My HP laptop is having issues with the wireless adapter

[Hessam-Alipour]

I am experiencing persistent wireless connectivity issues on my HP laptop. Below is a summary of the problem and the steps I have already taken:

• The wireless icon is missing from the system tray.

• In Device Manager, the wireless driver shows a warning symbol.

• I have uninstalled the wireless driver, restarted the laptop, and reinstalled the latest version from the official HP website.

• I used HP Support Assistant to run diagnostics and troubleshooting tools.

• I performed a system reset and also tried a clean installation of Windows.

• The issue began after installing recent Windows updates and updating HP drivers.

• Despite all these efforts, the problem still persists, and I am unable to connect to any wireless networks.

I would appreciate your assistance in resolving this issue.

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@Hessam-Alipour, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
I understand how frustrating persistent wireless issues can be, especially after trying so many steps already. Since you've already done a clean install of Windows, reinstalled drivers, and used HP Support Assistant, let's go a bit deeper with some advanced troubleshooting steps.

Check BIOS Wireless Settings

Sometimes, wireless functionality can be disabled at the BIOS level:

• Restart your laptop and press Esc or F10 repeatedly to enter BIOS.
• Look for Wireless or Network settings.
• Ensure Wireless LAN is enabled.
• Save and exit.

Perform a Hard Reset

This can help reinitialize hardware connections:

• Power off the laptop.
• Disconnect all external devices and power.
• Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds.
• Reconnect power and boot up.

Use HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI

This tool checks for hardware-level issues:

• Turn off the laptop.
• Press Esc repeatedly, then F2 to enter diagnostics.
• Choose Component Tests > Wireless Module.
• Run the test and note any error codes.

You can also download the tool here if not pre-installed:
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics | HP® Support
 

Roll Back or Reinstall Windows Updates

Since the issue started after updates:

• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.
• Uninstall the most recent network-related or cumulative updates.
• Restart and check connectivity.

Install Drivers in Compatibility Mode

Sometimes the latest drivers may not work well with recent updates:

• Download the wireless driver from HP Drivers Page.
• Right-click the installer > Properties > Compatibility tab.
• Check Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 10.
• Install and restart.

Check for Conflicting Software

Security software or VPNs can interfere with network adapters:

• Temporarily disable antivirus/firewall.
• Uninstall any VPN software.
• Restart and test wireless connectivity.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support 

[Hessam-Alipour]

@Max3Aj Thanks for answering, the Hard reset option helped, my WIFI icon back
I'm experiencing the original issue again: my WiFi cannot connect to any network. Initially, it displays an "unable to connect to network" error, and then the list of available WiFi networks disappears completely!

[Max3Aj]

@Hessam-Alipour, Thank you for your response. 

I'm glad the hard reset brought the Wi-Fi icon back! Since you're now facing intermittent connectivity and disappearing networks, this points to a deeper issue, possibly with the wireless adapter's power management or driver stability.

Let’s go through a few more targeted steps to stabilize the connection:

Disable Power Saving for Wireless Adapter

Windows may be turning off the adapter to save power:

1. Press Windows + X → Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters → Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter → Properties.
3. Go to the Power Management tab.
4. Uncheck: "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
5. Click OK and restart.

Reset Network Settings

This will clear any corrupted network configurations:

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
• Scroll down and click Network reset.
• Click Reset now and restart your PC.

Use Command Prompt to Rebuild Network Stack

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands one by one:

netsh winsock reset

netsh int ip reset

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

Then restart your laptop.

Check WLAN AutoConfig Service

This service manages wireless connections:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find WLAN AutoConfig.
3. Right-click → Properties.
4. Set Startup type to Automatic and click Start if it's not running.

Test in Safe Mode with Networking

This helps rule out third-party software conflicts:

• Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
• Go to the Boot tab → Check Safe boot and Network.
• Restart and test Wi-Fi in Safe Mode.

I hope this helps!

If my response resolves your issue, please click “Accepted Solution” to help others find the answer. Also, don’t forget to click the “Yes” button to say thanks!

Take care and have a great day.

Max3Aj

HP Support