If the network drivers are not correctly installed and configured on your system, it can cause severe connectivity problems. Whenever you receive the error message of Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter, you mustn’t ignore this notification. Most of the users come across this issue while hitting that ‘Update driver software’ button in their Device Manager window. Whereas, there are some users who face this problem due to defective networking hardware or a corrupted version of Windows 10. So, if you are getting this error and want to fix network adapter problems, go through this article.
What To Do When Windows Could Not Find A Driver For Your Network Adapter
Mostly, you can come across the Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter message while running the built-in troubleshooter in your system. Otherwise, you can also receive this error notification while searching for updates for your network adapter. It can cause severe technical errors if you continue to ignore this notification. So, you must keep your network and other drivers up-to-date on Windows devices in order to avoid this error. However, you can check the following solutions below if Windows is unable to locate the suitable network adapter driver on your PC.
Apply These Solutions To Remove Network Driver Error Notifications
You can follow the step-by-step guidelines as mentioned below and fix network adapter issues on Windows.
Method 1: Uninstall Your Network Driver And Reinstall It
It is recommended to use the ‘Uninstall’ and not the ‘Delete’ option to apply this solution.
Your first job is to use another PC that is connected to a stable internet connection. Then go to the driver manufacturer’s website and download appropriate network adapter drivers. You can transfer the driver installation files to an external device (USB or CD/DVD).
Next, open the Run dialog box and go to the ‘Device Manager’ by writing ‘devmgmt.msc’ in it. As you hit the ‘Enter’ button, it will open the Device Manager window. From the list of devices installed on your system, find the hardware for Ethernet or Network adapters.
If you successfully locate the network driver, select the ‘Uninstall device’ option on right-clicking it. You must click on ‘Yes’ if Windows ask for your uninstallation confirmation.
Once the driver is uninstalled, fix an empty spot on the Device Manager window. You have right-clicked that space and choose ‘Scan for hardware changes’.
After this, you Windows will start scanning the entire system to detect any possible hardware change. If your Windows can’t figure out any network adapter software it will show this error.
Hence, you must install the drivers from the installation files manually that you have created in the first step. In order to check if the error is resolved, right-click on the driver icon and hit ‘Update driver software’.
Method 2: Utilize Windows Hardware And Devices Troubleshooter
If the above method fails to troubleshoot this network adapter problem, apply this fix. Here, you can make use of Windows Troubleshooter to resolve connectivity issues.
So, hit the Start button and open the window of Control Panel. Then expand the list of items on the page and select ‘Troubleshooting’. Next, select the option of ‘Hardware and Sound’.
Below this, click on the hyperlink of ‘Configure a device’ to open the troubleshooter window. Make sure to tick the ‘Apply repairs automatically’ box and hit ‘Next’.
After the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter finishes the scanning process, it will generate a troubleshooting report. Here, you can view the corrupted network adapter component that needs to be repaired or re-installed. Hence, follow method 1 if you need to install the network drivers software.
Method 3: Check Power Management Status For Network Adapter
Another method to deal with Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter message is Power Management settings. This solution is most suitable for those who may not be having any driver issues but with Windows Power Management.
To apply this solution, hit both the Windows and R buttons and it will open the Run window. Then follow method 1 to go to ‘Device Manager’ window. Choose your Network Adapter (mostly specified as 802.11n for wireless connections) and right-click on it.
Hit the option of ‘Properties’ and it will open a new window. So, select the ‘Power Management’ tab and verify if Windows is showing your network adapter specifically.
If the correct network driver is displayed, tick on ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power’ box. Otherwise, follow the above methods to install a new network adapter if the troubleshooting fails.
So, check this box and save these settings by hitting the ‘OK’ button. After this, go back to ‘Device Manager’ window and select your network driver. Right-click on it and hit the option of ‘Update driver’.
If this method can resolve your issue, you will no longer see the error message on clicking the ‘Update Driver’ option.
Method 4: Run System Restore To Reset Network Adapter Settings
You can apply this solution if the error is occurring specifically on Windows 10 devices. So, go to the Search bar by hitting Windows and S keys altogether. Type ‘Restore’ in the box and click on ‘Create A Restore Point’. On the ‘System Properties’ window, hit the ‘System Restore’ tab. Click ‘OK’ and select a restore point for your Windows 10.
After restarting your PC, you may not see the error notification of Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter anymore.
