Do you sometimes have problems with your network adapter (also known as network interface controller) on Windows and you don’t know how to handle this situation? There can be many reasons why your network adapter is not working properly. The issue can typically be resolved quickly. We will show you how to fix network adapter problem at home easily and effectively in this post.
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How to fix network adapter problem?
Check the Windows Device Manager
In Microsoft Windows, you can use the Device Manager Utility to check what hardware is connected to your computer and whether it is working properly. Perform the following checks:
- Step 1: Select Device Manager by performing right-clicking on the Start button.
- Step 2: When Device Manager is open, find the network adapter category and expand it by selecting the arrow icon “ + ” or the small arrow if it is not already open.
- Step 3: Search for your network adapter then right-click on it and select Properties. Now check in the status section if it says “this device is working properly”.
- Step 4: Next, select Disable. Now repeat the same steps but select Enable instead. This reset can get rid of whatever is plaguing the device.
Check your WiFi Switch
Most laptops have a WiFi switch that acts as a physical switch or shortcut. Even if it’s a shortcut, this switch works at the firmware level, so if it’s in the off position, you may not see the adapter in your OS. It’s a silly mistake, but we’ve all made it, so make sure your system’s WiFi switch is in the “on” position before assuming there’s a problem or checking other parts.
Check the physical connection
If your network adapter was working fine before and suddenly doesn’t work anymore, try checking the cable connection. There’s not much to check if you’re using the built-in network adapter. You’re better off having a technician take a look at the motherboard if you suspect the integrated adapter is no longer working properly. If you’re using a USB adapter or expansion card, you can make sure it’s plugged in correctly. You can also try the adapter with another computer, a USB port, or a PCIe slot.
Sometimes your network adapter might have been hidden so you can’t see it in Device Manager. So the first thing you should do is try to reveal hidden hardware:
- Step 1: Click the Start button and type device manager in the Windows search box. Next, select Device Manager in the left column of the search results.
- Step 2: Click the View column and then select Show hidden devices.
- Step 3: Click the Action menu then select Scan for hardware changes. Now check if the problem is fixed. If your network adapter is still not recognized by your computer or not working as it should move on to the next fix.
Update Network Adapter driver
Outdated or corrupted network adapter drivers may be causing your network connection problems. That is probably the most common reason why your network adapter is not working properly. So you should definitely try updating the drivers for your network adapter before any other troubleshooting steps. Driver updates can be done either manually or automatically. To update the driver manually, you can go to the manufacturer’s website and select, download, and install the latest driver for your network adapter. The next way is to update automatically with Driver Easy. Perform the following steps:
- Step 1: Download and install DriverEasy
- Step 2: Launch Driver Easy, then select Scan Now. Driver Easy will then do a scan of your computer to identify any malfunctioning drivers.
- Step 3: Click Update All to automatically download and install the correct versions of all the missing or outdated drivers on your system. To perform this operation requires the Pro version and you have to pay a fee.
If you don’t want to pay for it, you can simply download the driver with the free version. You will have to download them one by one and install them manually. Restart your computer after updating the driver to see if the issue has been fixed.
Reset the power on the computer
Most likely a temporary error in the device’s power settings could lead to a faulty network adapter. In this case, you can try performing a power reset on your computer.
- Step 1: Remove the battery from your computer and turn it off. For desktop computers, unplug the power cable. Next, press and hold the power button for at least 30 seconds and then unplug the system for about 20 minutes.
- Step 2: Reinsert the battery (In the case of the desktop: reconnect the power cable), charge your PC and start it up.
- Step 3: Check if the network adapter problem is fixed.
Run the Network troubleshooter
Windows 10’s built-in network troubleshooter is a useful tool to check and fix network problems. Observe the steps below to run the Network Troubleshooter:
- Step 1: Click Start and select Settings. Next, select Network and Internet.
- Step 2: Scroll down and click on Network Troubleshooter under Advanced Network Settings. At this point, select all network adapters and click Next.
- Step 3: The Network Troubleshooter will automatically detect network problems on your PC. You just have to follow the steps and see if this problem can be fixed.
Conclusion
How to fix network adapter problem? Troubleshooting network problems can be extremely frustrating, especially since not everything possible is under your control. Hopefully one of the fixes above will help you fix your network adapter not working problem. If you have any questions or better suggestions, please leave a comment below to let us know.
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