Network Adapter Not Showing in Windows 11?

Check whether only Ethernet is missing, only Wi-Fi is missing, or both are gone. A missing wired adapter may still leave Wi-Fi working, while a Wi-Fi failure needs a different path such as No Wi-Fi Networks Found in Windows.

Find out whether the adapter is disabled, missing its driver, or absent

If the Wi-Fi option has disappeared, check Settings > Network & internet and turn off Airplane mode first. A missing Wi-Fi control can be caused by an unavailable adapter; repeatedly resetting the router will not restore the Windows device.

1. Right-click Start > Device Manager and expand Network adapters. Identify the physical Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter. WAN Miniport and VPN entries are not substitutes for the missing physical device.
2. If its context menu offers Enable device, select it and recheck Settings. If it has a warning symbol, open Properties > General and record the device-status code. A code is more useful to support than saying the internet is broken.
3. Select View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes. A faded historical entry alone does not mean the adapter is currently connected. Check Other devices for a Network Controller or Ethernet Controller with no working driver.
4. On another connected device if necessary, obtain the Wi-Fi or LAN driver for your exact PC model and Windows version from the manufacturer. Transfer it on a USB drive and run its installer. Restart and check whether the physical adapter reappears. Avoid third-party driver bundles.
5. If the failure followed a driver update and the device still appears, inspect Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. Use it only when available and relevant. Save the replacement installer before considering driver removal; Windows may not automatically recover network access.

If the adapter returns but cannot see networks, continue with no Wi-Fi networks found. If it connects but cannot reach the internet, use connected Wi-Fi diagnosis. Network reset is a late option for a detected adapter, not a way to make failed hardware appear.

For a USB Ethernet adapter, try a different direct USB port and cable or dock arrangement. If the built-in adapter is absent even before Windows loads, or it never appears after driver checks, review BIOS or UEFI settings for an enabled onboard LAN or wireless option. Avoid changing unrelated firmware settings.

When this is probably a hardware problem

Hardware is more likely when the adapter is absent from Device Manager after driver and update checks, a USB adapter fails on multiple PCs, or both wired and wireless hardware disappear following physical damage or a motherboard issue.