WiFi Driver Not Working? Complete Fix Guide for Windows 10/11
Your WiFi suddenly stopped working. The network icon shows a red X or yellow warning. You might see "No connections available" even though your phone connects to the same network just fine.
This is almost always a WiFi driver problem—and the good news is you can fix it without paying for tech support or buying a new computer.
Need immediate help? Talk to a Live Tech Expert who can walk you through the fix step-by-step.
Why WiFi Drivers Break
WiFi drivers are software that lets Windows communicate with your wireless adapter. They break for several reasons:
- Windows Update conflicts - A recent update may have replaced or corrupted your driver
- Driver corruption - Files got damaged during a crash or improper shutdown
- Hardware detection failures - Windows lost track of your WiFi adapter
- Power management issues - Settings turned off your adapter to save battery
Quick Fixes to Try First
1. Restart Your Computer
Seriously—this fixes more WiFi problems than you would expect. A fresh boot reloads all drivers.
2. Check the Physical WiFi Switch
Many laptops have a physical switch or function key (usually F2 or Fn+F2) that enables/disables WiFi. Make sure it is ON.
3. Run the Network Troubleshooter
- Right-click the WiFi icon in your taskbar
- Select "Troubleshoot problems"
- Follow the prompts
Windows will attempt to detect and fix common issues automatically.
Fix 1: Update or Reinstall the WiFi Driver
This is the most reliable fix for driver problems:
- Press Windows + X and select Device Manager
- Expand Network adapters
- Right-click your WiFi adapter (usually has "Wireless" or "WiFi" in the name)
- Select Update driver → Search automatically for drivers
If that does not work:
- Right-click the adapter again
- Select Uninstall device
- Check "Delete the driver software for this device"
- Restart your computer
- Windows will reinstall a fresh driver on boot
Fix 2: Roll Back the Driver
If WiFi stopped working after an update:
- Open Device Manager
- Right-click your WiFi adapter → Properties
- Go to the Driver tab
- Click Roll Back Driver
This reverts to the previous working version.
Fix 3: Download Driver Without Internet
No internet makes downloading drivers tricky. Here is how to work around it:
Option A: Use your phone as a hotspot
- Enable Mobile Hotspot on your phone
- Connect your laptop via USB tethering
- Download the driver from your laptop manufacturer website
Option B: Use another computer
- Go to your laptop manufacturer website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.)
- Find your model and download the WiFi driver
- Copy it to a USB drive
- Install on your laptop
Fix 4: Reset Network Settings
- Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Status
- Scroll down and click Network reset
- Click Reset now
- Restart your computer
This removes all network adapters and reinstalls them with default settings.
Fix 5: Check Power Management
Windows sometimes disables WiFi to save power:
- Open Device Manager
- Right-click your WiFi adapter → Properties
- Go to Power Management tab
- Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
- Click OK
Still Not Working?
If none of these fixes work, you might have:
- A hardware failure (the WiFi chip itself is broken)
- A BIOS setting disabling WiFi
- Severe driver corruption requiring a Windows repair
Get Live Expert Help Now - A certified technician can diagnose the exact issue remotely.
Related Resources
Recommended Products
If your internal WiFi adapter is dead, these USB WiFi adapters work great:
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This guide is part of the MrGrid.io troubleshooting library. For more tech fixes, visit mrgrid.io.
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