I think I figured out the problem. When Windows installs an update, it also updates the drivers. However, in the case of off-the-shelf components, such as network adapters, it replaces the manufacturer's custom driver with a generic one. So in my case, the TP-Link driver was replaced with a Qualcomm driver that wouldn't connect automatically. I reinstalled the manufacturer's driver, and it works perfectly.
Is there a way to disable this?