A WiFi adapter is responsible for connecting your device to a wireless network. When there is a problem with the adapter, your network connection could be slow and unstable. One quick fix for these issues is simply disabling and enabling the WiFi adapter. In this guide, we’ll show you how to do that in simple steps. Let’s get started.
Note: The steps below are tested to work on Windows 10 and 11.
Disable WiFi Adapter
On Windows 11:
On Windows 11, press Windows key + I to open Settings. In Settings, navigate to the Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings page.
Here, locate the WiFi adapter under the network adapters section and click the Disable button. This action disables the WiFi adapter.
Alternative Method:
Windows 10 users and those looking for an alternative method can disable the WiFi adapter via the Control Panel:
Open the Start menu, search for Control Panel, and click on it. In the Control Panel, click on the View By dropdown and select Large icons.
Click on the Network and Sharing Center.
On the left sidebar, select Change Adapter Settings.
Right-click on your WiFi adapter and select Disable to disable it. When it’s disabled, the adapter will appear greyed out.
Enable WiFi Adapter
On Windows 11:
Start by opening Settings by pressing Windows key + I shortcut. Next, go to the Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings page. Here, find the WiFi adapter and click Enable to enable it.
Alternative Method:
If you are using Windows 10, open the Start menu, search for Control Panel, and click on the result to open it. Select Large icons from the “View by” dropdown menu, click on Networking and Sharing Center, and then select Change Adapter Settings on the left sidebar.
Right-click on your WiFi adapter and choose Enable to enable it.
And there you have it! Whether you are using Windows 10 or 11 (or older versions such as 8, 8.1, or 7), following the steps given above will enable or disable the WiFi adapter.
