How to Fix a Missing Network Adapter in Windows 10

Without a network adapter, you can't connect to the internet. Learn how to quickly fix a missing network adapter in Windows 10 and get back online.

The network adapter is an important part of your computer because it sends and receives data to and from other devices on both wireless or wired networks. Sometimes, the network adapter disappears from Device Manager or Windows 10 notifies you that it is missing.

When this happens, you can no longer connect to the internet, which can be really annoying when you're trying to do work or watch Netflix. To help you fix this, we have put together a list of solutions you can try to fix your network adapter in Windows 10.

1.Restart and Check Connections

Try a few quick fixes such as restarting your PC or laptop and check if you can now find the network adapter. Also, if you have connected an Ethernet cable, you should unplug it and plug it in again.

2. Show Hidden Drivers in Windows 10

The network adapter might be missing simply because Device Manager doesn’t display it. Here is how you can make the network adapter visible:

1. Right-click Start > Device Manager.
2. Open the View menu and click Show hidden devices.
3. Expand the Network adapters list and check if the adapter is now visible.
4. If the adapter is still missing, click Action > Scan for hardware changes.

3. Remove the Battery From Your Laptop

If you use a PC, or your laptop doesn't have a removable battery, skip this solution. When you remove the battery, you force the motherboard to soft reset its settings which may be enough to fix your problem. If your laptop comes with a removable battery, turn it off and take the battery out for a few seconds. Then, put it back and turn on your laptop.

4. Turn Off Antivirus and VPN

If you are using a VPN on your device, try turning it off or even uninstalling it. Then, restart your laptop or PC and check if there is a difference. Also, turn off the antivirus or check for available updates.

Related: Common VPN Myths and Why You Shouldn't Believe Them

5. Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter

Windows 10 provides a useful list of troubleshooters so it’s no surprise you can fix several network adapter issues by using one of these tools. Follow these steps to run the Network Adapter troubleshooter:

1. Right-click Start and select Settings, or use the Win + I keyboard shortcut.
2. Head to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
3. Below the Find and fix other problems, select Network Adapter > Run the troubleshooter.
4. Follow the displayed instruction.

6. Use the Network Reset Tool

If the troubleshooter didn’t solve the problem, you can give Network Reset a try. This will make all network settings go back to their default settings without interfering with your data. Follow these steps to reset your network:

1. Open Settings, then head to Network & internet.
2. Select Status and scroll down to Network reset.
3. Select Reset now.

Note: After resetting the network, you will have to reinstall the VPN or any virtual switches you are using.

7. Check Your Power Management Settings

If you are using a laptop, Windows 10 will turn off some of its features when you have a low battery or when battery saver mode is enabled. Follow these steps to check Power Management settings:

1. Right-click Start > Device manager.
2. Expand the Network adapters list.
3. Right-click your network adapter and select Properties.
4. Open the Power Management tab.
5. Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
6. Click Apply > OK to save the changes.

8. Reset Winsock Settings

Winsock is a programming interface and supporting program that determines how Windows network software uses its network services. If something goes wrong with Winsocks files, it may result in your network adapter vanishing from Windows 10. Here is how to reset the Winsock data:

1. In the Start menu search bar, search for command prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. Within the Command Prompt window, type netsh winsock reset. Then, press Enter.
3. Restart your PC or laptop to save the changes.

Related: Windows Command Prompt (CMD) Commands You Must Know

9. Clean Up Network Devices

If the previous method didn't work, you can follow these steps to clean up network devices using the command prompt:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run window.
2. Into the Run window, type cmd and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator.
3. In Command Prompt, type netcfg -d.
4. Restart your device and check if you can discover the network adapter.

10. Check Windows 10's Background Services

Your network driver might be missing because a background service stopped working properly. Follow these steps to manage it manually:

1. In the Start menu search bar, search for services and select the Best match.
2. In the Services menu, locate and open WWAN AutoConfig.
3. Check if the Service status is Running. Otherwise, click Start to get it going.
4. Set Startup type to Automatic.
5. Click Apply > OK to save the changes.
6. Restart your device and check if the missing driver is now available.

Get Back Your Network Driver

If your network driver just went missing, don't worry; there are plenty of available solutions. As we discussed, you can try turning off your VPN or antivirus and check the power settings. Also, Windows 10 has a few troubleshooting tools that you can use, too.

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