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Wi-Fi option not showing in Windows 11? Try these fixes
Our 15 fixes will solve the Windows 11 no WIFI option only Ethernet issue
17 min. read
Updated onJuly 2, 2024
updated onJuly 2, 2024
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Key notes
To fix various driver issues on your PC, you will need a dedicated tool to find the freshest and the original drivers. You can use PC HelpSoft Driver Updater to do it in 3 easy steps:
Many of us rely on Wi-Fi to establish a connection and access the web. But what if Wi-Fi disappeared from Windows 11’s system tray, Settings, or the Control Panel?
This can be caused by a bunch of issues, both related to the hardware and software. If you started encountering it afterupgrading to Windows 11or updating to the latest build, it’s most likely the software at fault.
There are also countless users complaining about the fact that theirWindows 11 network adapter is missing.
How do I get my Wi-Fi back on Windows 11?
For easier troubleshooting, you can follow the steps in the video tutorial down below:
Before moving on to more complex solutions, make sure to do the following:
1. Check for a physical switch to turn on Wi-Fi
Many new computers, and laptops, in particular, have a built-in switch to enable/disable the Wi-Fi. You will find it either on the side or around the keyboard.
After locating the switch, make sure it’s turned on and check if the Wi-Fi icon and settings reappear.
2. Update the Wi-Fi driver
The Windows 11 no WiFi option issue you’re experiencing can be caused by an outdated driver, and if the fixes above didn’t work, it’s time you give this method a try.
There are three ways you can update a driver, namely, using the Device Manager, from the Windows Update settings, and manually downloading and installing it from the official manufacturer’s website.
Let’s see all three methods:
After the update is installed, restart the computer for the changes to come into effect and check if the Wi-Fi icon appears.
In case a newer version of the driver was not available in Windows Update, you could always look for it on the manufacturer’s website.
An up-to-date driver version will allow you to connect to an up-to-standard broadband network. It can successfully remediate the 5Ghz WiFi not showing up in Windows 11 problem.
The last process can be a little intricate and time-consuming and carries a considerable amount of risk in case of a serious lapse on your end. However, the three methods can be used to update any driver on your computer and with a little caution and patience, they are bound to deliver results.
In case you are looking for simpler ways to keep your drivers up-to-date, we recommend using a dedicated third-party tool. It automatically scans for driver updates and installs them to your PC, thus making the whole process simpler and more convenient.
⇒ Get PC HelpSoft Driver Updater
3. Verify that Airplane mode is disabled
4. Turn on the Airplane mode and then disable it
When airplane mode is enabled on your PC, you will encounter a Windows 11 WiFi not showing up in the settings issue. Make sure you have not mistakenly activated it.
Quick Settings allow you to make modifications to the system and enable or disable features without having to navigate to their actual location. You can alsocustomize the Action Centerand only keep the tiles you often use, for a finer experience.
5. Restart the PC
We hope this helped you solve the Windows 11 no WiFi option situation. If you have trouble with the account after the restart, learn how tochange your password and username in Windows 11.
6. Check if Wi-Fi adapter is enabled
How to enable the WIFI adapter in Windows 11? If the Windows 11 WiFi adapter is disabled, you wouldn’t be able to connect to any network and it would seem like there would be no Windows 11 WiFi option due to the change in icon in the system tray.
After enabling, check if you are able to establish a secure Wi-Fi connection. This will help with Windows 11 WiFi not showing up in network connections.
The icon should appear as usual and users should be able to easily connect with the correct credentials.
7. Use the Roll Back Driver option
Windows will take a few seconds (or minutes, as the case may be) to reinstall the previous version of the driver but you wouldn’t receive a prompt or confirmation on its completion. It’s recommended that you restart the computer after a few minutes for the changes to come into effect.
In case the Wi-Fi disappeared after you updated the Wi-Fi driver, rolling back the update could work. Windows keeps the files for the previous version if you want to revert to it.
8. Reinstall the Wi-Fi driver
Corrupt drivers are known to cause a lot of problems, your current one being a prominent example. In this case, reinstalling the corrupt driver will fix the issue.
In case Windows 11 is not detecting the WiFi adapter, sometimes the driver reinstall can help, so be sure to try it.
9. Update Windows 11
Sometimes, running an older version of Windows is also likely to cause a bunch of issues. In the updates released by Microsoft, there are patches for various problems along with other new features for your computer. It’s the former part that you should be concerned with here.
After installing the latest updates, the problem with no WiFi option in Settings on Windows 11 should be resolved.
10. Uninstall Windows 11 updates
In case the Wi-Fi disappeared on Windows 11 after updating, the problem could very well lie in the current version/build itself.
If you couldn’t find a new update from Microsoft in the previous fix, it’s best that you uninstall the last update and revert to the previous version, one that was stable and worked fine.
11. Run the Network Adapter troubleshooter
Microsoft offers a bunch of built-in troubleshooters to easily identify and fix issues affecting the performance of Windows. However, these can only solve the already known problems.
If running theNetwork Adaptertroubleshooter doesn’t help, head to the next fix.
12. Run File Explorer
This is a known workaround to fix issues with the Wi-Fi in all versions of Windows. Running the File Explorer eliminates or removes any bug preventing the Wi-Fi icon from appearing, thus making it accessible.
13. Modify the Group Policy
14. Perform a clean boot
When the PC restarts, it will load just the basic services, drivers, and startup programs. The clean boot environment is similar to Safe Mode but offers a lot more options to troubleshoot issues.
On clean booting the Windows, you should have the Wi-Fi icon present. Now, launch the services and programs one at a time to identify which one is causing the issue.
The app or service you started just before the Wi-Fi icon disappears is likely to be behind the error.
If it’s a program that’s leading to the error, you can simplyuninstall the app. In the case of services, keep it disabled until an update for Windows is available for download.
After you ended the troubleshooting, you can safely relaunch/start the other items that you had disabled earlier.
The clean boot process is fairly intricate and time-consuming, thus we recommended that you go for it near the end when nothing else works.
For any problems logging in after the clean boot, learn how toremove your login password in Windows 11.
15. Perform a system restore
System restorehas been present on the previous versions of Windows as well and is an effective troubleshooting method.
It takes the computer back in time to a point where the error did not exist by modifying the settings and uninstalling apps. The restore process, however, does not affect the files stored on the system.
But the condition here is that you must have created the restore point before the time you first encountered the error. And in all likelihood, such a point should exist on your computer.
Windows automatically creates a restore point before any critical tasks, say, updating the Windows or installing a major application. This way, you can be sure of a restore point present at your disposal.
After restoring your system, be sure to check if Windows 11 still has no Wi-Fi option.
What can I do if Windows 11’s Wi-Fi icon is missing?
Although this is a less likely occurrence, the Windows 11 Wi-Fi icon missing error can be triggered by a corrupt user account.
So, the obvious solution here is to create a new one in the hope that logging into it will make the Wi-Fi icon show up as intended.
There are a few methods through which you canfix a corrupt user profile. Though the guide is for Windows 10, the fixes listed have been duly checked and found to be as effective in Windows 11.
While some would go for fixing the corrupt profile, a simple and quick alternative is to create another one in order to work efficiently without encountering any errors. Once done, you have all the time to work on the corrupted one.
Why my WIFI option is not showing in Windows 11?
Our users reported similar errors that we will address in this article as well. The most common ones are the following:
However, if you noticed a gradual reduction in the Wi-Fi strength over time or have run into trivial issues, it could be the failure of the hardware as well.
What do I do if the fixes listed here don’t work?
While the above fixes cater to all kinds of problems, there is a small possibility that these won’t resolve the Wi-Fi disappearing issue.
In this situation, you canreset Windows 11 to the factory settings. This should do the trick, given it removes all files, apps, and configured settings from the computer.
If resetting doesn’t work, the problem, in all likelihood, lies with the hardware, in which case, it’s recommended that you seek professional help.
In case you bought the laptop from a mobile operator, try toenable eSIM on Windows 11and connect directly to the mobile network.
The fixes listed above are found to have resolved the error for most of the users, so be sure to try them all if there’s no Wi-Fi option on Windows 11.
If you are facing trouble with the connection, check our guide on how toincrease the Internet speed on Wi-Fi. Also, find out thebest browsers for Windows 11to seamlessly surf the web while ensuring privacy and security.
Lastly, if yourWiFi symbol is not showing on laptop, check out our dedicated guide for help.
Let us know which fix worked for you in the comments section below.
More about the topics:Wi-Fi issues,Windows 11
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim has always been fond of technology, be it scrolling through the settings on his iPhone, Android device, or Windows PC. He’s specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
Long-time Windows user, Kazim is ready to provide a solution for your every software & hardware error on Windows 11, Windows 10 and any previous iteration. He’s also one of our experts in Networking & Security.
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Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim is specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
