Quick answer
When Wi-Fi disappears but Bluetooth still works, the card is usually not dead. Turn off Airplane mode and choose Restart (not Shut down). Then open Device Manager: if the Wi-Fi adapter is disabled, enable it; if it shows a warning and the problem started after a Windows Update, roll back the driver. Make sure the WLAN AutoConfig service is running, then install the driver from the laptop maker's website. Use Network reset only as a last resort. If the adapter doesn't appear at all, have a technician check the hardware.
Contents
What kind of Wi-Fi problem do you have?
Similar symptoms can have different causes. This guide focuses on the Wi-Fi button disappearing completely, or Windows not seeing the Wi-Fi adapter — which can usually be fixed on the laptop itself.
| Symptom | Start checking |
|---|---|
| The Wi-Fi button or menu is gone | Airplane mode, the Wi-Fi adapter in Device Manager, the WLAN AutoConfig service and the driver (this guide) |
| Wi-Fi button is there, but no networks appear | Signal strength, the frequency bands (2.4 / 5 GHz) the laptop supports, and the adapter |
| Networks appear, but it won't connect | Password, authentication or the saved Wi-Fi profile |
| Connected, but no internet | The router / access point or the internet provider |
Why does Bluetooth still work when Wi-Fi doesn't?
Most laptops use a single wireless module for both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but the two functions use separate drivers and separate connections to the motherboard, so they can fail independently.
So working Bluetooth doesn't prove the Wi-Fi card is fine — and it doesn't prove the card is broken either. In our experience this symptom is more often a driver problem than a hardware fault, so work through the steps below before replacing anything.
8 steps to fix missing Wi-Fi, from easy to advanced
Steps 1–4 are safe for anyone to try. Steps 5–8 involve drivers and network settings — on a company laptop, let your IT team handle them.
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Turn off Airplane mode, check the Wi-Fi switch, then Restart
Click the network icon at the bottom right and make sure Airplane mode is off; if there's a Wi-Fi button, turn it on. Some laptops also have an Fn key or a physical wireless switch — check the manual for your model.
Then save your work and choose Restart, not Shut down. With Fast Startup on, Shut down doesn't fully reload drivers, so Restart is far better at clearing a stuck adapter.
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Work out whether it's the laptop or the network
If the Wi-Fi button is there but no networks appear, try connecting a phone or another laptop to the same Wi-Fi.
- Other devices work — the problem is probably this laptop; carry on with the next step
- Other devices fail too — the router or access point needs checking as well
- Other networks appear but not this one — it may be signal strength or a frequency band the laptop doesn't support
On a company network, don't restart the router yourself — it affects everyone in the office. Talk to your IT team first.
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Check the Wi-Fi adapter in Device Manager
Right-click Start, choose Device Manager and expand Network adapters. Look for an entry with Wi-Fi, Wireless or WLAN in its name.
- Down-arrow icon = disabled. Right-click it and choose Enable device (on Windows 11 you can also do this under Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings)
- Yellow warning sign = driver problem. Open Properties, note the text under Device status, and go to step 5
- Not listed at all = under View choose Show hidden devices, then under Action choose Scan for hardware changes
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Check the WLAN AutoConfig service
Windows uses the WLAN AutoConfig service to manage wireless networks. If it stops, the Wi-Fi button disappears even though the adapter is still there.
Press
Windows + R, typeservices.mscand press Enter. Find WLAN AutoConfig; if it's stopped, right-click and choose Start, and make sure the Startup type is Automatic. If it won't start, note the error and send it to IT rather than changing other settings. -
Roll back the driver if it started after an update
This is the cause the Hinet team sees most often — Windows Update installs a newer Wi-Fi driver that doesn't suit the laptop. Open the Wi-Fi adapter's Properties, go to the Driver tab, click Roll Back Driver, pick a reason and restart.
If Roll Back Driver is greyed out, Windows has no previous version saved — go to step 6.
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Get online, then install the manufacturer's driver
The catch: with no Wi-Fi, the laptop can't download a driver. Use one of these:
- A LAN cable, if the laptop has a port, or a USB-to-LAN adapter
- USB tethering from your phone — connect by USB, then turn on USB tethering in the phone's hotspot settings
- Download on another computer and copy it over on a USB drive
Get the Wi-Fi driver from the laptop maker's official website, matching your exact model and Windows version, install it and restart. As Microsoft advises, don't uninstall the current driver until you have the new driver file in hand.
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Stop Windows powering off the adapter
If Wi-Fi often disappears after the laptop wakes from Sleep, open the Wi-Fi adapter's Properties, go to the Power Management tab and untick Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power (some models don't have this tab).
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Use Network reset as a last resort
Network reset removes and reinstalls every network adapter and restores network settings to their defaults. You'll need to set up VPN clients and some network software again, and the PC will restart. On a company laptop, let IT decide first.
- Windows 11: Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Network reset
- Windows 10: Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Network reset
Should you roll back, update or reinstall the driver?
It depends on when the problem started. If it began after an update, roll back first; otherwise install the right driver for your model from the manufacturer.
| Option | Use it when | Needs internet? | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roll Back Driver | The problem started after a Windows or driver update | No | Low |
| Install the manufacturer's driver | No older version to roll back to, or rolling back didn't help | Yes (LAN / USB tethering) | Low, if it matches the model |
| Uninstall and reinstall | The driver is corrupted and installing over it doesn't help | Have the driver file first | Medium — without a backup file the laptop ends up with no network at all |
| Network reset | Nothing else has worked | No | Medium — VPN and network settings need redoing |
What the Hinet team has learned from missing Wi-Fi cases
“I opened my laptop and the Wi-Fi button was gone” is rarely a dead card. Most of the time it follows a Windows Update that automatically installed a newer Wi-Fi driver. Rolling back the driver, or installing the version from the laptop maker's website, usually fixes it without sending the laptop for repair.
Our view: before removing a driver or resetting the network, always have another way to get online ready (LAN or USB tethering). If Windows can't find a driver after you remove it, the laptop has no internet at all — and no technician can reach it remotely.
When should a technician check the hardware?
If you've done every step and the Wi-Fi adapter still doesn't appear in Device Manager, or it keeps disappearing, have a technician or service centre check it.
- The Wi-Fi adapter isn't listed even with Show hidden devices on and the correct driver installed
- The adapter shows errors repeatedly or drops out intermittently, even with Power Management off
- The laptop has been dropped, knocked or exposed to liquid
- It's new or still under warranty — take it to the service centre and don't open the case yourself
What should you prepare before contacting IT?
Complete details let a technician diagnose the problem first time, without several rounds of questions.
- Laptop brand and model, plus the Windows version
- When the problem started, and whether it followed an update or waking from Sleep
- Whether the Wi-Fi button is gone completely, or still there but showing no networks
- Whether Bluetooth still works, and whether other devices can use the same Wi-Fi
- A screenshot of Device Manager and any error message — if you can, open Command Prompt, run
netsh wlan show driversand include a screenshot of the result - What you've already tried, and what happened
Hinet looks after SME users' devices through IT Support Outsource, both remotely and on site. You can describe the problem to our technicians using the form below or open a case on our IT support ticket page.
Frequently asked questions about missing Wi-Fi
If Bluetooth works, does that mean the Wi-Fi card is fine?
Not necessarily. Most laptops use one module for both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but the two use separate drivers and connections, so one can fail without the other. Check Device Manager first.
Why Restart instead of Shut down?
With Fast Startup enabled, Shut down saves part of the system state, so a stuck driver isn't fully reloaded. Restart reloads Windows and all drivers, which is more likely to clear a stuck adapter.
Wi-Fi disappeared after a Windows Update. What should I do?
Open Device Manager, right-click the Wi-Fi adapter, choose Properties, then on the Driver tab click Roll Back Driver. If the button is greyed out, there's no older version saved, so install the driver from the laptop maker's website instead.
The laptop has no internet at all. How do I download a driver?
Plug in a LAN cable if the laptop has a port, use USB tethering from your phone (connect by USB, then turn on USB tethering in the phone's hotspot settings), or download the driver on another computer and copy it over on a USB drive.
Will Network reset delete my files?
No, your files stay. Windows removes and reinstalls the network adapters, so saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN clients and some network software may need setting up again, and the PC will restart — save your work first.
Should I replace the Wi-Fi card myself?
We don't recommend it, especially on company laptops or anything still under warranty. Many thin laptops have the card soldered to the board, and opening the case can void the warranty. Have a technician or service centre check it first.
References
- Microsoft Support — Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows
- Microsoft Learn — Wireless network connectivity issues troubleshooting
- Microsoft Learn — Tools for managing and troubleshooting device drivers
- Google — Share a mobile connection by hotspot or tethering on Android
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Technically reviewed by the Hinet Computer System engineering team · Last updated 5 Nov 2026