WiFi option has completely disappeared from Windows 10 PC Desktop

Question

My dad's PC has suddenly stopped showing WiFi as an option to connect to the internet. It has always been there before and this is how he was connecting. When I open Network Settings, it shows Not Connected with No WiFi option on the left menu:

I tried Network Reset a couple of times, but nothing happened.

I went to Device Manager and there was a WiFi adapter (hidden), which I uninstalled (at someone else's recommendation), restarted, and it did not reappear. I also scanned for hardware changes:

I went to WWAN AutoConfig, made sure it was running and set to automatic, restarted, and still nothing:

I went to Network Connections and it's telling me that an ethernet cable is unplugged, which is not helpful since there never was an ethernet cable, and the router is in a different room, so I can't connect that way.

I went to Show Available Networks and nothing comes up, which is wrong because there are about 20 available that I can see on my phone.

I tried to set up a connection, but there is no option to add it manually:

I've scoured the internet for possible solutions. It seems like this has happened to other people and they found solutions but nothing is working for me. Please help!

Answer 1

I feel the computer needs a Wi-Fi driver update. Also, try to connect to others wifi and check. Check for the laptop's manufacturer. They may have free driver updates. Add an eternal USB device with Wifi Driver, to get the wifi issue fixed.

Answer 2

Arjun, the driver does not need to be updated - the WiFi network adapter is GONE. The WiFi is working fine, as I can connect to it on other devices to it with no problem. The problem is that the network adapter is gone, so I can't update or repair it. It was supposed to load again when I rebooted, but it did not.

Also, it is not a laptop; it is a desktop as stated in the subject line. I checked with HP, and the computer is "retired" so they have no support for it.

Answer 3

Please add the system details from Desktop-> Properties and send the system configuration. I can see if anything could be done.

Answer 4

Hi Valerie Jackson,

Thanks for your time. Please try the following steps to try to repair the Wireless module. 1. Check your laptop's physical wireless switch Some laptops have a physical switch or button that turns the wireless adapter on or off. Make sure it's turned on. Also, try to On or Off using Fn keys if it is Disabled somehow. 2. Update your operating system Sometimes, the problem can be solved by updating your operating system. If you're using Windows, go to "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update", and then click on "Check for updates". 3. Check BIOS settings Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS setup (usually by pressing F2, F10, or DEL key during startup). Look for a setting related to your wireless adapter and make sure it's enabled. 4. Reset BIOS to default settings If none of the above steps works, you can try resetting your BIOS to its default settings. This can often resolve issues with hardware not being detected. 5. Uninstall any recent Windows updates.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-uninstall-a-windows-update-c77b8f9b-e4dc-4e9f-a803-fdec12e59fb0

Best Regards,

Ian Xue

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