It can be annoying when Windows 11’s Wi-Fi option goes missing, but there are ways to get it back.
Your Windows 11 computer may not show a Wi-Fi connectivity option due to various reasons. Corrupt Wi-Fi drivers, hardware issues, and even problems with the Windows OS can be the potential causes for this problem.
In addition, you may also notice frequent Wi-Fi connection drops. If so, here are a few troubleshooting steps to help you fix the Wi-Fi not working problem in Windows 11.
Windows 11 provides built-in troubleshooters to fix common issues with computer peripherals and network devices. You can run the Internet Connection troubleshooter to scan the system for common problems and fix them automatically.
To run the Internet Connection troubleshooter:
If the issues persist, run the Network Adapter troubleshooter. Here’s how to do it.
Related: How to Get Wi-Fi Without an Internet Service Provider
Windows 11 will not display the Wi-Fi option if the Wi-Fi adapter is disabled. You can manually enable or disable the network devices in the Control Panel.
To enable Wi-Fi adapter:
If it is already enabled, run the network diagnostic to troubleshoot the driver. To do this, right-click on the Wi-Fi adapter and select Diagnose.
Windows will scan the device for issues and recommend a potential fix. Click on Apply this fix to resolve the problem. If not, follow on-screen instructions to try additional recommendations.
If you have recently performed an upgrade, Windows may not have the latest network drivers installed. Corrupt or glitchy network adapter drivers can also cause the Wi-Fi connectivity to malfunction. You can update the network adapter drivers to the latest version to resolve this problem.
To update network adapter drivers:
Additionally, you can also reinstall the network adapter device. This process will remove and then reinstall the network device drivers to fix the common issues.
To reinstall the network adapter device:
Related: How to Fix a Missing Network Adapter in Windows
Windows 11 offers a built-in option to perform a network reset. This process will remove and reinstall the network adapters. In addition, other networking components will reset to their default settings to fix problems triggered due to incorrect network configuration.
To perform a network reset:
This is another fix for PCs with a fresh Windows installation. If you haven't already, run the Windows Update tool to check for pending Windows and third-party vendor updates. These updates can contain bug fixes and essential drivers releases for the network devices.
To check for Windows 11 updates:
Related: How to Fix Windows Update Errors in Windows 11
If the problem persists, consider going back to the previous version of Windows 11. This is particularly useful if the Wi-Fi connectivity issue occurs after performing an upgrade.
To do this, open Settings > System > Recovery. Under Recovery options, click the Go back button and follow on-screen instructions to restore the earlier version of Windows.
This feature, however, is time-sensitive and only available for ten days after performing an upgrade.
Wi-Fi in Windows 11 can stop working for several reasons. However, you can often fix it using the built-in network troubleshooter. Additionally, reinstall or update the network drivers to fix the problem.
If the system still refuses to see your wireless network, check your Wi-Fi card for hardware issues. You can either replace the faulty Wi-Fi card or opt for a Wi-Fi dongle as a quick plug-n-play solution.
Wi-Fi USB adapters are an easy way to add Wi-Fi connectivity to any device. Here are some of the best Wi-Fi USB adapters.
Tashreef is a developer and works as a technical writer at MakeUseOf. With a bachelor’s degree in Computer Applications, he has over 5 years of experience and covers Microsoft Windows and everything around it. When not looking for a missing semicolon or churning out text, you can find him trying FPS titles or looking for new animated shows and movies.
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