When you found that you could not access the internet suddenly, you assumed it was due to driver issues, so you checked for the driver status in Device Manager. In Device Manager, you didn’t see Network Adapter. You’re wondering how to get it back, right? Read on to find out the solutions.
There are several reasons causing network adapter not showing up in Device Manager. You can try the four solutions below to fix the problem. You may not have to try them all. Just start at the top of the list until you find the one that works for you.
Solution 1: Show hidden devices
Some devices may be hidden in Device Manager. When they’re hidden, you cannot see them. So your network adapter could be hidden. If that’s the case, to fix the problem, you just need to make all hidden devices shown in Device Manage.
Follow the steps below to show the hidden devices.
1) Open Device Manager.
2) Click the View menu, and then click Show hidden devices.
3) Click Action menu, and then click Scan for hardware changes.
4) Check to see if the problem is resolved.
Solution 2: Update drivers
The network adapter may be displayed as an Unknown device. Check to see if you see an Unknown device under Other devices as below image shown. If you see an Unknown device, update the driver. Though you don’t see an Unknown device, the problem could be caused by driver issues. To fix the problem, try to update the network adapter driver.
There are two ways you can update the network adapter driver: manual driver update or automatic driver update.
Manual driver update: You can update the network adapter driver by going to your PC manufacturer’s website to search for and download the latest network adapter driver. Be sure to choose drivers that are only compatible with your variant of Windows 10 or 7.
Automatic driver update – If you don’t have the time, patience or computer skills to update your network adapter driver manually, you can, instead, do it automatically with Driver Easy. Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for your network adapter, and your Windows version, and it will download and install them correctly:
1) Download and install Driver Easy.
2) Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
3) Click the Update button next to the flagged network adapter driver to automatically download and install the correct version of that driver (you can do this with the FREE version).
Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system. (This requires the Pro version which comes with full support and a 30-day money back guarantee. You’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All.)
4) After updating the driver, check to see if the problem is resolved.
Solution 3: Reset BIOS
There may be problems with BIOS (Basic Input/Output Operating System) settings when the network adapter doesn’t show up in Device Manager. If Solution 1 and Solution 2 don’t work for you, reset the BIOS to default.
Refer steps below to reset the BIOS:
1) Enter BIOS.
2) Look for Load Setup Defaults, Standard CMOS Features, Reset to Default, Load factory Defaults, Clear BIOS Settings, Load Setup Defaults, or something similar.
3) Use the arrow key to Save and Exit and then press the Enter key on your keyboard. Or press the key you see next to Save and Exit.
4) Restart your computer and see if the problem is resolved.
Solution 4: Change the NIC card
When you don’t see the network adapter in Device Manager, the worst case could be the problem NIC (Network Interface Controller) card. In that case, you need to replace the card with a new one.
To make a further check, it’s recommended you take your computer to the near computer store. The computer store may charge you some fee for detection, but in order to be able to chat with your friends, and watch your favorite movies, it’s worthwhile.
Hope the tips above help you resolve the network adapter missing in the Device Manager issue. If you have any questions or ideas, please leave your comments.
