What a network driver does and why you need it
A network driver is the software that lets your computer talk to your internet connection — whether that's ethernet, WiFi, or a cellular modem. Without it, your operating system can see the hardware but cannot actually send or receive data. If you just plugged in a new network card, switched to a different computer, or got a fresh Windows installation, you will need to install the driver before you can connect to the internet.
The driver acts as a translator between Windows or macOS and the physical network hardware. Your operating system does not know how to communicate with a Realtek ethernet chip or an Intel WiFi card on its own — the driver provides those instructions. Install the wrong driver or no driver at all, and you will see a yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager (Windows) or a "not connected" status in System Preferences (Mac), even though the hardware is physically present.
Key Takeaways
- Windows often finds and installs network drivers automatically through Windows Update, but you may need to manually install them from the manufacturer's website if automatic detection fails.
- You will need internet access on another device to read a driver if your current computer has no network connection at all.
- The correct driver depends on your exact network hardware model and your operating system version, so check Device Manager or System Information before downloading.
- On Mac, network drivers usually come built into the operating system, but occasionally you will need to update macOS itself to fix network problems.
Finding your network hardware model on Windows
Before you read anything, you need to know exactly what network hardware you have. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager, or by typing "Device Manager" into the search box. Look for a category called "Network adapters" and expand it by clicking the arrow next to it.
You will see one or more entries — these are your network devices. If there is a yellow exclamation mark or a question mark next to an entry, that is the device missing a driver. Right-click on it and select "Properties" to see the full name and model number. Write down the exact name — for example, "Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller" or "Intel Wireless-AC 9260". This is what you will search for when downloading the driver.
If you see "Unknown device" or "PCI Device" instead of a recognizable name, the driver is missing entirely. In that case, right-click the device, select "Properties", go to the "Details" tab, and look for "Hardware IDs" in the dropdown menu. Copy one of those IDs and search it online — this will usually lead you to the correct manufacturer and model.
Downloading the driver from the manufacturer
Go to the website of the network hardware manufacturer. Common ones are Realtek, Intel, Broadcom, MediaTek, and Qualcomm. Search their support or downloads page for your exact model number. You will usually find a dropdown menu where you select your operating system — choose the version you have (Windows 10, Windows 11, etc.) and the bit version (32-bit or 64-bit). If you are not sure which bit version you have, right-click "This PC" or "My Computer", select "Properties", and look for "System type".
read the driver file to your computer. It will usually be a .zip file or an .exe file. If it is a .zip file, right-click it and select "Extract All" to unpack it. You will typically see a folder with the driver files inside, often including a setup program or an installer.
If you cannot find the driver on the manufacturer's website, try searching the model number plus "driver read" in a search engine. Stick to official manufacturer sites — avoid third-party driver read sites, which sometimes bundle unwanted software.
Installing the driver on Windows
If the extracted folder contains a setup program (usually named "Setup.exe" or "Install.exe"), double-click it and follow the on-screen instructions. The installer will copy files to your system, register the driver with Windows, and may ask you to restart your computer. Do restart when prompted — the driver will not work until you do.
If there is no setup program, right-click the device in Device Manager again, select "Update driver", and choose "Browse my computer for drivers". Navigate to the folder where you extracted the driver files and click "Next". Windows will scan the folder, find the driver files, and install them. Again, restart when prompted.
After restart, open Device Manager again and check the Network adapters category. The yellow exclamation mark should be gone, and the device name should appear without any warning symbol. Open a web browser and test your connection — if you can load a website, the driver is working.
Installing or updating network drivers on Mac
Most network hardware on Mac comes with drivers built into macOS itself. If your WiFi or ethernet is not working, the first step is to check for macOS updates. Click the Apple menu, select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older versions), then "General" and "Software Update". Install any available updates and restart.
If updating macOS does not fix the problem, open System Information by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "System Information". Go to "Network" in the left sidebar and check the status of your network connection. If it says "Not Connected" or shows an error, try unplugging the ethernet cable or toggling WiFi off and on. If that does not work, restart your Mac.
Third-party network drivers for Mac are rare — most manufacturers do not provide separate driver downloads for Mac users. If you have a very new or very specialized network device, check the manufacturer's website for Mac drivers, but in most cases updating macOS is the only step you need.
Troubleshooting when the driver will not install
If Windows shows an error message during installation, make sure you downloaded the driver for the correct operating system version and bit type. A 32-bit driver will not install on a 64-bit system, and a Windows 10 driver may not work on Windows 11. Go back to the manufacturer's website and read the correct version.
If the driver file is corrupted, the read may have failed. Delete the file and read it again, this time checking the file size against what the manufacturer's website lists. If the sizes do not match, the read was incomplete.
If Device Manager still shows a yellow exclamation mark after installation, try uninstalling the driver and reinstalling it. Right-click the device, select "Uninstall device", check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device", and click "Uninstall". Restart your computer, then repeat the installation process from the beginning.
Getting internet access to read a driver when you have no connection
If your computer has no network connection at all, you cannot read a driver on that computer. Use another device — a phone, tablet, or different computer — to read the driver file. Transfer it to the computer that needs it using a USB flash drive. Plug the drive into the computer with no network, copy the driver file to the desktop or Documents folder, and then follow the installation steps above.
Some newer computers come with network drivers pre-loaded on a USB drive or recovery partition. Check the documentation that came with your computer or motherboard. If you built the computer yourself, the motherboard manual usually lists where to find drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Windows say "Unknown device" instead of showing the network hardware name?
Windows does not recognize the hardware because the driver is missing. The hardware exists but Windows has no instructions for communicating with it. Check the Device ID in Device Properties and search that ID online to find the correct driver from the manufacturer.
Can I use a driver from a different manufacturer if it is the same type of hardware?
No. Drivers are specific to the exact hardware model and manufacturer. Using the wrong driver can cause the device to malfunction or not work at all. Always read from the manufacturer of your network hardware, not from a different company.
Do I need to uninstall the old driver before installing a new one?
Usually Windows will replace the old driver automatically when you install the new one. If you are updating to a newer version of the same driver, you can install directly over it. If you are switching to a completely different driver or having problems, uninstall the old one first through Device Manager.
What if the manufacturer's website does not have a driver for my operating system?
The hardware may be too old or too new for that operating system. Check whether your operating system version is still supported by the manufacturer. If it is not, you may need to upgrade your operating system or replace the network hardware with a newer model that has current driver support.
Will installing a network driver fix my slow internet speed?
A driver installation or update can fix connection problems, but it will not increase your internet speed beyond what your service provider gives you. If you have a working network connection but slow speeds, the issue is with your internet service, not the driver.