How to Fix WiFi Disappeared in Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

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Your WiFi icon vanished from the Windows 11 taskbar, or worse, your network adapter disappeared entirely from Device Manager. This frustrating issue prevents you from connecting to the internet, but it’s fixable. Here’s what actually works.

Why WiFi Disappears in Windows 11

Before diving into solutions, understand what causes this problem. Windows 11 WiFi can disappear due to:

  • Driver conflicts after Windows updates
  • Power management settings that disable the adapter
  • Corrupted network configuration files
  • Disabled WiFi adapter in Device Manager
  • Hardware issues with the wireless card
  • Airplane mode stuck in the on position

Most cases stem from software issues, not hardware failure. Let’s fix them in order of likelihood.

Fix WiFi Disappeared in Windows 11

Quick Fix: Check Airplane Mode First

This sounds obvious, but Airplane Mode getting stuck causes half of all “disappeared WiFi” reports.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + A to open Quick Settings
  2. Look for the Airplane Mode toggle
  3. If it’s blue (enabled), click to disable it
  4. Wait 10 seconds for WiFi to reappear

If Airplane Mode is already off, or toggling it does nothing, move to the next solution.

Restart the WiFi Adapter

Windows 11 sometimes loses track of network hardware. A simple restart fixes this.

Method 1: Through Settings

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings
  2. Click Network & Internet in the left sidebar
  3. Select Advanced network settings
  4. Find your WiFi adapter under Network adapters
  5. Click Disable, wait 5 seconds, then click Enable

Method 2: Through Device Manager

  1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager
  2. Expand Network adapters
  3. Right-click your wireless adapter (usually contains “WiFi” or “Wireless”)
  4. Select Disable device, confirm the warning
  5. Right-click again and select Enable device

Your WiFi icon should reappear within 30 seconds.

Update or Reinstall WiFi Drivers

Driver problems cause 60% of persistent WiFi disappearance issues in 2026. Windows Update sometimes installs incompatible drivers.

Update Drivers Automatically

  1. Open Device Manager (Win + X menu)
  2. Expand Network adapters
  3. Right-click your wireless adapter
  4. Select Update driver
  5. Choose Search automatically for drivers
  6. Let Windows find and install updates
  7. Restart your computer

Manually Download Drivers (More Reliable)

Windows Update doesn’t always find the best drivers. Download directly from your manufacturer:

For laptops:

  • Dell: support.dell.com
  • HP: support.hp.com
  • Lenovo: support.lenovo.com
  • ASUS: asus.com/support

For desktop WiFi cards:

  • Intel: downloadcenter.intel.com
  • Realtek: realtek.com/downloads
  • Broadcom/Qualcomm: Check your motherboard manufacturer’s site

Installation steps:

  1. Visit your manufacturer’s support site
  2. Enter your model number or let it detect automatically
  3. Download the latest Windows 11 WiFi driver
  4. Run the installer
  5. Restart when prompted
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Rollback Problematic Drivers

If WiFi disappeared after a recent Windows Update:

  1. Open Device Manager
  2. Right-click your WiFi adapter
  3. Select Properties
  4. Go to the Driver tab
  5. Click Roll Back Driver (if available)
  6. Select a reason and click Yes
  7. Restart your PC

Reset Network Settings Completely

Corrupted network configurations prevent WiFi from appearing. A full reset clears everything.

Warning: This removes all saved WiFi passwords and VPN connections. Write them down first.

  1. Press Win + I for Settings
  2. Go to Network & Internet
  3. Scroll down and click Advanced network settings
  4. Click Network reset
  5. Read the warning, then click Reset now
  6. Confirm and wait for the process to complete
  7. Your PC will restart automatically

After reboot, WiFi should appear. Reconnect to your network with your password.

Fix WiFi Through Command Prompt

Network stack corruption requires command-line fixes. These commands reset core networking components.

Run these commands as administrator:

  1. Press Win + X and select Terminal (Admin)
  2. If using PowerShell, type cmd and press Enter
  3. Run each command, pressing Enter after each:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
  1. Restart your computer

These commands reset Winsock catalog, TCP/IP stack, and DNS cache. They fix underlying network communication issues.

Re-enable the WiFi Adapter in Device Manager

Sometimes Windows disables the adapter without telling you.

  1. Open Device Manager
  2. Click View in the menu bar
  3. Enable Show hidden devices
  4. Expand Network adapters
  5. Look for your WiFi adapter
    • If it has a down arrow, it’s disabled
    • Right-click and select Enable device
  6. Also check under System devices for any disabled WiFi-related items

Disable Power Management on WiFi Adapter

Windows 11 aggressively saves power by turning off network adapters. This causes them to “disappear.”

Fix it:

  1. Open Device Manager
  2. Expand Network adapters
  3. Right-click your WiFi adapter and select Properties
  4. Go to the Power Management tab
  5. Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”
  6. Click OK
  7. Restart your computer

This prevents Windows from disabling WiFi during sleep or idle periods.

Check for Windows 11 Updates

Microsoft releases patches for WiFi bugs. Your issue might already have a fix.

  1. Press Win + I for Settings
  2. Click Windows Update
  3. Click Check for updates
  4. Install all available updates, including optional ones
  5. Restart when prompted
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Look specifically for driver updates and cumulative updates. Microsoft’s Windows Update documentation explains update types.

Run Windows Network Troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes diagnostic tools that automatically detect and fix common problems.

Internet Connections Troubleshooter:

  1. Press Win + I for Settings
  2. Go to System > Troubleshoot
  3. Click Other troubleshooters
  4. Find Internet Connections and click Run
  5. Follow on-screen instructions

Network Adapter Troubleshooter:

  1. Same path as above
  2. Find Network Adapter and click Run
  3. Select your WiFi adapter when prompted
  4. Let Windows diagnose and apply fixes

These tools reset network configurations and restart services automatically.

Check BIOS/UEFI Settings

Your wireless card might be disabled at the hardware level.

Access BIOS:

  1. Restart your computer
  2. Press the BIOS key during startup (usually F2, F10, Del, or Esc)
    • Watch the boot screen for the correct key
  3. Navigate to Advanced or Integrated Peripherals
  4. Find Wireless LAN or WLAN
  5. Ensure it’s set to Enabled
  6. Save changes and exit (usually F10)

Different manufacturers use different BIOS interfaces. Check your device manual if you can’t find wireless settings.

Uninstall Conflicting Software

VPN clients, security software, and network management tools sometimes disable WiFi.

Common culprits:

  • Antivirus programs with firewall components
  • VPN clients (Cisco AnyConnect, OpenVPN)
  • Network monitoring tools
  • Virtual machine software (VirtualBox, VMware)

Test by uninstalling:

  1. Press Win + I for Settings
  2. Go to Apps > Installed apps
  3. Find recently installed network-related software
  4. Click the three dots and select Uninstall
  5. Restart and check if WiFi returns

Reinstall the software later, then check if WiFi disappears again. If it does, that application is the problem.

Perform a System Restore

If WiFi worked previously, restore Windows to that state.

  1. Press Win + S and type “create a restore point”
  2. Click Create a restore point
  3. In the System Properties window, click System Restore
  4. Click Next
  5. Choose a restore point from before WiFi disappeared
  6. Click Next, then Finish
  7. Your PC will restart and restore settings

System Restore doesn’t affect personal files but removes recently installed programs and drivers.

Hardware Troubleshooting

If all software fixes fail, check hardware.

Inspect the WiFi Card (Desktop PCs)

  1. Shut down and unplug your PC
  2. Open the case
  3. Locate the WiFi card (usually PCIe slot or M.2 slot)
  4. Remove and firmly reseat the card
  5. Check antenna connections are secure
  6. Close the case and test
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Test with External WiFi Adapter

Buy a USB WiFi adapter ($15-30) to test if your internal card failed:

  1. Plug in the USB adapter
  2. Install drivers if needed
  3. If it works, your internal WiFi card is faulty
  4. Replace the internal card or continue using USB adapter

Laptop WiFi Card Replacement

Laptop WiFi cards are replaceable but require disassembly. If you’re not comfortable opening your laptop, take it to a repair shop. Replacement cards cost $20-40.

Prevention Tips

Stop WiFi from disappearing again:

  • Disable automatic driver updates: Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates > Don’t auto-install driver updates
  • Keep Windows updated: But wait a week after major updates to let Microsoft fix bugs
  • Uncheck power management: As described earlier
  • Avoid frequent sleep mode: Shutdown or hibernate instead if WiFi disappears after wake
  • Maintain driver backups: Use tools like Double Driver to save working drivers

When to Contact Support

Contact your device manufacturer or Microsoft if:

  • None of these solutions work
  • WiFi disappeared after a BIOS update
  • Device Manager shows error code 10, 28, or 43
  • Your laptop is under warranty

Microsoft’s networking support page provides additional official troubleshooting.

Quick Reference Table

ProblemMost Likely FixSuccess Rate
WiFi disappeared after updateRoll back or update drivers75%
WiFi missing after sleepDisable power management85%
WiFi gone after Windows UpdateRun network reset70%
Airplane mode stuckToggle Airplane Mode, restart90%
WiFi adapter not in Device ManagerCheck BIOS settings, reseat hardware60%
Intermittent WiFi disappearanceUpdate to latest drivers from manufacturer80%

Conclusion

WiFi disappearing in Windows 11 stems from driver conflicts, power settings, or corrupted network configurations in most cases. Start with simple solutions like checking Airplane Mode and restarting the adapter. If those don’t work, update drivers directly from your manufacturer, reset network settings, and disable power management on your WiFi adapter.

Hardware failure is rare. If you’ve tried everything and WiFi still won’t appear, test with a USB WiFi adapter before assuming your internal card failed. Most users fix this issue within 15 minutes using the driver update or network reset methods.

Osmanim
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