If your Wi-Fi icon has disappeared and your wireless adapter is missing from Device Manager, your system has lost communication with your network card. Follow these troubleshooting steps in order to restore your connection.
1. Reveal Hidden Devices
Sometimes Windows hides a device after a driver crash.
- Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
- Click View > Show hidden devices.
- Go to Action > Scan for hardware changes.
- Expand Network adapters to see if your card appears.
2. Perform a Hard Power Reset
Residual electricity can keep a network card stuck in a 'sleep' state.
- Laptops: Unplug the power adapter and all peripherals. Shut down completely. Hold the power button for 30–60 seconds, then plug it in and turn it on.
- Desktops: Shut down, switch off the power supply unit (PSU), and unplug the cable. Hold the power button for 30 seconds to drain capacitors, then reconnect and restart.
3. Update/Reinstall the Network Driver
Corrupted drivers can cause the adapter to vanish.
- Visit your PC manufacturer’s support website, search for your exact model, and download the latest network adapter driver.
- Install the driver and restart your computer.
4. Enable WLAN AutoConfig Service
- Press
Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
- Locate WLAN AutoConfig.
- Right-click it, select Properties, set the Startup type to Automatic, and ensure it is Running.
5. Reset Winsock Settings
- Press
Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run as Administrator.
- Run these commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip resetipconfig /releaseipconfig /renewipconfig /flushdns
- Restart your computer.
6. Check BIOS/UEFI Settings
If the card was disabled at the firmware level, Windows cannot see it.
- Enter your BIOS/UEFI (usually F2, Del, or F12 during startup).
- Look for "Onboard Devices," "Integrated Peripherals," or "Wireless" settings.
- Ensure the Wi-Fi controller is set to Enabled.
7. Physical Hardware Check
- Reseat the Card: If you are comfortable opening your device, locate the M.2 Wi-Fi card, remove it, clean the contacts, and firmly re-seat it.
- Use a USB Adapter: If the internal card has failed, a low-cost USB Wi-Fi dongle is a reliable, plug-and-play alternative to restore internet access.
