Network Adapter Disappeared. You are unable to see the network adapter on your computer. One reason for this may be because you have an older network card driver installed on your computer.
No worries, remedies are available to solve the problem. If the problem is happening on the computer for the first time, try rebooting the computer and check whether the network adapter on the laptop has become discoverable.
If the Ethernet cable plugged into the system, try to unplug the Ethernet cable from the computer and re-plug in the Ethernet cable. Check whether the adapter on the computer is discoverable.
If the network driver is still not visible on the computer, go for the following solutions.
Fix 1- Performing cleanup of Windows
- Tap Windows key ‘, and the ‘R ‘key to open Run window.
- In the Run window, type “cmd” and tap ‘Ctrl+Shift+Enter’ keys simultaneously to open the Command Prompt in administrative mode.
- Type or copy-paste the command – Netcfg Cmd- and press the Enter and close the window.
- If you face any error when trying to execute the command, try rerunning the computer’s command.
- Restart the computer for letting the changes take effect on the computer. Your problem should be solved.
Fix 2 – Reset Winsock
Try resetting the Winsock which may help you out, if any of the above fixes didn’t work out.
- Open the Command Prompt with administrative rights – Cmd Min
- Type or copy-paste command in Command Prompt window and tap Enter – netsh Winsock reset
- Reboot the computer to save changes. After rebooting check whether you discover the missing network adapter again on the device.
Fix 3 – Showing hidden devices in Device Manager.
At times the network adapter gets hidden in the Device Manager window, and the problem prevails. Follow these steps to check –
- Click ‘Windows key+R ‘ Network Adapter Disappeared, and you are not able to see the network adapter on your computer, one reason for this may be because you have an older network card driver installed on your computer. No worries, remedies are available to solve the problem. If the problem is happening on the computer for the first time, try rebooting the computer and check whether the network adapter on the laptop has become discoverable.
- If the Ethernet cable plugged into the system, try to unplug the Ethernet cable from the computer and re-plug in the Ethernet cable. Check whether the adapter on the computer is discoverable.
If the network driver is still not visible on the computer, go for the following solutions.
Fix 4 – Performing cleanup of Window
- Tap Windows key ‘, and the ‘R ‘key to open Run window.
- In the Run window, type “cmd” and tap ‘Ctrl+Shift+Enter’ keys simultaneously to open the Command Prompt in administrative mode.
- Type or copy-paste the command – Netcfg Cmd- and press the Enter and close the window.
- If you face any error when trying to execute the command, try rerunning the computer’s command.
- Restart the computer for letting the changes take effect on the computer. Your problem should be solved.
Fix 5 – Reset Winsock
Try resetting the Winsock which may help you out, if any of the above fixes didn’t work out.
- Open the Command Prompt with administrative rights.
- Cmd Min
- Type or copy-paste command in Command Prompt window and tap Enter.
- netsh Winsock reset
- Reboot the computer to save changes after rebooting to discover the missing network adapter again on the device.
Fix 6 – Showing hidden devices in Device Manager.
At times the network adapter gets hidden in the Device Manager window, and the problem prevails. Follow these steps to check –
- To open a Run window, click ‘Windows key+R ‘.
- In Run window, type “devmgmt.msc “.
- Tap on “View” on the menu bar and then make sure “Show hidden devices” is checked.
- Tap on “Network adapters” from the list of devices.
- Press on “Action” in the menu bar and click on “Scan for hardware changes “.
- Expand “Network adapters” sections In Device Manager window and check whether the missing network adapter appears on the computer.
Fix 7 – Check power management settings.
- To open a Run window, click ‘Windows key+R ‘.
- In the Run window, you have to type “devmgmt.msc “.
- Now, please double click on Network adapters from the list to expand it.
- Right-click on the network adapter to tap on properties.
- Now, Click on the Power Management Tab.
- Uncheck – Allow the computer for turning off the device option
Fix 8 – Automate WWAN AutoConfig
Automating the WWAN AutoConfig service on the computer will surely help.
- Click Windows key+S and begin to type “Services “.
- Tap on the “Services” in the search result.
- Scroll down in the Services window, to find the “WWAN AutoConfig” service.
- Double-tap on it and WWAN AutoConfig Properties window will be opened.
- In WWAN AutoConfig Properties window, check the ‘Service status ‘, if it is “Running “. If it is ‘Stopped ‘, simply click on “Start” to start the service.
- Press on the drop-down menu beside the option” Startup type:” and select “Automatic “.
- Press on “Apply” and click “OK” to save the changes on your computer.
- After rebooting the computer, check whether you can discover the missing adapter on the computer.
Fix 9 – Updating the network adapter driver.
Suppose you are unable to discover a network adapter driver on the computer. In that case, it can be caused due to the old/incompatible version of the network adapter is installed in the device. Update the existing driver to solve the problem. Follow the steps to update network adapter driver-
- Tap Windows key and start to type “devmgmt “.
- Tap on the “Device Manager” which appears in the high search result.
- Search to find “Network Adapters” from the Device Manager window list and click on it to expand it.
- Select the driver by right-clicking on it appearing from the drop-down, and tao on “Update driver”.
- Check for “How do you want to search for the drivers? “.
- Tap on the option “Search automatically for updated driver software “.
- Wait till Windows searches and downloads it for the compatible driver for the network adapter, and installs it. After that, close the Device Manager window.
- Reboot the computer.
- Check whether you can find the network adapter driver.
If the network adapter worked well some days before, recent updates to your driver might be why you do not see the network adapter on the computer.
Fix 10 – Rolling back the last update
Rolling back the last update of network adapter driver can solve the problem. Follow the given steps to rollback the faulty update of network adapter driver–
- Right-click on the Windows icon and tap on “Device Manager “.
- Find “Network Adapters” from the list, tap on it to expand it.
- Now, from the drop-down double tap on the driver which you are currently using. The properties window will open.
- Go to the “Driver” tab,
- Click on “Roll Back Driver “. Click on “OK “.
- Close the Device Manager window to restart the computer.
Fix 11 – Uninstall and then Reinstalling Network adapter
Uninstall and reinstall the network adapter to clear corrupt or harmful network driver files from your computer. In the first step, the network adapter’s uninstallation will be done, and in the second step reinstallation of the network adapter.
Follow these steps to uninstall network adapter driver-
- Open the Device Manager window.
- Expand the “Network Adapter” section.
- Right-click on the network adaptor on “Uninstall device ” to uninstall.
- Reinstall the wifi driver also on the device.
Fix 12 – Run System Restore on the computer
Run system restore from a system restore point can fix the problem.
- Press Windows Key+R together. The Run window shall prevail.
- In the Run window, type “sysdm.cpl” to tap
- Go to the “System Protection” tab.
- Tap on “System Restore ” and press on “Choose a different restore point “.
- Then, you have to click on “Next “.
- Choose the latest restore point.
- Then, click on the “Next “.
- Tap on “Finish” to finish the process.
- Check whether you can find a network adapter in the Device Manager window.
Fix 13 – Troubleshoot network problems
You can troubleshoot the problem with Windows troubleshooter. The troubleshooter will detect the problem of your adapter. Follow steps to troubleshoot network adapter driver problem-
- Type “troubleshoot network” in the search box next to the Windows icon and click on “Troubleshoot network “.
- Press on “Network troubleshooter “.
- Follow on-screen instructions to automatically attempt fixes to problem to complete tap on “Close “.
- Reboot the computer to check whether you can find your network adapter driver the laptop. Your problem should be solved.