WIFI Option in settings in Windows 10 can disappear if your Windows fails to start the WLAN AutoConfig service which is responsible for setting up Wireless Adapter driver. This service automatically set-ups all the essential configuration required to get your Wireless Adapter up and running. However, if this service is not running in the background, Windows will unable to read the settings and configurations of your Wireless adapter thus causing the WIFI option to disappear from Settings.
The said issue can, in some cases, be due to your operating system. In such a case, the Windows is either not detecting the WIFI card or something is preventing it from doing so. Nonetheless the issue can easily be dealt with by applying a few specific solutions.
What causes the WIFI Option to disappear in Windows Settings on Windows?
Well, the reason you do not receive a WIFI tab in Windows settings is probably that your Windows is not detecting it. The issue is often caused by the following factors —
- Required services. The WIFI on your system requires certain services to be running in order for it to operate properly. If the required services are stopped, it can cause the issue.
- WIFI drivers. The WIFI drivers on your system are responsible for establishing a connection between the wireless card and the system. Corrupted or obsolete drivers can cause the issue to occur.
Now, in order to solve your problem, follow through the given solutions. However, some solutions might not be applicable to certain cases so make sure you go through them all.
Solution 1: Check the WIFI Card
If your motherboard comes without a built-in wireless card and you have bought a WIFI card for the system separately, this solution is for you. Before you get into the other solutions, please make sure that you have connected the WIFI card correctly as in the case of incorrect connectivity, the card won’t be detected by Windows and you will get the said problem.
If you are using a laptop or your motherboard comes with built-in wifi, jump to the next solution.
Solution 2: Turn On the Required Service
Some users have reported that their issue was due to the required WIFI services not running. Therefore, make sure to check the required services before proceeding. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Start Menu, type in Services and open it up.
- In the Services window, locate the WLAN AutoConfig service.
- Right-click on it and select Properties.
WLAN Autoconfig – Windows Services - Change the Startup type to ‘Automatic’ and click Start to run the service.
Starting WLAN Autoconfig Service - Click Apply and then hit OK.
- Check if this fixes the issue.
Solution 3: Update WIFI Driver
In some cases, you are unable to see the WIFI option in Windows Settings because your Wifi drivers are obsolete. In such a scenario, you should try updating the driver automatically. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Start Menu, type Device Manager and open it up.
- Expand the Network adapters list.
- Locate your Wireless card, right-click it and select ‘Update driver’.
Updating Wireless Driver - Click ‘Browse my computer for driver software’.
- Select ‘Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer’.
- Hit Next.
- Wait for it to complete and then check if your issue is solved.
Solution 4: Reinstall Wifi Driver
There are scenarios where your Wifi driver is corrupted in which case merely updating your driver won’t fix the issue. In such an event, you will have to reinstall your Wifi driver by downloading the driver from your manufacturer’s website. Here’s how:
- Open up the Device Manager.
- Expand the Network adapters list and locate your wireless driver.
- Double-click it to open up Properties.
- Switch to the Driver tab and note down your driver details.
Wireless Driver Details - Close the Properties window, right-click on your wireless card and click Uninstall.
Uninstalling Wireless Driver
After you have uninstalled your wireless card driver, head to your manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your Wifi card. Install the drivers and then restart your system.
Solution 5: Tweak Power Management
If the Wifi option in Windows Settings disappears out of the blue, this can be due to your card driver’s power settings. Therefore, to get the Wifi option back, you will have to edit the Power Management settings. Here’s how:
- Open up Device Manager and expand the Network Adapters list.
- Double-click your wireless card and then switch to the Power Management tab.
- Uncheck the ‘Allow this computer to turn off this device to save power’ box.
Changing Wireless Driver Power Settings - Click OK.
