How to Reset Network Adapter on Windows 11?

Network connectivity issues can be a frustrating experience for Windows 11 users. If you’re facing problems with your network connection, resetting the network adapter can often help resolve the issue. This tutorial will guide you through the steps to reset the network adapter on Windows 11 and get your internet connection back up and running.

Step 1: Open the Windows Settings by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon.

Step 2: In the Settings window, click on "Network & Internet."

Step 3: On the left side of the Network & Internet settings, select "Advanced network settings."

Step 4: Scroll down and find the "Network reset" option. Click on the "Reset now" button.

Step 5: A warning message will appear, informing you that resetting the network will remove all network adapters and reinstall them. Click on the "Reset" button to proceed.

Step 6: Windows will now initiate the network reset process. This might take a few minutes. Once the process is complete, your computer will automatically restart.

Step 7: After the restart, go back to the Settings window and navigate to "Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Status." Ensure that your network connection is active and working properly.

Resetting the network adapter on Windows 11 can help troubleshoot and resolve common network connectivity issues. By following the above steps, you can easily reset your network adapter and regain a stable internet connection.

Video Tutorial: Why Windows 11 Wi-Fi not working?

How do I reinstall Wi-Fi adapter driver Windows 11?

To reinstall the Wi-Fi adapter driver on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and click on the "Settings" gear icon.
2. In the Settings window, select "Network & Internet."
3. Choose the "Wi-Fi" option from the left-hand side menu.
4. Click on the "Advanced network settings" link at the bottom.
5. Under the "Advanced network settings" section, click on the "Hardware properties" option.
6. In the Device Manager window that appears, locate and expand the "Network adapters" category.
7. Find your Wi-Fi adapter from the list (usually labeled with "Wi-Fi" or the name of the manufacturer).
8. Right-click on the Wi-Fi adapter and choose "Uninstall device."
9. A confirmation dialog box will pop up asking if you want to delete the driver software. Select the checkbox for deleting the driver software and click "Uninstall."
10. Wait for the uninstallation process to complete and then click on the "Action" menu at the top of the Device Manager window.
11. Select "Scan for hardware changes."

Windows will now automatically detect the missing Wi-Fi adapter and install the default driver for it. If you have downloaded the specific driver for your Wi-Fi adapter, you can also choose the "Update driver" option after step 8 instead of uninstalling the device. This way, you can manually browse for and install the downloaded driver.

Once the installation or update process is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

Note: The steps provided here are based on Windows 11 as of 2023 and may vary slightly depending on the specific version of Windows you are using.

Where is network adapter in Windows 11?

In Windows 11, the location of the network adapter settings has been slightly changed compared to previous versions of Windows. Here’s how to find the network adapter settings in Windows 11:

1. Click on the Start button located on the taskbar, or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
2. From the Start menu, click on the Settings (gear-shaped) icon. You can usually find it on the left-hand side of the Start menu.
3. In the Settings window, click on the Network & internet option. It is usually located in the top row of icons.
4. On the Network & internet page, select the Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or VPN tab, depending on the type of network connection you want to configure.
5. Under the selected tab, you will find the respective settings for the associated network type. For example, if you clicked on the Ethernet tab, you will see Ethernet-related settings and options.
6. To access additional network adapter settings, such as driver details or advanced configurations, click on the Advanced network settings option, usually located at the bottom of the page.

By following these steps, you should be able to locate and configure the network adapter settings on your Windows 11 system.

Why Wi-Fi network is not showing in Windows 11?

There can be several reasons why a Wi-Fi network is not showing in Windows 11. Here are some steps to troubleshoot this issue:

1. Check Wi-Fi adapter: Ensure that your Wi-Fi adapter is functioning properly. You can do this by going to the Device Manager and checking if the Wi-Fi adapter is enabled and there are no warning signs or errors associated with it. If there are any issues, try updating the driver or reinstalling it.

2. Reset network settings: Resetting your network settings can often resolve connectivity issues. To do this, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status, and under the Advanced network settings, click on Network reset. This will remove all network adapters and reset networking components to their default settings. Restart your computer after this process is complete.

3. Disable airplane mode: Check if airplane mode is turned on. If it is, disable it by either clicking the airplane mode button in the Action Center or going to Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane mode.

4. Check Wi-Fi settings: Ensure that your Wi-Fi settings are correctly configured. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi and check if the toggle switch is turned on. Also, make sure that your Wi-Fi network is set to "Connect automatically" and not hidden.

5. Restart networking services: Restarting networking services can help resolve any temporary issues. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each command:
– netsh winsock reset
– netsh int ip reset
– ipconfig /release
– ipconfig /renew
– ipconfig /flushdns

6. Check for driver updates: Ensure that you have the latest Wi-Fi driver installed for your network adapter. Visit the manufacturer’s website and download the appropriate driver for your Wi-Fi adapter model. Install the driver and restart your computer.

7. Disable third-party Wi-Fi management software: If you have any third-party Wi-Fi management software installed, try disabling it temporarily to see if it is interfering with your network connections. You can do this by right-clicking on the software’s icon in the system tray and selecting the appropriate option.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it is recommended to seek further assistance from Windows support or consult a professional technician for advanced troubleshooting.

How do I fix Network drivers in Windows 11?

To fix network drivers in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Identify the problematic network driver: First, you need to determine which network driver is causing the issue. To do this, open the Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting "Device Manager" from the menu. Look for the "Network adapters" section and expand it to see the list of installed network drivers.

2. Update the network driver: Right-click on the problematic network driver and select "Update driver" from the context menu. Windows will then search for the latest driver version online and attempt to update it automatically. If an updated driver is found and installed successfully, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

3. Roll back the network driver: If updating the driver doesn’t fix the problem, you can consider rolling back the driver to the previously installed version. Right-click on the network driver and select "Properties" from the context menu. In the Properties window, go to the "Driver" tab and click on the "Roll Back Driver" button. Follow the on-screen instructions, restart your computer, and check if the issue is resolved.

4. Reinstall the network driver: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you might need to reinstall the network driver completely. Right-click on the network driver and select "Uninstall device" from the context menu. Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" and click "Uninstall." Once the driver is uninstalled, restart your computer. Windows should automatically reinstall the driver upon startup. If it doesn’t, you can manually download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website and install it.

5. Reset network settings: If reinstalling the driver doesn’t work, you can attempt to reset your network settings. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I, then select "Network & internet" from the options. In the left-hand pane, click on "Status" and scroll down to find the "Network reset" option. Click on "Network reset" and follow the on-screen instructions. Note that this will remove all your network adapters, reinstall them, and reset network configuration settings.

6. Additional troubleshooting steps: If the problem persists, you can try other general network troubleshooting steps. Some of these include restarting your router/modem, running the built-in Windows Network Troubleshooter (open Settings > Network & internet > Status > Network troubleshooter), and disabling any VPN or third-party firewall software temporarily.

Remember, these steps are intended as a general guide, and the specific actions you need to take may vary depending on your computer’s configuration and the network driver in question. It’s always a good idea to consult official documentation or seek assistance from the manufacturer if you’re unsure or hesitant about making changes to your network drivers.

How do I fix my network adapter?

To fix your network adapter, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the issue: Determine if the network adapter hardware is faulty or if it’s a software-related problem. Check if the network adapter is recognized by your device and if there are any error messages or indicators of a malfunction.

2. Update drivers: Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause network adapter issues. Visit the manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your specific network adapter. Install the updated drivers and restart your device to see if it resolves the problem.

3. Troubleshoot network settings: Sometimes, incorrect network settings can cause adapter issues. Resetting the network configuration can help. On Windows, go to "Network and Sharing Center" in the Control Panel, click on "Change adapter settings," right-click on the network adapter, and choose "Disable." After a few moments, right-click again and select "Enable." On macOS, go to "System Preferences," choose "Network," select the network adapter, and click on the minus (-) sign to remove it. Then, click on the plus (+) sign to add it back.

4. Power cycle the devices: Turn off your modem, router, and computer. Wait for a minute before turning them back on. This step can help refresh the network connections and resolve temporary issues.

5. Disable security software temporarily: Firewalls or antivirus programs can sometimes interfere with network connectivity. Temporarily disable them and check if the network adapter starts working properly. If it does, consider adjusting the settings of your security software to allow network access.

6. Run network troubleshooters: Both Windows and macOS provide built-in network troubleshooters that can help diagnose and fix common network adapter problems. Search for "Network Troubleshooter" in the respective operating system’s settings and follow the prompts to run the troubleshooter.

7. Reset network settings: As a last resort, you can reset your network settings to default. On Windows, you can do this through the "Network Reset" feature in the Settings app. On macOS, you can reset the network settings by going to "System Preferences," selecting "Network," and clicking on the "Advanced" button. From there, choose the option to "Reset all network settings."

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it’s possible that the network adapter is physically damaged and needs to be replaced. In such cases, it’s advisable to seek professional assistance or contact the manufacturer for further guidance.

How do I manually reset my network adapter?

To manually reset your network adapter, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Start menu on your Windows computer and open the Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, search for "Network and Sharing Center" and open it.
3. In the Network and Sharing Center window, locate and click on "Change adapter settings" in the left-hand sidebar.
4. This will display all the network adapters installed on your computer. Identify the network adapter you want to reset, right-click on it, and select "Disable" from the context menu.
5. After disabling the adapter, right-click on it again and select "Enable" from the context menu to re-enable it. This will trigger a manual reset for that specific network adapter.
6. Once the adapter is enabled again, check if your network connectivity is restored.

Keep in mind that resetting the network adapter will also remove any custom settings or configurations you might have made, such as static IP addresses. After the reset, your adapter will return to its default settings.

It’s worth mentioning that these steps are specific to Windows operating systems, and the process may vary slightly for different versions of Windows. If you’re using a different operating system, such as macOS or Linux, the steps may differ, so it’s best to consult the documentation or support resources specific to your respective operating system.