Symptoms You’re Facing

  • WiFi icon vanished from taskbar
  • “No WiFi networks found”
  • Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi is missing or grayed out
  • Airplane mode stuck ON
  • Device Manager shows yellow ! on the WiFi adapter

Method 1: The 60-Second Restart Trick (Fixes 70% of cases)

  1. Press Win + X → Shut down or sign out → hold Shift → click Restart
  2. Windows will boot into blue screen → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart
  3. Press 4 (Safe Mode)
  4. In Safe Mode: right-click Start → Device Manager → expand Network adapters → right-click your WiFi card → Uninstall device
  5. Restart normally → Windows auto-reinstalls the driver → WiFi is back

Method 2: WLAN AutoConfig Service (Most Common 2025 Fix)

  1. Press Win + R → type services.msc → Enter
  2. Find WLAN AutoConfig
  3. If Status is blank or Startup type is Disabled: → Right-click → Properties → Startup type: Automatic → Service status: click Start → Apply → OK
  4. Restart PC → WiFi appears instantly

Method 3: Network Reset (Nuclear Option – Works 100% but removes saved WiFi)

  1. Settings → Network & Internet → Status → scroll down → Network reset
  2. Click Reset now → Yes
  3. PC restarts in 5 minutes and forgets ALL saved WiFi passwords
  4. After reboot, WiFi icon returns → click it → reconnect to your network

Method 4: Driver Update via Device Manager (2025 Driver Bug)

  1. Right-click Start → Device Manager
  2. Expand Network adapters
  3. Right-click your WiFi adapter (Intel/Realtek/Qualcomm) → Update driver → Search automatically
  4. If it says “best drivers already installed” → choose Browse my computer → Let me pick → uncheck “Show compatible hardware” → pick the newest date available
  5. Restart

Method 5: Command Prompt Magic (One-Liner)

Open CMD as Administrator → copy-paste these 4 lines one by one:

cmd

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Restart → WiFi returns

Method 6: BIOS WiFi Toggle (Laptops Only)

  1. Restart → spam F2/Del/F10 to enter BIOS
  2. Go to Advanced → Device Configuration or Wireless
  3. Make sure WLAN or Wireless Radio is Enabled
  4. F10 Save & Exit

Method 7: Registry Fix (When Nothing Else Works)

  1. Win + R → regedit
  2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WcmSvc
  3. If it’s missing → create it (right-click → New → Key)
  4. Inside WcmSvc → New → DWORD (32-bit) → name it Start → value 2
  5. Restart

Bonus: Prevent It Forever

  • Never pause Windows Updates (2025 updates keep breaking WiFi)
  • Use Intel Driver & Support Assistant (auto-updates WiFi drivers)
  • Disable “Allow computer to turn off this device” in Device Manager → Power Management tab