A missing Wi-Fi option usually means the adapter is disabled, driver is broken, or BIOS/airplane mode hides it—re-enable or reinstall drivers.
Your laptop boots, you open network settings, and there’s no Wi-Fi switch at all. No networks. No wireless adapter. It feels like the radio vanished. Don’t panic. That missing toggle usually points to a short list of causes: the adapter is off, the driver isn’t loading, a service stopped, or firmware settings hide the radio. This guide lays out quick checks, proven fixes, and when to suspect faulty hardware. Windows and macOS steps are both included.
If you’re on Windows, Microsoft’s own guide on fix Wi-Fi issues in Windows matches many of the steps you’ll see here. On a Mac, Apple’s page for when Wi-Fi is missing in Network settings shows how to add the Wi-Fi service back.
Quick Checks By Symptom
| Symptom | Likely Cause | What To Try |
|---|---|---|
| No Wi-Fi toggle anywhere | Adapter disabled or driver missing | Enable in Device Manager or reinstall drivers |
| Wi-Fi toggle greyed out | Airplane mode, hardware switch, or BIOS radio off | Turn off Airplane mode, flip wireless button, enable WLAN in BIOS |
| Only Ethernet shows | WLAN service stopped (Windows) | Start “WLAN AutoConfig” service |
| Wi-Fi vanishes after updates | Wrong or corrupted driver | Rollback driver or install the OEM version |
| Wi-Fi missing on fresh Mac setup | Wi-Fi service not added | Network settings → Add Service → Wi-Fi |
Why Your Laptop Has No Wi-Fi Option — Common Causes
Adapter Disabled At Hardware Level
Many laptops still ship with a wireless function button or a tiny side switch. If that control cuts power to the radio, the OS can’t show a toggle. Press the Fn combo with the antenna icon, or flip the side slider back on. Look for an LED near the top row that lights when wireless is active. Some models also expose a soft switch in vendor apps.
Physical Switch Or Function Button
Scan the top row for a button with a radio wave icon. Tap it once, or use Fn plus that button. If your brand has a side switch, make sure it isn’t set to off. A single bump during a bag drop can flip it.
Drivers Missing Or Corrupted
When Windows can’t load a Wi-Fi driver, the adapter won’t appear. Open Device Manager and expand Network adapters. If you see a yellow mark on your wireless card, right-click to update or reinstall. You can follow Microsoft’s steps to update drivers in Device Manager, or download the exact driver from your laptop maker.
WLAN Service Stopped (Windows)
Windows manages Wi-Fi through the WLAN AutoConfig service. If it’s stopped, the system won’t list networks. Open Services, find “WLAN AutoConfig,” and start it. Microsoft documents this service in their admin guides.
Airplane Mode Or BIOS Wireless Toggle
Airplane mode can hide the Wi-Fi switch. Turn it off from the quick settings panel or system settings, then try the Wi-Fi toggle again. Some BIOS menus include a “Wireless Radio” or “Internal WLAN” setting; if that’s off, the OS won’t see the card. Enter BIOS, enable the radio, and save.
Wi-Fi Card Not Present Or Failed
A loose M.2 card or a failing module can vanish from the device list. If drivers and services look fine, the card may be seated poorly or dead. On sealed ultrabooks you can test with a tiny USB Wi-Fi dongle; if that works, the internal card needs service.
OS-Specific Quirks
On macOS, Wi-Fi appears as a “service” in Network settings. If the service was removed, the menu bar icon can disappear, too. Add the Wi-Fi service back, then connect. On Linux, a soft block from rfkill or a missing firmware blob can hide the interface until you install the package or clear the block.
What The Missing Toggle Means On Each Platform
Windows
If Wi-Fi is absent from Settings and Quick settings, Windows likely can’t talk to the radio. That points to a disabled adapter, a broken driver, a stopped WLAN service, or a firmware switch. Device Manager is your map. If the adapter shows and enables cleanly, restart the WLAN service and try Network reset.
macOS
When the menu bar icon is gone and Network settings only list Ethernet, the Wi-Fi service may not be added. Use the plus button in Network to add Wi-Fi, move it near the top of the service list, and apply. If it refuses to add, boot to safe mode and try again, then test in recovery to rule out third-party kexts.
Linux
Missing Wi-Fi often means the device is blocked or firmware didn’t load. Run lspci or lsusb to confirm the chipset, then check rfkill list. If blocked, unblock it. Install the matching firmware package from your distro repositories and load the module with modprobe.
Step-By-Step Fixes You Can Try Right Now
- Power cycle. Shut down the laptop, wait ten seconds, and boot. That clears a stuck radio state.
- Toggle the hardware control. Press the wireless function button or move the side switch. Watch for an antenna light.
- Kill Airplane mode. Open quick settings and switch it off. Then check if the Wi-Fi tile appears.
- Enable the adapter. In Device Manager, right-click your wireless adapter and choose Enable. If it isn’t listed, select “Scan for hardware changes.”
- Reinstall the driver. Still missing? Uninstall the adapter in Device Manager and reboot so Windows reloads the driver, or install the OEM package.
- Restart WLAN AutoConfig. Press Win+R, type
services.msc, press Enter, and start or restart “WLAN AutoConfig.” - Reset network settings. In Windows, use Network reset to rebuild stacks and adapters. On a Mac, remove the Wi-Fi service and add it again.
- BIOS check. Enter BIOS setup and make sure internal WLAN is enabled. Also check if “wireless hot toggle” is set to control Wi-Fi instead of brightness.
- Test another OS session. Boot from a live USB or macOS recovery and see if Wi-Fi appears there. If it does, your main OS install needs repair.
- Try a USB Wi-Fi adapter. If the USB dongle works immediately, your internal card or antenna likely needs repair.
Still No Wi-Fi Toggle? Dig Deeper
Get The Right Driver
Match the driver to the exact wireless chipset. Laptop makers often tune power and coexistence settings. If Windows Update installed a generic driver and Wi-Fi vanished after a reboot, install the vendor build from your support page, then block the wrong one with a device-specific policy if needed.
Clean Reinstall The Adapter
In Device Manager, uninstall the wireless adapter and tick the box to delete driver software when offered. Reboot. Install the package you downloaded from your vendor, then reboot again. This clears mismatched files and registry entries.
Check BIOS And EC Updates
Some vendors ship BIOS or embedded controller updates that fix radio toggles, wake issues, or behavior tied to wireless buttons. If your support page lists new firmware tied to wireless stability, apply it with AC power connected.
Look For RF Kill States On Linux
Run rfkill list. If you see “soft blocked: yes,” unblock it with rfkill unblock all. Install missing firmware packages for Intel or Realtek chipsets from your distro repos.
Swap The Card If It’s Removable
On serviceable models, reseat the M.2 card. If that fails, a low-cost replacement card can bring Wi-Fi back. Make sure the new card is whitelisted by your BIOS if your brand enforces that.
Confirm The Adapter Name
Sometimes the list shows a “Network Controller” with no brand. That label means Windows sees the hardware ID but has no driver. In Device Manager, open Properties, then Details → Hardware Ids. Copy the first value and search it on your vendor site to download matching package.
Where To Reset Or Reinstall Wi-Fi
| Platform | Path | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11/10 | Settings → Network & Internet → Network reset | Reboots and rebuilds adapters |
| Windows (Services) | Win+R → services.msc → WLAN AutoConfig → Start/Restart | Restores the Wi-Fi stack |
| macOS | System Settings → Network → “+” Add Service → Wi-Fi | Adds Wi-Fi back to the sidebar |
Prevention Tips So It Doesn’t Happen Again
- Use OEM drivers first. The laptop maker’s package often includes tuned power profiles and antenna settings.
- Avoid random driver tools. Stick to Windows Update, your vendor app, or the official support site.
- Update the OS on a schedule. Security patches and radio stack fixes land often.
- Watch the wireless button. If your top row has a radio icon, brush it less during typing or remap it when the vendor app allows.
- Keep recovery media handy. A bootable USB lets you test the radio outside your main install.
- Back up before major changes. A system restore point can save time if a bad driver sneaks in.
- Label that switch. A small sticker near a side slider prevents accidental bumps.
- Learn your boot menu. Knowing the BIOS entry shortcut and recovery options makes fixes faster.
When To Suspect Hardware Failure
If the adapter never appears in Device Manager, the BIOS can’t find it, and a live OS also shows nothing, the card or the motherboard lane may have failed. Constant drops after a warm start but not from a cold boot can hint at failing power rails. Cracked antenna leads show up as weak signal when the card does appear. At that stage, a USB dongle keeps you online while you schedule service.
Once your Wi-Fi toggle returns, connect to a known good network now, run system updates, and create a restore point. That gives you a clean baseline the next time your laptop hides the radio.