Unupdated wireless network card drivers may make it difficult for you to connect your computer to the internet. Reinstalling the network card driver might help you connect your computer to the wireless network. To reinstall the wireless network card driver, you must download the latest version of the driver over a wired network, and remove the older version of the driver in Device Manager.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Downloading Driver
Step 1. Connect the computer to the LAN network by connecting an Ethernet cable from the computer's Ethernet port to the router if you cannot access the internet via Wi-Fi
Mac computers do not use drivers for the wireless network card. If your Mac is having problems, follow various guides on the internet to resolve them
Step 2. Press Win+S to open the search bar
Find the wireless network card information from the Device Manager to find the appropriate driver.
Step 3. Enter
devmgmt.msc
on the search bar, then press Enter.
The Device Manager window will appear on the screen.
Step 4. On the list of devices, click on Network Adapters
All existing network cards on your computer will appear. Look for hardware that has the word wireless on its label.
If you can't find the hardware labeled wireless, right-click each hardware device and select Properties. The wireless network card will display Wireless Card in the Type field
Step 5. Click the Drivers tab
Step 6. Take note of the wireless network card type and version
The network card type is displayed at the top of the Driver tab.
Examples of wireless network card types include "Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235."
Step 7. Visit the Support section of the wireless network card manufacturer's website
Here, you can find the drivers for your device.
For example, if your wireless network card is made by Intel, visit www.intel.com and click “Support.”
Step 8. Look for the type of wireless network card you just found from the Device Manager
After that, click on the link provided to visit the product support page.
Step 9. Download the drivers for your version of Windows
You may need to visit the Downloads, Software, or Drivers section to download the driver.
- Most hardware manufacturers provide drivers in the.exe format, making the installation easier for you.
- Save the downloaded file in an easy-to-remember location, such as the Downloads folder or the desktop.
Method 2 of 3: Removing Installed Drivers
Step 1. Return to the Device Manager window and open the Network Adapters list to prepare to remove the driver
Step 2. Right-click the wireless network card in the Network Adapters list
After that, click Properties.
Step 3. Click the Driver tab, then click Uninstall. You will be asked to confirm driver deletion.
Step 4. Click OK to confirm deletion
Now, the wireless network card will not appear in the Network Adapters list.
Method 3 of 3: Installing New Drivers
Step 1. Double click the EXE file that you have downloaded
The driver installation program will open.
If the installation file is still a ZIP, right-click on the file and click Extract All. Select the folder where you want to extract the files, then click Extract. Double-click the extracted EXE file from the folder of your choice
Step 2. If the driver you downloaded does not include an installation program, click the Action menu at the top of the Device Manager window, then click Scan for Hardware Changes
Device Manager will start looking for hardware that doesn't have a driver.
- If Windows finds a new driver, it will be installed automatically. To ensure that the driver installation was successful, go to the list of Network Adapters and find your wireless network card entry.
- If Windows cannot find the driver, you may be prompted to select the folder where the driver is stored. Select the folder where you extracted the driver ZIP file, then click OK or Install.
Step 3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the driver
This guide will vary depending on the type of computer and wireless network card, but generally you must agree to the terms of use before you can click the Install button.
Restart the computer by clicking OK or Restart Now when prompted
Step 4. Disconnect the LAN network from the computer to test the wireless network card
This step ensures that you are testing the right network.
Step 5. Connect the computer to the wireless network and visit
If your previous driver had problems, you'll be able to surf via Wi-Fi again after installing the correct wireless network card driver.
- If you still can't connect your computer to the wireless network, open Device Manager and click Scan for new hardware.
- If your computer is still having problems, it seems that the drivers are not at the heart of the problem.
Tips
- Automatic Windows Update will also update your wireless network card driver.
- Generally, internet connection problems can be resolved by unplugging the router's power cord and plugging it back in, or restarting the router.
- Try moving your computer closer to your router or wireless access point.
