Network Adapter missing in Windows 10? 11 Working Ways to Fix it!

If you don’t see Wireless Adapter under Network Connections neither there is a Network adapter tab under device manager then it seems like your Network Adapter is missing or not detected on your Windows 10 which is a serious issue because you won’t be able to access the Internet until the issue is resolved. In short, when you click on the Wireless icon on the system tray there won’t be any device listed in order to connect to the Internet and if you open Device Manager then you won’t see the Network Adapter tab.

Fix Network Adapter Missing in Windows 10

These are the reasons behind the Network Adapter missing issue:

  • Network adapter missing in Device manager
  • No Network Adapters showing in Device Manager
  • Network Adapter Not Detected
  • Network Adapter Not Found Windows 10
  • No Network Adapter In Device Manager

The main cause of this issue seems to be outdated, incompatible or corrupted Network Adapter drivers. If you have recently upgraded from previous versions of Windows then it’s possible that the old drivers will not work with the new Windows and hence the issue. So without wasting any time let’s see how to actually Fix Network Adapter Missing in Windows 10 issue with the below-listed troubleshooting steps.

Note: Just make sure to uninstall any VPN software on your PC before continuing.

Fix Network Adapter Missing in Windows 10

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Reboot your Computer

Most of us know about this very basic trick. Rebooting your computer can sometimes fix any software conflict by giving it a fresh start. So if you are someone who would rather put their computer on sleep, restarting your computer is a good idea.

1. Click on the Start menu and then click on the Power button available at the bottom left corner.

Click on the Start menu and then click on the Power button available at the bottom left corner

2. Next, click on the Restart option and your computer will restart itself.

Click on the Restart option and your computer will restart itself

After the computer restarts, check if your problem is resolved or not.

Method 2: Flush DNS and Reset Winsock Components

1. Open elevated Command Prompt.

2. Now type the following command and press Enter after each one:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew

Flush DNS

3. Again open Command Prompt and type the following command one by one and hit enter after each one:

ipconfig /flushdns
nbtstat –r
netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset

4. Reboot to apply changes. Flushing DNS seems to Fix Network Adapter Driver Issues on Windows 10.

Method 3: Run WWAN AutoConfig Service

1. Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.

Press Windows + R and type services.msc and hit Enter

2. Find WWAN AutoConfig Service in the list (press W to reach to the end of the list quickly).

3. Double-click on WWAN AutoConfig Service.

Find WWAN AutoConfig Service in the list (press W to reach to the end of the list quickly)

4. If the service is already running then click on Stop, then from the Startup type drop-down select Automatic.

Set the Startup type of WWAN AutoConfig to Automatic

5. Click Apply followed by OK.

6. Right-click on the WWAN AutoConfig Service and select Start.

Method 4: Update Network Adapter Drivers

1. Press Windows key + R and type “devmgmt.msc” in Run dialogue box to open device manager.

devmgmt.msc device manager

2. Expand Network adapters, then right-click on your Wi-Fi controller (for example Broadcom or Intel) and select Update Driver Software.

Network adapters right click and update drivers

3. Now select “Search for automatically for updated driver software“.

Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

4. Now Windows will automatically search for the Network driver update and if new update is found, it will automatically download and install it.

5. Once finished, close everything and reboot your PC.

6. If you’re still facing the Network Adapter Missing in Windows 10 issue, then again right-click on your WiFi controller and select Update driver in Device Manager.

7. Now, in the Update Driver Software Windows, select “Browse my computer for driver software.

Select Browse my computer for driver software

8. Now select “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.

Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer

9. Try to update drivers from the listed versions (make sure to checkmark compatible hardware).

10. If the above didn’t work then go to the manufacturer’s website to update drivers.

download driver from manufacturer's website

11. Download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website then restart your PC.

Method 5: Uninstall Network Adapter Drivers

1. Press Windows Key + R then type “devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Device Manager.

devmgmt.msc device manager

2. Expand Network Adapters and find your network adapter name.

3. Make sure you note down the adapter name just in case something goes wrong.

4. Right-click on your network adapter and uninstall it.

uninstall network adapter

5. It will ask for confirmation select Yes.

6. Restart your PC and Windows will automatically install the network adapter drivers again.

7. If the drivers are not installed automatically then again open the Device Manager.

8. From the Device Manager menu, click on Action then click on “Scan for hardware changes“.

action scan for hardware changes

Method 6: Make sure Windows is up to date

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & Security.

Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & security icon

2. From the left-hand side, menu click on Windows Update.

3. Now click on the “Check for updates” button to check for any available updates.

Check for Windows Updates | Speed Up Your SLOW Computer

4. If any updates are pending then click on Download & Install updates.

Check for Update Windows will start downloading updates

5. Once the updates are downloaded, install them and your Windows will become up-to-date.

6. After the updates are installed reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 7: Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & Security.

Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & security icon

2. From the left-hand menu select Troubleshoot.

3. Under Troubleshoot click on Internet Connections and then click Run the troubleshooter.

Click on Internet Connections and then click Run the troubleshooter

4. Follow further on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter.

5. If the above didn’t fix the issue then from the Troubleshoot window, click on Network Adapter and then click on Run the troubleshooter.

Click on Network Adapter and then click on Run the troubleshooter

5. Reboot your PC to save changes and see if you’re able to fix the Network Adapter Missing issue.

Method 8: Install Intel PROSet/Wireless Software

Sometimes the problem is caused due to outdated Intel PROSet Software, hence updating it seems to fix Network Adapter Missing in Windows 10 issue. Therefore, go here and download the latest version of PROSet/Wireless Software and install it. This is a third party software which manages your WiFi connection instead of Windows and if PROset/Wireless Software is outdated is can cause drivers issue in Wireless Network Adapter. Hence, read How to Update Network Adapter Drivers on Windows 10.

Method 9: Reset Network Connection

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Network & Internet.

Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Network & Internet

2. From the left-hand menu select Status.

3. Now scroll down and click on Network reset at the bottom.

Under Status click Network reset

4. Again click on “Reset now” under Network reset section.

Under Network reset click Reset now

5. This will successfully reset your network adapter and once it is complete the system will be restarted.

Method 10: Perform a System Restore

System Restore always works in resolving the error, therefore System Restore can definitely help you in fixing this error. So without wasting any time run system restore in order to resolve Network Adapter Missing issue. 

How to use System Restore on Windows 10

Method 11: Using elevated Command Prompt

1. Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt with admin rights

2. Type the following command into cmd and hit Enter:

netcfg –s n

Run netcfg –s n command in cmd

3. This will display a list of networking protocols and in that list find DNI_DNE.

4. If DNI_DNE is listed then type the following command into cmd:

reg delete HKCR\CLSID\{988248f3-a1ad-49bf-9170-676cbbc36ba3} /va /f

netcfg -v -u dni_dne

Delete the DNI_DNE entry through command prmpt

5. If you don’t see DNI_DNE listed then only run the command netcfg -v -u dni_dne.

6. Now if you receive the error 0x80004002 after trying to run the above command then you need to delete the above key manually.

7. Press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter.

Run command regedit

8. Navigate to the following Registry Key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{988248f3-a1ad-49bf-9170-676cbbc36ba3}

9. Delete this key and then again type netcfg -v -u dni_dne command in cmd.

10. Reboot your PC to save changes.

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That’s it you have successfully Fix Network Adapter Missing in Windows 10 but if you still have any questions regarding this post then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.

6 thoughts on “Network Adapter missing in Windows 10? 11 Working Ways to Fix it!”

  1. You keeprobably saying go to this site or tat site and download, but if the issue is that the adapter is missing you are incapable of going to such sites in order to download. In that case how do you fix.

  2. I am having 64 bit windows 10..my lan is realtek pci gee family conrtroller.(dg41rq). in device manager it’s name is not visible .. other some wan miniport are available in network adapter category.. earlier it was working fine.. but suddenly it. Is showing no connection available.. if I am trying to install drivers.. it is not able to detect. From realtek windows 10 Lan driver is not there.. my motherboard number is dg41rq..plz give suggestion

  3. Hi all. I am a teacher who is in desperate need of help with this. My desktop (which I use a lot) cannot connect to the internet. Ethernet cord is not an option right now. It had connected previously to WiFi. I followed some of the steps above and when I get to:

    Device Manager –> Network Adapters –> I do not see the WiFi connection there at all. I see Qualcomm Atheros AR8161 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.30) and a bunch of WAN Miniport things.. (no idea what they are)..

    What do to next from here? The WiFi is just “missing”…

    Thank you in advance…

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