Wi-Fi disappeared after reinstalling Windows - what now?

Download the adapter's driver on another device and carry it over on a USB stick - as with wired network, the machine that needs the driver has no internet to fetch it. The Hardware ID in Device Manager identifies the exact model.

My adapter just says "802.11n WLAN" - what is it?

That is how many inexpensive USB adapters introduce themselves, most often built on Realtek or Ralink chips. The name tells you nothing - the Hardware ID (VID/PID) pins down the chip precisely.

Should I update the Wi-Fi driver if everything works?

If the connection is stable, you can leave it alone. An update makes sense when the link drops, speed sank, or a major Windows update just landed.

Wi-Fi adapters drivers

Wi-Fi drivers run the wireless card - built into a laptop or plugged in over USB. The radio is usually the same chip family that handles Bluetooth, so the makers repeat: Intel, Realtek, MediaTek, Qualcomm, Broadcom. Each package here is from an official source, with its version, date and supported Windows versions.

DriverManufacturerVersionReleasedWindows / Arch

Qualcomm Wireless LAN Driver - 11SHA-256 verifiedLenovo2.0.0.1400September 16, 2026Windows 1164-bit
MTK MT7925 Wireless LAN Driver - 11 (23H2 or Later)SHA-256 verifiedLenovo26.40.3.67September 14, 2026Windows 1164-bit
Mediatek MT7925 WLAN Driver - 11 (23H2 or Later)SHA-256 verifiedLenovo26.40.3.67September 10, 2026Windows 1164-bit
Mediatek WLAN Driver - 11 (23H2 or Later)SHA-256 verifiedLenovo26.40.3.67September 10, 2026Windows 1164-bit
Intel Wireless LAN Driver - 11SHA-256 verifiedLenovo24.70.0.3September 9, 2026Windows 1164-bit
Quectel EM061K-GL Wireless WAN Driver - 11 (23H2 or Later)SHA-256 verifiedLenovo2.1.0.24September 8, 2026Windows 1164-bit
Realtek Wireless LAN Driver - 11 (25H2 or Later)SHA-256 verifiedLenovo6102.24.108.355September 8, 2026Windows 1164-bit
Mediatek MT7925 WLAN Driver - 11 (24H2 or Later)SHA-256 verifiedLenovo26.40.3.67September 7, 2026Windows 1164-bit
Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Wi-Fi 7 Dual Band Simultaneous Network Adapter - 11 (22H2 or Later)SHA-256 verifiedLenovo3.1.0.1794September 3, 2026Windows 1164-bit
Realtek Wireless LAN Driver - 11 (24H2 or Later)SHA-256 verifiedLenovo6001.15.123.360/6001.16.126.344September 3, 2026Windows 1164-bit

Wi-Fi adapters drivers by brand

Common problems with these devices

About wi-fi adapters drivers

A large share of demand in this category is older adapters: the Intel Dual Band 7260, no-name "802.11n WLAN" USB sticks, Ralink cards that vendor sites dropped years ago. Such an adapter is usually alive and well - it just needs the last driver released for it, and that driver often installs even on a Windows that came out after the adapter did.

If Wi-Fi vanished after an update or a reinstall, start in Device Manager: an adapter with a warning icon, or sitting under "Other devices", is a driver question. The Hardware ID (PCI\VEN_8086 on Intel cards) leads to the exact model.

Frequently asked questions

Wi-Fi disappeared after reinstalling Windows - what now?: Download the adapter's driver on another device and carry it over on a USB stick - as with wired network, the machine that needs the driver has no internet to fetch it. The Hardware ID in Device Manager identifies the exact model.
My adapter just says "802.11n WLAN" - what is it?: That is how many inexpensive USB adapters introduce themselves, most often built on Realtek or Ralink chips. The name tells you nothing - the Hardware ID (VID/PID) pins down the chip precisely.
Should I update the Wi-Fi driver if everything works?: If the connection is stable, you can leave it alone. An update makes sense when the link drops, speed sank, or a major Windows update just landed.