WiFi adapter disappeared

Vanessa Truby 0 Reputation points
2026-09-09T13:17:22.12+00:00

My leveno ideapad 5 2-in-1 WiFi network adapter is not showing up. When I go to the network and internet it is not even giving me the option to connect to WiFi. I have tried resetting the network adaptors back to factory settings and this did not work either. How do I fix this?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Internet and connectivity
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  1. EmilyS726 264.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-09T13:49:27.9533333+00:00

    Hello

    If factory reset doesn't bring it back either, there's a good chance this can be a hardware issue.

    However, let's make sure we review all we can on the software side first.

    Can you share with me two screenshots please?

    1. Go to Device Manager > Network Adapters, I would like to see what's listed.
    2. Please type msinfo32.exe in the search on the taskbar and hit enter, then share a screenshot of the pop up.

    Thanks!

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-09T13:17:40.3066667+00:00

    If the Wi‑Fi option is missing entirely, start with checks that match that symptom:

    1. Open Start > Settings > Network & Internet and confirm whether Wi‑Fi is missing there.
    2. Make sure Airplane mode is Off.
    3. If the device has a physical wireless switch, make sure it is turned on.

    If Wi‑Fi is still missing, check whether the adapter is hidden or not working:

    1. Open Device Manager.
    2. Select View > Show hidden devices.
    3. Expand Network adapters.
    4. If the wireless adapter appears, open Properties and check Device status for an error.

    If the adapter is present but the connection stopped working after an update or corruption, reinstall the adapter driver:

    1. In Device Manager, expand Network adapters.
    2. Right-click the Wi‑Fi adapter and select Uninstall device.
    3. If shown, select Attempt to remove the driver for this device, then select Uninstall.
    4. Restart the PC.

    Windows will try to reinstall the network adapter driver automatically after restart. Before uninstalling, make sure a backup driver is available from the PC manufacturer in case Windows does not reinstall it automatically.

    If that still does not restore Wi‑Fi, use Network reset as a last step. This removes and reinstalls network adapters and resets their settings to default. It can also require reinstalling VPN software or virtual network software afterward.

    For Windows 10:

    1. Select Start, type Settings, then go to Settings > Network & internet > Status > Network reset.
    2. Select Reset now > Yes.
    3. Restart the PC and check whether Wi‑Fi returns.

    If the adapter still does not appear in Device Manager after showing hidden devices and restarting, that points to a driver or hardware-level issue with the wireless adapter.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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