Steps to Reinstall a Network Adapter on Windows

Jul. 09, 2025 / Updated by Seraphina to Windows Driver Solutions

reinstall-a-network-adapter-on-windows

Issues like "Unable to connect to the network", "Ethernet not recognized", or "WiFi cannot be enabled" are common in Windows systems. Reinstalling the network adapter driver is an effective way to resolve such problems.

This article will guide you through the steps to reinstall your network adapter on Windows and help you quickly restore network connectivity.

1. Why Reinstall a Network Adapter?

Unable to connect to WiFi or Ethernet
Network adapter missing or marked with an exclamation mark in Device Manager
Network diagnostics showing "Network adapter not installed" or "Driver issue"
Network issues after system updates or third-party software installation
After replacing network hardware (e.g., wireless card), drivers need reinstallation

2. Preparations Before Reinstalling

Before proceeding, make sure to:

Connect to another network to download drivers if needed
Update Windows to the latest version
Back up important network settings (e.g., static IP, DNS)

3. Reinstall Using Driver Talent

If you're unfamiliar with manually installing drivers, it's recommended to use Driver Talent, which can automatically detect and install the correct drivers, minimizing the risk of installing the wrong ones.

Download Driver Talent

Click the download button to get the latest version of Driver Talent, install and launch the software.
Click "Scan" to detect outdated or missing drivers.
Find the network adapter in the scan results and click "Update".

driver-update

Once the update is complete, restart your computer to ensure the driver works properly.

4. Steps to Manually Reinstall a Network Adapter

Step 1: Uninstall the Current Network Adapter Driver

Press Win + X, then open "Device Manager".

Expand the "Network adapters" section.

Right-click the problematic device (often named "Realtek", "Intel", "Qualcomm", or "Wireless Adapter") and select "Uninstall device".

click-uninstall-device

If prompted, check "Delete the driver software for this device".

Click "Uninstall" and restart your computer.

Step 2: Reinstall the Network Adapter Driver

Method 1: Let Windows Automatically Detect and Install

After restarting, Windows will attempt to detect the hardware and install the necessary drivers.

Wait a few minutes and check if the network connection is restored.

Method 2: Manually Update or Install the Driver

Open Device Manager.

Right-click "Network Controller" or "Unknown Device".

Select "Update driver" > "Search automatically for drivers".

search-automatically-for-drivers

Windows will download and install the required drivers if available.

5. Additional Step: Reset Network Settings (If Connection Still Fails)

Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status.

Scroll down and click "Network reset".

click-network-reset

Click "Reset now" and allow the system to reboot and restore default network configurations.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if I lose network access after uninstalling the driver?

A: Use another device to download the driver to a USB flash drive, or connect to the internet using a mobile hotspot.

Q2: Why can't I see the network adapter in Device Manager?

A: Try "Scan for hardware changes" in the "Action" menu, or check the BIOS to ensure the network card is enabled.

Q3: WiFi shows "Driver not installed"—what now?

A: This usually means the wireless driver is missing or corrupted. Try reinstalling it manually or with a tool like Driver Talent.