How to Fix WiFi Driver Issues on Windows 11: Update, Rollback, and Reinstall

You were online just fine, then a Windows 11 update ran overnight — and now WiFi is gone. No networks show in the taskbar, the adapter has a yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager, or speeds dropped to a crawl. In almost every case, the problem is the WiFi driver: a small piece of software that lets Windows talk to your wireless adapter. This guide walks through every fix, from a simple update to a full clean reinstall.

Step 1: Confirm the Driver Is the Problem

Before touching any drivers, rule out simpler causes. Open Settings › System › Troubleshoot › Other troubleshooters and run the Internet Connections troubleshooter. If it reports “Network adapter driver is missing” or “A problem with the wireless adapter or access point was detected,” you have a driver issue. Also open Device Manager (right-click Start › Device Manager), expand Network adapters, and look for a yellow warning triangle on your WiFi adapter. That triangle confirms a driver problem.

If the adapter isn’t listed at all under Network adapters, it may be completely disabled or the driver package was removed. Scroll down to Unknown devices or Other devices — your adapter might be hiding there without a driver.

Fix 1: Update the WiFi Driver

The quickest fix is letting Windows search for a newer driver:

1. Press Win + X and choose Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters and right-click your WiFi adapter (look for “Intel Wireless”, “Realtek RTL”, “MediaTek MT”, or similar).
3. Select Update driver › Search automatically for drivers.
4. If Windows finds a newer version, install it and restart.

Windows Update is a second avenue: go to Settings › Windows Update › Advanced options › Optional updates. Driver updates sometimes land here rather than in the main update feed.

Fix 2: Roll Back to the Previous Driver

If WiFi broke immediately after a Windows Update, the update almost certainly replaced your working manufacturer driver with a generic or buggy one. Rolling back restores the version that was working:

1. Open Device Manager, right-click your WiFi adapter, and select Properties.
2. Click the Driver tab.
3. Click Roll Back Driver. If the button is grayed out, Windows no longer has a previous driver stored — skip to Fix 3.
4. Select a reason when prompted and click Yes.
5. Restart the PC.

After rolling back, prevent Windows from re-breaking the driver. Go to Settings › Windows Update › Advanced options and enable Pause updates for a week while you wait for Microsoft to push a fixed driver package.

Fix 3: Uninstall and Reinstall the Driver

If the Roll Back option is unavailable or rolling back didn’t help, a clean uninstall and reinstall often resolves corrupted driver state:

1. In Device Manager, right-click the WiFi adapter and choose Uninstall device.
2. Check the box Delete the driver software for this device and confirm.
3. Go to Action › Scan for hardware changes. Windows will detect the adapter and reinstall its driver automatically.
4. If Windows reinstalls a generic driver, restart and check if the adapter works.

Important: If you only have WiFi (no Ethernet backup), download the driver installer to a USB drive before uninstalling so you can install it manually if Windows fails to find one on its own.

Fix 4: Install the Manufacturer’s Driver Directly

Windows’ built-in driver search often installs a basic generic driver. Manufacturer drivers are typically more stable and unlock advanced features like 160 MHz channel support and better power management.

Intel WiFi Adapters

Most modern Windows 11 laptops use Intel wireless hardware (Wi-Fi 6, 6E, or 7 series). Download the latest driver directly from Intel’s Driver & Support Assistant (intel.com/content/www/us/en/support). The assistant scans your system and installs the correct package automatically. Alternatively, search “Intel AX210 driver” (or your specific model) on Intel’s site and download the standalone installer.

Realtek and MediaTek Adapters

Budget laptops and many desktop add-in cards use Realtek or MediaTek chips. Go to your laptop or motherboard manufacturer’s support site (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, MSI, etc.), enter your model number, and download the WiFi driver listed under Drivers & Downloads. Avoid downloading Realtek drivers from third-party sites — use the OEM’s official page.

Fix 5: Reset Network Settings

If driver reinstallation still doesn’t work, a full network reset wipes and rebuilds all network adapter configurations:

1. Go to Settings › Network & internet › Advanced network settings.
2. Scroll down and click Network reset.
3. Click Reset now and confirm.
4. Windows will remove all adapters and reinstall them, then restart your PC.

You will need to reconnect to your WiFi network and re-enter saved passwords after a network reset.

Preventing Driver Breakage in the Future

Windows Update has a habit of overwriting manufacturer drivers with generic ones. To stop this:

• Open the Group Policy Editor (Win + R, type gpedit.msc) and navigate to Computer Configuration › Administrative Templates › Windows Components › Windows Update. Enable Do not include drivers with Windows Updates.
• Alternatively, open System Properties › Hardware › Device Installation Settings and choose No (your device might not work as expected) to prevent Windows from automatically replacing manufacturer drivers.

Once your WiFi driver is fixed and stable, run a speed test to confirm you’re getting the speeds your plan promises. For related issues, see our guides on fixing slow WiFi after a Windows update and eliminating WiFi packet loss.