A malfunctioning Wi-Fi driver is often the reason your laptop or PC suddenly loses wireless connectivity. If your Wi‑Fi driver doesn’t work in Windows 10, this article explains the common causes and gives step‑by‑step fixes so you can get back online quickly.
You’ll learn 13 likely reasons the driver isn’t working, precise Windows 10 steps to fix each one, and tips to prevent the problem in future.
Key Takeaway
The fastest, most reliable fix is to reinstall the correct, manufacturer-supplied Wi‑Fi driver (downloaded from your PC or adapter maker) and run the built‑in Network troubleshooter; if that fails, reset network settings and check for hardware issues.
Quick Fix Guide
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Outdated or corrupt driver | Update or reinstall the correct driver from the device manufacturer. |
| Driver accidentally disabled | Re-enable the adapter in Device Manager. |
| Windows Update installed incompatible driver | Roll back the driver or install a manufacturer driver. |
| Wrong or generic driver installed | Install the model‑specific driver from the vendor site. |
| Corrupted system files | Run sfc /scannow and DISM to repair system files. |
| Power management turning off adapter | Disable “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” |
| WLAN AutoConfig or related service disabled | Set WLAN AutoConfig to Automatic in services.msc. |
| Conflicting third‑party software | Temporarily uninstall VPN/third‑party firewall and test. |
| Airplane mode or hardware wireless switch off | Turn off Airplane mode or flip the physical Wi‑Fi switch. |
| BIOS/UEFI or chipset driver incompatibility | Update chipset drivers and BIOS/UEFI firmware. |
| Windows feature update compatibility issue | Use driver rollback or update driver from vendor; check compatibility notes. |
| Physical hardware failure | Test with another device or a USB Wi‑Fi adapter. |
| Driver signature / Secure Boot blocking unsigned driver | Use a signed driver or temporarily disable signature enforcement (advanced). |
Detailed Fixes for “Wi‑Fi driver doesn’t work in Windows 10”
1. Outdated or corrupt driver
Why it causes the problem:
Drivers translate between Windows and your Wi‑Fi hardware. If the driver is corrupted or too old, the adapter may not function.
How to fix:
- Open Device Manager (right‑click Start → Device Manager).
- Expand Network adapters, right‑click your Wi‑Fi adapter (example: Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC), choose Update driver.
- Select Browse my computer for drivers → Let me pick from a list if you have the driver, or choose Search automatically for updated driver software to let Windows search.
- If no update helps, download the latest driver from the laptop or adapter manufacturer (e.g., Intel, Realtek, Broadcom) and run the installer.
- Restart the PC.
Tip: Use manufacturer tools like Intel Driver & Support Assistant to find the correct driver automatically.
2. Driver accidentally disabled
Why it causes the problem:
If Windows or an app disabled the adapter, it won’t appear as available.
How to fix:
- Open Device Manager → Network adapters.
- If the adapter icon shows a down arrow, right‑click it and choose Enable device.
- Alternatively, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Change adapter options, right‑click the Wi‑Fi adapter, and choose Enable.
Note: If the option is missing, check for hardware switches or services (see below).
3. Windows Update installed incompatible driver
Why it causes the problem:
Windows Update sometimes applies a generic driver that doesn’t fully support your hardware.
How to fix:
- Open Device Manager → Wi‑Fi adapter → Properties → Driver tab → Roll Back Driver (if available).
- If rollback isn’t available, download the vendor driver and install it manually (see step in reason 1).
- To prevent Windows from auto‑reinstalling the problem driver, use Device installation settings: Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Hardware > Device Installation Settings and choose not to automatically download manufacturer apps and custom icons.
Tip: Hide a bad driver update using Microsoft’s “Show or hide updates” troubleshooter package.
4. Wrong or generic driver installed
Why it causes the problem:
A generic driver may enable basic functionality but not stability or advanced features.
How to fix:
- Identify the exact adapter model in Device Manager → Details tab → Hardware Ids.
- Go to your PC or adapter manufacturer’s support site, search the model, and download the exact driver package.
- Run the installer or use Device Manager > Update driver > Browse my computer for driver software and point to the driver folder.
- Reboot after install.
Tip: For branded laptops (Dell/HP/Lenovo), always prefer vendor drivers optimized for that model.
5. Corrupted system files
Why it causes the problem:
Critical Windows files used by networking can be damaged, causing driver issues.
How to fix:
- Open Command Prompt (Admin): right‑click Start → Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- Run: sfc /scannow
- If issues persist, run:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Restart and check Wi‑Fi.
Note: These commands repair system images and files; they can take several minutes.
6. Power management turning off adapter
Why it causes the problem:
Windows may turn off the adapter to save power, which can fail to re-enable it properly.
How to fix:
- Device Manager → Wi‑Fi adapter → Properties → Power Management.
- Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
- Also open Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings → expand Wireless Adapter Settings → Power Saving Mode, set to Maximum Performance.
- Restart.
Why it causes the problem:
The WLAN AutoConfig service manages wireless connections; if stopped, Wi‑Fi won’t work.
How to fix:
- Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
- Find WLAN AutoConfig, double‑click it.
- Set Startup type to Automatic and click Start (if stopped).
- Restart Windows.
Tip: Also ensure Network Location Awareness and Plug and Play services are running.
8. Conflicting third‑party software
Why it causes the problem:
Antivirus, VPN clients, or firewalls can block network drivers or change settings.
How to fix:
- Boot into Safe Mode with Networking to test: Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now → Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart → press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
- If Wi‑Fi works in Safe Mode, uninstall recent VPNs, firewall solutions, or network‑related utilities via Settings > Apps.
- Reboot normally and retest.
Tip: Reinstall only necessary security software and use vendor‑provided network drivers.
9. Airplane mode or hardware wireless switch off
Why it causes the problem:
A physical switch or Airplane mode will disable wireless radios regardless of drivers.
How to fix:
- Check for a physical wireless switch or function key (e.g., Fn + F2) and toggle it on.
- Open Action Center (notification icon) and ensure Airplane mode is Off.
- Or Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane mode and toggle Wireless devices on.
- If a keypress toggles nothing, check function key drivers (hotkey package from vendor).
10. BIOS/UEFI or chipset driver incompatibility
Why it causes the problem:
Chipset/UEFI firmware manages buses and power; outdated versions can break device enumeration.
How to fix:
- Check your PC manufacturer’s support page for BIOS/UEFI and chipset updates.
- Carefully follow the vendor instructions to update BIOS/UEFI (read warnings; power loss during update can brick the PC).
- Install the latest chipset drivers for your motherboard from the manufacturer.
- Reboot and test Wi‑Fi.
Warning: Only update BIOS/UEFI when necessary and follow vendor steps exactly.
11. Windows feature update compatibility issue
Why it causes the problem:
Major Windows updates can change networking subsystems and require new drivers.
How to fix:
- If the problem started after a Windows update, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history.
- Use Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Go back to the previous version of Windows 10 (if available and within the rollback window).
- Otherwise, get a vendor‑updated driver compatible with the new Windows build.
Tip: Check vendor forums for known issues tied to a specific Windows version.
12. Physical hardware failure
Why it causes the problem:
The adapter itself (internal card or USB dongle) may be faulty, or antenna connections may be loose.
How to fix:
- Test Wi‑Fi on another device to rule out router issues.
- If using a USB adapter, try another USB port or a different computer.
- For laptops, connect via Ethernet and open Device Manager to see if the adapter appears; reseat the internal card (advanced users) or seek repair.
- Use an external USB Wi‑Fi adapter if internal hardware is dead.
Note: If hardware is faulty and under warranty, contact the manufacturer for repair/replacement.
13. Driver signature enforcement or Secure Boot blocking unsigned driver
Why it causes the problem:
Windows prohibits installation of unsigned drivers by default; Secure Boot can prevent loading problematic drivers.
How to fix:
- Prefer a signed driver from the manufacturer. Install that first.
- If you must use an unsigned driver (advanced), disable driver signature enforcement temporarily:
- Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now
- Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart
- Press 7 or F7 to Disable driver signature enforcement.
- For Secure Boot, enter UEFI/BIOS and disable Secure Boot (only if necessary and understand security risk).
- Reboot and install the driver.
Warning: Disabling signature enforcement or Secure Boot reduces system security; re-enable after installing trusted drivers.
Preventive Maintenance and When to Contact Support
- Keep Windows updated but check vendor driver notes after major feature updates.
- Create a system restore point before installing new drivers or BIOS updates.
- Maintain backups and create a recovery USB so you can restore Windows if a driver breakage is severe.
- Contact your PC/laptop manufacturer support if the adapter is under warranty, or if BIOS/chipset updates are required and you’re unsure.
- If multiple PCs and devices are affected, check your router and ISP—this may be a network problem, not a driver problem.
FAQ
Q: Can I use the built‑in Windows driver instead of manufacturer drivers?
A: You can, but built‑in drivers may lack optimizations and cause instability; vendor drivers are usually preferred.
Q: Will resetting the network remove my saved Wi‑Fi passwords?
A: Yes. Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset removes adapters and clears saved networks; you must reconnect and re-enter passwords.
Q: How do I tell if the issue is hardware or driver?
A: Test the adapter on another computer or a different adapter on your PC. If the adapter fails elsewhere, it’s likely hardware. If another adapter works in your PC, it’s likely a driver/software issue.
Q: Are there logs to help diagnose driver crashes?
A: Yes—use Event Viewer (right‑click Start → Event Viewer) and check Windows Logs > System for driver/plug and play errors around the time of failure.
Q: Does reinstalling Windows fix driver problems?
A: It can, because it resets OS settings and reinstalls drivers, but try targeted fixes (reinstalling drivers, SFC/DISM) first. Reinstalling Windows is a last resort.
Conclusion
Driver problems usually stem from outdated, incorrect, or disabled drivers, system file corruption, power settings, or hardware faults — and most can be fixed by reinstalling the correct driver, checking services/power settings, and running Windows repair tools. If your Wi‑Fi driver doesn’t work in Windows 10, follow the steps above in order and create a restore point before major changes to reduce risk.
