Wi-Fi missing on your PC?
When the Wi-Fi toggle disappears, Windows has lost the wireless adapter - built into a laptop or plugged into a desktop as a USB or PCIe adapter. The device name alone rarely says whether you need an Intel, Realtek, MediaTek or Ralink driver. A free scan identifies the exact adapter and its driver state.
For Windows PCs
What the free scan shows
- The wireless adapter installed in this PC
- Its current driver version and state
- Available Wi-Fi driver updates
- Nothing changes until you choose
Does any of this sound familiar?
Wi-Fi option disappeared
No Wi-Fi toggle in settings, no wireless networks listed, adapter missing from Device Manager.
Broke after a Windows update
Wireless worked before the update; now the adapter shows an error or is gone.
USB Wi-Fi adapter isn't recognized
A plug-in adapter came without a disc, and Windows doesn't pick it up on its own - a very common case on desktop PCs.
Which chip is even in there?
Intel, Realtek, MediaTek or Ralink - the same laptop or adapter model ships with different radios, and each needs its own driver.
A free scan can identify the installed hardware and show available driver information.
How it works
1. Scan
The application identifies the hardware installed on your PC and checks the current driver information.
2. Review
See the detected devices, the installed Wi-Fi driver version and the updates available. Nothing changes during the scan.
3. Choose what to update
Review the results and decide which available updates you want to apply.
See the problem before deciding what to do
- The scan and results are free
- Nothing changes during the scan
- Review detected devices and available updates
- Decide whether you want to apply anything
A license is required only if you choose to apply the available updates.
Why automatic detection is useful when you don't know the exact driver
| Searching manually | Automatic detection |
|---|---|
| Find the exact Wi-Fi model | Installed hardware is identified |
| Search by Hardware ID | No Hardware ID required |
| Compare versions and architecture | System and driver details are shown |
| Check devices separately | Multiple devices are checked together |
Frequently asked questions
▸The PC has no internet because Wi-Fi is down. How do I run an online check?
Use a wired Ethernet connection or a phone in USB-tethering mode for the download. If no connection is possible at all, use another device to find the driver manually in our database by Hardware ID.
▸Ethernet works but Wi-Fi doesn't. Does that point at the driver?
It narrows things down: the network stack works, so the problem sits with the wireless adapter - its driver, its settings or the hardware itself. The scan shows whether the adapter is recognized and what driver it runs.
▸Will a driver update make slow Wi-Fi faster?
Only if the slowness comes from a driver regression or a misidentified adapter - which does happen after Windows updates. It won't overcome a weak signal or slow internet plan. The scan tells you the driver side of the story.
▸What exactly is downloaded?
The button downloads Outbyte Driver Updater, a Windows desktop application. The website itself does not scan your computer in the browser - the check runs in the application after you install and start it.
▸Will anything change without my permission?
No. Nothing changes during the scan. Driver updates are applied only after you review the results and choose what to update.
▸When is a license required?
The scan and results are free. A license is required only if you choose to download and apply the available updates. Current pricing and license terms are shown before purchase.
Supports Windows 11 and 10 · Uninstall anytime via Settings → Apps · If no updates are found, the scan still shows the current driver state of your devices.
Wi-Fi missing on your PC?
Run a free scan to see the Wi-Fi driver state of this PC before deciding what to update.
Outbyte Driver Updater is developed and distributed by Outbyte Computing Ltd. This website is an independent driver catalog and may earn a commission when a license is purchased through our links. This does not affect which drivers are listed or how driver files are verified. See the affiliate disclosure.