[Solved] “Windows Could Not Find a Driver For Your Network Adapter”

Device drivers are software that connects your computer’s operating system to its hardware. If any of these fails, the affected hardware will be unable to communicate with Windows. When the system seems unable to identify and communicate with the drivers that connect the Operating System to the networking adapter, the error message “Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter” appears.

This issue usually occurs when you launch the Windows troubleshooter on a network device that isn’t working.

Here are a few possibilities on why the “Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter” error occurs:

• Your Wi-Fi adapter is the driver software is out of date. Having updated driver software, you’ll have fewer compatibility difficulties and defects, which could lead to this problem.
• Your Windows Operating System is outdated and incompatible with the driver software of your Wi-Fi adapter.
• Your computer’s power management settings are incorrect.

To resolve the “Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter” issue, we’ve compiled a list of all the possible workarounds. Begin with the most difficult and move on to the easier ones.

“Windows Could Not Find a Driver for Your Network Adapter” Troubleshooting Methods

When Windows cannot detect a network device driver software, some customers have reported that they can’t connect to the internet.

As a result, the troubleshooter fails to resolve the problem, and users cannot browse the web. Check out the troubleshooting methods below to see if they can help you repair this network adapter issue.

First Method – Reboot Your Internet Router

You’d be amazed just how rebooting the internet router would restore internet access. This will create a new connection with the Internet Service Provider and restore the manufacturer’s settings.

1. Power off your router and wit for at least 10 seconds before powering it back on.
2. Once your router is back on, look for the reset button on your router and hold it down for at least 15 seconds. The reset button/switch may require you to use a pin, needle, or paperclip.
3. After resetting your router check your internet connection and confirm if this network adapter fix worked.

Second Method – Run the Internet Connections Troubleshooter

A built-in tool in Windows can fix issues with network drivers. To use this tool, follow these steps.

1. Open the Windows settings by holding down the “Windows” + “I” keys at the same time.

2. Click on “Update & Security”.

3. Click on “Troubleshoot” in the left pane and click “Additional troubleshooters”.

4. Under additional troubleshooters, click on “Internet Connections” and click “Run the Troubleshooter”.

5. The troubleshooter will then scan for any issues and will show you the issues it has found and the fixes that it applied. Restart your computer to see if the “Windows Could Not Find a Driver for Your Network Adapter” error has already been fixed and get your network connection back.

Third Method – Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

As we have mentioned, Windows 10 has built-in tools that you can use to troubleshoot issues with your device. Another tool that you can potentially fix the problem is the Network Adapter Troubleshooter. Follow these steps to launch the tool.

1. Hold down the “Windows” key and press the letter “R” and type in “control update” in the run command window.

2. In the next window, click “Troubleshoot” and click “Additional Troubleshooters”.

3. In the next window, you should see the network adapter troubleshooter click “Network Adapter” and click “Run the Troubleshooter”.

4. Just follow the prompts in order for the tool to determine if there are issues with your network adapter. Once it fixes any detected issues, restart your computer and check if the “Windows Could Not Find a Driver for Your Network Adapter” issue still persists.

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Fourth Method – Update Your Network Adapter Drivers Through the Device Manager

1. Press the “Windows” and “R” keys and type in “devmgmt.msc” in the run command line and press enter to open Device Manager.

2. In the list of devices in the Device Manager, expand “Network Adapters”, right-click on your network adapters, and click “Update Drivers”.

3. Select “Search Automatically for Drivers” and follow the next prompts to completely install the new network adapter driver. Close the Device Manager window and restart your computer.

4. You may also check the manufacturer’s website for the latest driver of your network adapter to get the latest network adapter drivers.

Fifth Method – Reinstall Your Network Adapter

A defective network adapter driver may cause the “Windows Could Not Find a Driver for Your Network Adapter” issue. You can try uninstalling the network adapter driver and then letting Windows 10 reinstall and update the network adapter driver for you when you reboot your computer.

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter. This will open Device Manager.
2. Click the View tab in the Device Manager window and check Show hidden devices.
3. Expand network adapters and if you see any hidden adapters, right-click on all the drivers, and right-click on Wireless adapter and select “Uninstall device”.

4. Closeout the Device Manager windowReboot your computer and allow it to reinstall the Wireless Network Adapters automatically.

Sixth Method – Modify Power Management Settings for Your Network Adapter

Your Power Management settings may have been set up to make adjustments without your permission. This may result in your device disconnecting from the Wi-Fi network, especially if you have been idle for a long time.

1. Press the “Windows” and “R” keys and type in “devmgmt.msc” in the run command line and press enter.

2. In the list of devices, double-click “Network Adapters”, right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter, and click “Properties”.

3. In the properties, click on “Power Management” tab and make sure to uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” and click “OK”.

4. Restart your computer and check if the Wi-Fi issue has been fixed.

Seventh Method – Perform a System Restore

Finally, if all else does not work, you can always restore the machine to its default factory settings. This will help you fix the issue if your corrupted network adapter driver fails to work correctly after installing an update. Ensure you have all of your crucial files saved on an external storage device or before attempting a system restore. Any recent updates to your computer will be erased during this process.

1. Download Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website.

2. Run Media Creation Tool to create a Windows installation media (You can use a USB installation drive or CD/DVD disc).
3. Boot the PC from the disc or USB drive.
4. Next, configure the language, keyboard method, and time. Click Repair your computer.

5. Go to Choose an option. Choose Troubleshoot and Advanced options. Lastly, choose System Restore.
6. Follow the wizard to finish a system restore.

Wrap Up

If one of our solutions has resolved the “Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter” error message, please share it with your family and friends. If nothing else works, we recommend contacting an IT specialist to assist you in repairing your computer’s Wi-Fi network adapter.