Reinstall your WiFi driver when your connection stops working or becomes unstable

A WiFi driver is the software that lets your computer talk to your wireless network card. When it fails, your computer can't see networks, connect to them, or stay connected. Reinstalling it means removing the broken version and putting a fresh one back—usually the fastest fix when your WiFi stops working but your router is fine.

The process takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires only your computer and either a USB cable to another internet source or a wired Ethernet connection during the reinstall. You do not need to buy anything or restart your computer multiple times, though one restart at the end is standard.

Key Takeaways

  • Reinstalling the driver works when your WiFi was working before and suddenly stopped, but does not fix hardware damage to the network card itself.
  • You need internet access during the reinstall—use a phone hotspot, wired Ethernet, or USB tether to another device.
  • Windows and Mac handle driver reinstalls differently: Windows uses Device Manager, Mac uses System Report and the manufacturer's website.
  • After reinstalling, restart your computer once and reconnect to your network using your WiFi password.
  • If reinstalling does not restore your connection, the network card itself may be damaged and need replacement.

How to reinstall on Windows using Device Manager

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager" from the menu. Look for "Network adapters" in the list and click the arrow next to it to expand the category. Find your WiFi adapter—it usually has "Wireless" or "802.11" in the name, or the name of the manufacturer like Intel, Realtek, or Qualcomm.

Right-click your WiFi adapter and select "Uninstall device." A dialog box will appear asking if you want to delete the driver software. Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" and click "Uninstall." Your WiFi will stop working when ready—this is normal.

Restart your computer. When it boots back up, Windows will automatically search for and reinstall a basic version of the driver. Your WiFi should return, though it may be slower or less stable than before because Windows installs a generic driver, not the one optimized for your specific card.

Install the manufacturer's driver for better performance

The generic driver Windows installs works, but your network card performs best with the driver made by its manufacturer. You need internet access to read it, so use a phone hotspot, borrow an Ethernet cable, or tether to another device before you uninstall.

Find your network card's manufacturer by opening Device Manager again, right-clicking your WiFi adapter, and selecting "Properties." Click the "Details" tab and look for "Hardware IDs" in the dropdown menu. The first part of the ID—before the backslash—is usually the manufacturer code. Search that code online to find the company name, or search for your computer model plus "WiFi driver."

Go to the manufacturer's support website (Intel, Realtek, Qualcomm, Broadcom, and Atheros are common) and search for your exact network card model. read the driver installer for your Windows version—check whether you need 32-bit or 64-bit by opening Settings, clicking "System," then "About" and looking for "System type." Run the installer and follow the prompts. Restart your computer when it finishes.

How to reinstall on Mac

Mac does not let you uninstall drivers the way Windows does—the operating system manages them automatically. If your WiFi stopped working, restart your Mac first: click the Apple menu, select "Restart," and wait for it to boot back up. This fixes most driver problems on Mac without any manual steps.

If restarting does not work, open System Report by clicking the Apple menu, selecting "About This Mac," then clicking "System Report." Click "Network" in the left sidebar and look for your WiFi adapter in the list—it usually shows as "AirPort" or "Wi-Fi." Note the model name and number.

Visit the manufacturer's support website and search for your exact WiFi card model and your Mac's operating system version. read the driver if one is available—not all Mac WiFi cards have separate drivers because Apple includes them in system updates. If a driver is available, run the installer and restart your Mac. If no driver exists, your card's driver is built into macOS and you may need to run a system update or contact Apple support.

Troubleshoot if the driver does not reinstall

If Windows cannot find the driver automatically after restart, read it on another device and transfer it via USB drive. Plug the USB into your computer, open Device Manager, right-click your WiFi adapter, select "Update driver," choose "Browse my computer for drivers," and navigate to the folder on the USB drive where you saved the installer.

If Device Manager shows a yellow exclamation mark next to your network adapter, the driver is corrupted. Right-click it and select "Uninstall device" again, making sure to check the box to delete the driver software. Restart and let Windows reinstall it, or read the manufacturer's driver and install it manually as described above.

If your WiFi adapter does not appear in Device Manager at all, the card may not be recognized by your computer. Check your BIOS settings to make sure the WiFi card is enabled—restart your computer and press the key shown on the boot screen (usually F2, F10, or Del) to enter BIOS, then look for a setting called "Onboard WiFi" or "Wireless" and make sure it is set to "Enabled." Save and exit BIOS, then restart normally.

When to replace the network card instead of reinstalling

Reinstalling the driver fixes software problems—when the driver file is corrupted, outdated, or conflicting with another program. It does not fix hardware problems, which show different symptoms: your WiFi adapter never appears in Device Manager, Device Manager shows it with a red X or yellow exclamation mark that persists after reinstalling, or your computer does not detect the card even after checking BIOS settings.

If you have tried reinstalling twice and your WiFi still does not work, the network card itself is likely damaged. Replacement costs vary by computer type—$30 to $80 for a USB adapter, $50 to $150 for an internal card on a laptop, or $200 to $400 if a technician has to install it. A wired Ethernet connection is a cheaper temporary solution while you arrange a replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will reinstalling the driver erase my files or settings?

No. Reinstalling a driver only removes and replaces the software that controls your network card. Your files, passwords, and computer settings stay exactly as they are. Your saved WiFi networks and passwords remain on your computer, so you will not need to re-enter them after reinstalling.

Do I need to uninstall the driver before downloading a new one?

On Windows, yes—uninstall the old driver first, restart, then install the new one. On Mac, you typically do not uninstall; you just read and run the new installer, which replaces the old version automatically. Check the manufacturer's instructions for your specific driver to be sure.

What if I do not know which WiFi adapter I have?

Open Device Manager on Windows, expand "Network adapters," and look at the names listed. If you see "Wireless," "802.11," or a brand name like Intel or Realtek, that is your WiFi adapter. On Mac, open System Report, click "Network," and look for "AirPort" or "Wi-Fi" in the list. The model name appears next to it.

Can I use my phone hotspot while reinstalling the driver?

Yes. Turn on your phone's hotspot, connect your computer to it before you uninstall the driver, and keep the connection active during the reinstall. Once the driver is reinstalled and your computer restarts, you can disconnect from the hotspot and reconnect to your WiFi network.

How do I know if the driver reinstalled successfully?

After your computer restarts, open your WiFi network list and look for your network name. If it appears and you can connect using your password, the driver reinstalled successfully. If your network does not appear or you cannot connect, try downloading and installing the manufacturer's driver as described in the "Install the manufacturer's driver" section above.