Missing Wi-Fi Option in Windows? 7 Ways to Resolve It

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How to Fix the Missing Wi-Fi Option In Windows?
[4 Beginner-Friendly Ways]

Sometimes, you can fix the missing Wi-Fi option in Windows by simply carrying out some basic troubleshooting steps.

Method 1: Make Sure the Wi-Fi Adapter Is Enabled

If your Wi-Fi Adapter is disabled, your Windows won’t display the Wi-Fi option. Make sure it is enabled by following these steps:

• On your keyboard, press ‘Win + R’ to open “Run”.
• Now type “control” and hit “OK”. It will launch the “Control Panel”.
• In the “Control Panel”, go to “Network and Internet” > Network and Sharing Center.

• From the left pane, click on “Change adapter settings”. You will now see all the installed network devices.
• Right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and click on “Enabled”.

• You can also try hitting the “Diagnose” option afterward to automatically scan and fix any issues.

Method 2: Run the Internet Connection Troubleshooter

The Internet Connection Troubleshooter is a built-in tool that lets you identify and fix any common issues with your network devices. 

To run the Internet Connection troubleshooter, follow these steps:

• Press ‘Win + I’ to open “Settings” on your PC.
• Go to the “System” tab and select “Troubleshoot” > “Other troubleshooters”.
• Select the “Run” option for “Internet Connections”. 

• Now click on “Troubleshoot my connection to the internet”.

Wait for it to identify and troubleshoot any underlying issues with your internet connection. If it suggests any fixes, apply them to resolve the issues.

Method 3: Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

An issue with your network adapter can also cause the Wi-Fi option to go missing. To resolve it, run the built-in Network Adapter Troubleshooter in Windows.

• Press ‘Win + I’ to open “Settings” on your PC.
• Go to the “System” tab and select “Troubleshoot” > “Other troubleshooters”.
• Select the “Run” option for “Network Adapter”. 

• In the resulting window, click on “All network adapters”.
• Now select “Next”.

Wait for the troubleshooter to identify and fix any underlying issues with your network adapter connection. If it suggests any fixes, apply them to resolve the issues.

Method 4: Update All the Network Adapter Drivers

If your network drivers are not up to date, they may cause issues with Wi-Fi connectivity. Update your network drivers to make sure any possible glitches are resolved.

Here’s how to do so:

• Go to ‘Windows Search’ and type and ‘enter’ “Device Manager”.
• Now expand the “Network adapters” section in the Device Manager.
• Next, right-click on your Wi-Fi device and click on “Update Driver”.

• Finally, click on “Search automatically for drivers” to automatically scan and install any available updates.

Once the latest drivers have been installed, check if the Wi-Fi option is visible now.

Fixing the Missing Wi-Fi Option in Windows
[3 Advanced Ways]

If the above-mentioned fixes fail to resolve the 7-Zip data error, it’s time to resort to more advanced ways.

Method 5: Change the Network Adapter Power Management Settings

When your PC goes into sleep mode, it will automatically disable the network adapter to save power. This can cause issues with your Wi-Fi connection. 

Turn off your power management settings by following these steps:

• Go to ‘Windows Search’ and type and ‘Enter’ “Device Manager”.
• Now expand the “Network adapters” option.
• Right-click on your device and select “Properties”.

• Navigate to the “Power Management” tab.
• Make sure that the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option is unchecked.
• Select “OK” to save any changes made.

• Restart your PC.

Method 6: Make Sure the WLAN Autoconfig Is Enabled

The WLAN Autoconfig allows all wireless connections to function normally. If it is stopped, it may cause the Wi-Fi option to not be visible.

Here’s how to make sure it is enabled:

• On your keyboard, press ‘Win + R’ to open “Run“.
• Type “services.msc” and hit “OK”.

• In the “Services” window, navigate to the “WLAN Autoconfig” services and check if it is working.
• If it is not running, right-click on it and go to “Properties” > “Startup type” > “Automatic”.
• Now hit “Start”.
• Click on “Apply” and then “OK”.

Doing so will enable the WLAN autoconfig service on your PC.

Method 7: Reinstall the Network Adapter Driver

If nothing else works, try reinstalling the network adapter driver to fix issues like corrupted app data.

To do so:

• Go to ‘Windows Search’ and type and ‘Enter’ “Device Manager”.
• Now expand the “Network adapters” section in the Device Manager.
• Next, right-click on your Wi-Fi device and click on “Uninstall Device”. 
• Confirm the uninstallation.

• Once the driver has been uninstalled, select “Action” from the Device Manager’s toolbar. 
• Now click on “Scan for hardware changes”.

Your Windows will automatically scan for any missing devices and reinstall the relevant drivers. 

And that’s that! If you have any further issues — let us know in the comments below.
Good luck!