Step 1- Perform cleanup of network devices

Performing a clean up of the network devices will work out for you.

1. Pressing ‘Windows key‘ and the ‘R‘ key will open the Run window.

2. In the Run window, type “cmd” and then press ‘Ctrl+Shift+Enter‘ keys together to open the Command Prompt in administrative mode.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type or copy–paste this command and then press the Enter key.

netcfg -d

Close Command Prompt window.

In case if you face any error when you are trying to execute the command, try executing the command again on your computer. Restart your computer to let the changes take effect on your computer. Your problem should be solved.

Step 2 – Reset Winsock from cmd

If any of the above fixes didn’t work out for you, resetting the winsock may help you out.

1. Open the Command Prompt with administrative rights.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type or copy–paste this command in Command Prompt window and hit Enter.

netsh winsock reset

Close Command Prompt window on your computer.

Reboot your computer to save the changes. After rebooting check if you can discover the missing network adapter again on your computer.

Step 3 – Show hidden devices in Device Manager

Sometimes the network adapter gets hidden in the Device Manager window and then this problem prevails. To check, follow these steps:

1. To open a Run window, just press ‘Windows key+R‘.

2. After you have opened the Run window, you have to type “devmgmt.msc“.

2. In the Device Manager window, click on “View” on the menu bar and then make sure “Show hidden devices” is checked.

3. After doing that, click on “Network adapters” from the list of devices.

4. Then, click on “Action” in the menu bar and then finally click on “Scan for hardware changes“.

5. In Device Manager window, expand “Network adapters” sections and then check if the missing network adapter is appearing on your computer or not.

If this didn’t help you out, go for the next solution.

Step 4 – Automate WWAN AutoConfig

Automating the WWAN AutoConfig service on your computer will surely help you out.

1. You will need to press Windows key+S and begin to type “Services“.

2. Then, click on the “Services” in the search result.

3. In the Services window, scroll down to find the “WWAN AutoConfig” service.

4. Now, double click on it, and WWAN AutoConfig Properties window will be opened.

5. In WWAN AutoConfig Properties window, check the ‘Service status‘, if it is “Running“. In case, if it is ‘Stopped‘, simply click on “Start” to start the service.

6. Then, click on the drop-down menu beside the option”Startup type:” and select “Automatic“.

5. Finally, click on “Apply” and then on “OK” to save the changes on your computer.

• Close Services window.
• Reboot your computer.

After rebooting your computer check if you can discover the missing adapter on your computer.

Step 5 – Update the network adapter driver

If you can not discover a network adapter driver on your computer, it is maybe because the old/incompatible version of the network adapter is installed. Updating your existing driver may solve the problem. Follow these steps to update your network adapter driver-

1. At first, press the Windows key and then start to type “devmgmt“.

2. Then, click on the “Device Manager” which appears in the elevated search result.

3. In the Device Manager window, find “Network Adapters” from the list, click on it to expand it.

4. Now, from the drop-down select the driver which you are using. Right-click on it and click on “Update driver”.

5. When you see this prompt has appeared “How do you want to search for the drivers?“.

6. At first, you have click on the option “Search automatically for updated driver software“.

Wait till Windows searches for the compatible driver for your network adapter, downloads it and installs it. Close the Device Manager window. Then, reboot your computer. Check if you can find the network adapter driver. If the problems still persist then go for the next fix.