Fix WiFi Adapter Not Showing up after Windows 10 Creators Update

Jun. 24, 2022 / Updated by Helia to Windows 10

Is your WiFi adapter not showing up after the Windows 10 Creators Update or the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update? When logging in Windows 10 after the big changes, you may come across no WiFi network problem on the computer. You can't receive any WiFi hotspot on Windows 10 Creators Update as you take your Asus EliteBook, Microsoft Surface, Dell XPS 13, Lenovo Yoga Book, etc. on the go.

You've tried many solutions but fail to fix the network problem, and you still have no wireless network adapter in Device Manager or Network Connections. Moreover, you have the star, the exclamation, or the red X/cross on the WiFi icon on the taskbar. The WiFi problem also causes the Microsoft Edge not working or the Google Chrome Browser not working.

Many causes can result in such "WiFi adapter not showing up" problem after the Windows 10 Creators Update. Major causes are related to the network-related hardware, wireless adapter configurations, wireless drivers, WiFi network card and more. If you're bothered with the "wireless (WiFi) adapter missing" issue, you can go on the reading in this post for accessible solutions.

Top 7 Ways to Fix WiFi Adapter Not Showing up on Windows 10 Creators Update PC

In this Windows 10 Creators Update guide to "WiFi network adapter not showing up" issue, we'll walk you through the different ways to fix the problem on your Windows laptop, desktop or tablet.

Way 1. Check WiFi Adapter-related Hardware on Your Windows 10 Creators Update Computer

It is necessary to check all the wireless adapter-related hardware firstly and exclude the possibility of broken hardware in case you waste time on other useless settings or configurations on your Windows 10 Fall Creators Update/Windows 10 Creators Update computer.

Step 1. Make sure you've allowed the WiFi on your PC. Check the wireless-enabled physical switch or use Function keys like Fn + Fx (x varies from 1, 2, 3 to 12) to see if the Windows machine can recognize any wireless signal.

Step 2. Make sure the network card sit right in the port. You can also clean up the dust around it.

Step 3. Check the cables. Unplug and then reconnect the network cables to see if the problem still persists.

Step 4. Check the wireless signal resources. Restart the WiFi router or the modem.

Step 5. Connect your Windows computer to the network in another WiFi environment. Failing to do so means it is the problem of the PC, and you need to perform more checks.

See Also:4 Methods to Fix WiFi Router Not Working in Windows 10

If there's no problem with the hardware, you can go on the reading for solutions to fix the wireless adapter issue.

Way 2. Enable Your Wireless/WiFi Adapter on the Windows 10 Creators Update PC

If the wireless adapter not showing in the Network Connections but does appear in the Device Manager, then you can go and check if the WiFi network adapter has been disabled there. If so, re-enable the adapter.

Step 1. Use Windows shortcut keysWin + X to launch the Jump List.

Step 2. Select Device Manager.

Step 3. Expand the entry Network adapters.

Step 4. Right click your wireless/WiFi adapter.

Step 5. Select Enable.

If you have it enabled before, you can also try disable and then re-enable the adapter.

Way 3. Use the Troubleshoot Tool on Windows 10 Creators Update

Windows 10 Creators Update contains a handy tool that can troubleshoot network problems automatically. Follow the step below to run the utility and fix the WiFi adapter issue.

Step 1. Right click the network icon on the taskbar.

Step 2. Select Troubleshoot problems.

Step 3. Make the Windows Network Diagnostics detect the problems.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the network adapter not showing up.

See Also:5 Ways to Fix WiFi “No Internet, Secured” Issue on Windows 10 Creators Update

Way 4. Repair WiFi Drivers and Fix the Wireless Adapter Not Showing up

WiFi drivers or wireless drivers are important programs that enable the smooth communication between the Windows 10 Creators Update and the network hardware. Once there are outdated, missing or incompatible wireless network drivers, you may encounter network problems like “WiFi doesn’t have a valid IP configuration”, Windows 10 no WLAN access, unidentified network, etc..

If you don’t have any WiFi adapter in the Device Manager or the Network Connections, you may want to check out Driver Talent, a professional driver issues troubleshooter, and fix the network drivers to get the adapter icon back again.

Download Now

You can get Driver Talent via the button above and follow the steps below to fix the problem:

Step 1. Click Scan and Driver Talent will detect those faulty WiFi drivers on the PC.

Step 2. Click Repair or Update to download and install the best-match wireless network drivers.

Step 3. Restart the computer to make the driver changes take effects.

Note: To prevent other system issues, it is better to backup drivers before any changes on the computer.

Now you can go to the Device Manager or the Network Connections to re-configure the network.

You may also want to check out:

• 10 Ways to Fix Unidentified Network after Windows 10 Creators Update

• Top 7 Ways to Fix No WiFi after Windows 10 Creators Update

• How to Change to Multiple WiFi Adapters in Windows 10

• Fix "We Can't Set up Mobile Hotspot. Turn on WiFi." on Windows 10

• How to Fix Slow Internet after Windows 10 Creators Update

Way 5. Re-enable WLAN Services to Fix the WiFi Adapter Not Showing up after the Windows 10 Creators Update

Many users often ignore Windows Services when they come across some computer problems. In fact, the “wireless adapter not in the Device Manager or the Network Connections” issue can be readily solved via re-enabling the network-related services.

Step 1. Open Windows Services on your computer.

Step 2. Navigate to the services Network Connections and WLAN AutoConfig.

Step 3. If none of them are running, double click the services to the Properties.

Step 4. Click the Start button.

Step 5. Set the Startup type as Automatic.

Step 6. Click Apply and OK.

Note: You can also go to the Dependencies tab and check other related services. If they are disabled, go and re-enable the services. Thus the WiFi not showing up problem can be killed successfully.

Way 6. Use a USB WiFi Adapter on Your Windows 10 Fall Creators Update/Windows 10 Creators Update PC

If there is no problem with the network drivers or Windows services, you have to consider purchasing a new WiFi adapter or using a USB wireless adapter instead. USB wireless adapter is economical and affordable and the tiny “dongle” is easy to plug into the standard USB port on your Windows 10 Creators Update computer. When plugging in the USB wireless card, the driver will be installed, and then you find the adapter on your computer. Just connect to the WiFi and enjoy yourself.

See Also:Fix 802.11n WLAN/WiFi Adapter Not Working on Windows 10

Way 7. Perform a System Restore

If none of the methods above work, the system restore is the last but the workable solutions for you to fix the WiFi adapter not showing up on your Windows 10 Creators Update computer. See How to Use System Restore to Fix Windows 10 Issues.

That's it. If you find this post useful, share it with you friends or users with the same problem. You can comment below or click the LEFT MENU on this page if you have any questions or suggestions on how to fix WiFi adapter not showing up after Windows 10 Creators Update or the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. Any other Windows 10-related issues, please see Windows 10 section on this site.

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