Wi-Fi button dissapeared after i got locked out of my computer for repeated shutdowns

Question

Wi-Fi button dissapeared after i got locked out of my computer for repeated shutdowns

Soap Rabbit 20

When i tried to open my computer after a few days of not using it, i couldn't log in since a message said that using a password to log in was blocked from repeated wrong guesses and shut downs and that i had to wait at least two hours to use it again.

By that moment i didn't have the time to wait that much, so i had to wait two more days to actually try and unlock it, but when i did i noticed the Wi-Fi button had dissapeared, i tried restarting but it didn't work and i even checked the adapters in the device manager after looking at other questions, but those couldn't fix it either.

I did notice the virtual adapters and a few other devices had a message that said the hardware devices were not connected.

If it's of use, i'm using an ASUS computer and i have been using it for around a year.

I would like some help and advice with this problem, Thank you.

BryceSor 5,500 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-08T06:02:38.85+00:00

Hi Soap Rabbit,

What model Asus are you using?

LAN and wireless chips can sometimes died, can you check the bios to make sure the LAN and wireless card is still enabled?

Wireless and Bluetooth are generally on the same chip so if one goes down you lose both.

Answer accepted by question author

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BryceSor 5,500 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-08T06:02:38.85+00:00

Hi Soap Rabbit,

What model Asus are you using?

LAN and wireless chips can sometimes died, can you check the bios to make sure the LAN and wireless card is still enabled?

Wireless and Bluetooth are generally on the same chip so if one goes down you lose both.

Answer 1

Norah-L 10,490 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Soap Rabbit

I understand that after your ASUS computer temporarily blocked password sign-in due to repeated incorrect attempts and shutdowns, you were later able to try again but found that the Wi-Fi option had disappeared.

A missing Wi-Fi might indicate the wireless adapter is disabled, its driver is not working correctly, or Windows is no longer detecting the hardware.

Please try the following:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart. This may restore the Wi-Fi icon if only the taskbar is affected.
If Wi-Fi is also missing from Settings > Network & internet, shut down the computer completely. Disconnect the charger and USB devices, hold the power button for about 20 seconds, then reconnect the charger and start it.
Open Device Manager > View > Show hidden devices > Network adapters. Look for an Intel, MediaTek, Realtek, or Qualcomm wireless adapter, not the virtual adapters.

If it is disabled, enable it. If there is a warning symbol, uninstall the adapter and restart Windows.
If the Wi-Fi adapter appears in Device Manager, right-click it and select Properties, then check the message under Device status on the General tab. If it shows Code 45, or if the adapter is completely missing, install the correct Wi-Fi driver from the ASUS support page for your exact computer model. You may need to download it on another device and transfer it using a USB drive.

Please let me know how it goes after trying these steps, and I'll be glad to continue looking into it with you.

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Soap Rabbit 20 Reputation points

2026-09-07T06:24:24.3766667+00:00

Hello, Norah-L, thanks for replying (and sorry for not responding sooner).

I have been trying the steps you have given me, and from what i can see, downloading the Virtual adapters might be the only thing i have left to try now, but i must ask what must i download from the download center, because i can't find the Direct Virtual Adapters from all the options.

Another question i want to ask is if the bluetooth device also has Code 45 must i also reinstall it separately?

If you could guide me again it would be truly appreciated.
Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-07T07:08:20.2233333+00:00

Dear Soap Rabbit,

Thank you for the update!

You do not need to download the Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapters separately. Instead, open the ASUS Download Center and either enter your exact laptop model or select Automatically detect this computer’s serial number. Once your device is identified, select Driver & Tools from the menu on the right, choose your Windows version, and download the Wireless/WLAN driver. Install the driver, then restart your computer.

For additional guidance, see How to install drivers downloaded from the ASUS site.

Disclaimer: While the articles above are not Microsoft website, they are the official sites of ASUS.

For Bluetooth, yes, it normally uses a separate driver. If the physical Bluetooth adapter also shows Code 45, download and install the Bluetooth driver listed for the same ASUS model, then restart again. You can also refer to Update Bluetooth drivers in Windows.

If both the physical Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters still show Code 45 after installing the correct drivers, I recommend contacting ASUS support because the wireless hardware may not be detected properly.
Soap Rabbit 20 Reputation points

2026-09-07T07:24:29.93+00:00

Another quick question, just to make sure, if my Wireless LAN Card says Mediatek, must i Install the MediaTek Driver? Because there also was a Realtek Driver.

I've also noticed the RAS Async Adapter also had the Code 45, and i was wondering if it had to do anything with the problem.

Thanks for the previous clarification.
Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-07T07:56:08.39+00:00

Soap Rabbit,

Yes, if Device Manager identifies your physical wireless card as MediaTek, please install the MediaTek Wireless LAN driver for your exact ASUS model.

You can ignore the RAS Async Adapter temporarily for now. The RAS Async Adapter is a Windows virtual adapter used for remote connections, such as dial-up or VPN. It is not the laptop’s physical Wi-Fi card, so reinstalling it is unlikely to restore the missing Wi-Fi option. Code 45 only indicates that Windows currently considers that adapter disconnected, which can be normal for an unused adapter.

Please install only the MediaTek WLAN driver, restart the computer, and then check whether the MediaTek Wireless LAN Card appears normally and whether the Wi-Fi option returns.

Let me know how it goes. Thank you so much for your patience!
Soap Rabbit 20 Reputation points

2026-09-08T02:59:21.6066667+00:00

Hello again, unfortunately, reinstalling the driver did not work, i'm currently waiting for my computer to unlock again to see it's serial number to talk to support, is there anything else that could help me that you could tell me?
Norah-L 10,490 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-08T05:46:30.86+00:00

Hi Soap Rabbit,

I’m sorry reinstalling the driver did not help. You may not need to wait until Windows unlocks to find the serial number. Check the label on the bottom of the laptop, its original box, or purchase documents.

You can also follow this ASUS troubleshooting guide to check whether Wi-Fi is enabled in the BIOS. Avoid changing any other BIOS settings.

Disclaimer: While the articles above are not Microsoft website, they are the official sites of ASUS.

Hopefully your issue will be sorted out soon. Thank you so much for your patience!

Best regards.