvo Peiro, Nicolas 40 Reputation points

2023-01-31T11:42:10.33+00:00

Scanning for hardware changes and pressing the show hidden devices fixed it, I can see and connect to Wi-Fi networks now.

Thanks a lot for the help!

King of Spades 0 Reputation points

2023-07-28T14:38:33.5366667+00:00

I have the same issue in Windows 11 and I disable and re-enable the wireless adapter in Device Manager to get everything back without restarting. This happens all the time and it's very irritating. If I can do that, then it's not a hardware issue, it's Windows. MS should fix this bug, because it's been around for a long time. I've seen this issue on laptops with Windows 7, 10, and 11.

Đức Mạnh 0 Reputation points

2023-09-11T23:56:07.49+00:00

Hey man, sorry to bother you but i have the same problem, but the annoying part is after i did the exact same steps, i have to restart the laptop multiple times, and when i enter a game (i.e Honkai Star Rail or Honkai Impact, both of which is not some heavy, AAA games that requires maximum performance from my laptop), the same problem returned. Can you have any suggestion to fix this pernamently? Thanks alot!

Đức Mạnh 0 Reputation points

2023-09-11T23:59:50.7933333+00:00

I have the same problem, but i have to restart the laptop multiple times, but when i enter a game (i.e Honkai Star Rail, Honkai Impact, both of which is not a heavy game that require maximum performance from my gaming laptop), the problem returned. Do you have any suggestion to fix this? Thanks alot!

Sig Froelich 0 Reputation points

2024-01-17T17:24:34.59+00:00

I lost all traces of an option to connect to a network after allowing Avast driver updater update. I used the above fix, but when I listed the Network Adapter and found my USB wireless LAN Card, I was able to find a dialogue box that showed the latest activity which showed the driver update and offered a button to revert to the previous driver. I clicked it, waited 20 seconds and the network came back, connected to the internet and I was done. What a relief. I am not extremely computer savvy and this tested my limits. Thank you for the post.

Joseph Michalides 0 Reputation points

2024-07-30T16:59:10.1533333+00:00

I did the suggested steps and still did not see anything with WiFi on it. Just below was Other devices, clicked on this and saw another Network adapter. Right cliked on this and saw it had a device error so I releoaded it. Everything is good now. I see lots of Wi-Fi listings now.
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7 additional answers

Vixral 0 Reputation points

2024-04-03T18:07:53.76+00:00

I had this problem after trying to update windows. The update kept failing to install & eventually began crashing my pc*. It wouldn’t load past the main windows screen & if it did it would often crash. I did a factory reset & tried all the steps above & nothing worked.

solution: added my home wifi under networks manually. Disabled all drivers & then enabled them. Connected to my phone’s hotspot & checked for updates on drivers & it worked! I installed the new driver & my network finally appeared!

I had no clue as to what I was doing but it could be something so simple. Hopefully this helps someone in the future. Because I for one, was ready to toss my pc.
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Tomáš Jeřábek 0 Reputation points

2024-08-26T08:54:20.05+00:00

Solution for me - Start - services - search WLAN Autoconfig - if it is turned off, turn it on and set it to launch automatically
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Health Mentor 0 Reputation points

2024-09-29T15:45:26.3266667+00:00

Had this happen when I took my computer for a short weekend trip. After getting to our destination my wifi was no longer registering as being on my system - tried most of the things above and when I tried the one about going into BIOS I noticed a setting for LAN wake on AC power only - SOOO I plugged in my computer to power charger and low and behold my wi-fi came back! Hope this helps someone else as it was several hours of me trying all sorts of things and this simple plugging in the battery charger fixed it!
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