Wi-Fi Disappears After Windows 11 Updates (Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201)

[samrinkomaii]

My HP Pavilion 15 laptop has a 64 bit operating system, an x64-based processor and intel WiFi 6 Ax201 network adapter. Suddenly, the wi-fi option from the taskbar disappeared, When I checked in Device Manager > Network adapters, the driver showed an error.

I tried updating the driver automatically, but it says, The best drivers for your device are already installed. I also disabled/re-enabled it, uninstalled and let Windows reinstall it after restart, but the problem still persists.

This issue keeps happening frequently after Windows 11 updates.

[Max3Aj]

Hello @samrinkomaii, and welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your question. I'm here to help you get things back on track.

I understand how frustrating it can be when your Wi-Fi disappears after Windows updates. This is a known issue with the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 adapter on some systems running Windows 11, especially after cumulative updates.

Let’s go through a few steps to resolve this:

Perform a Power Reset

Sometimes, residual power can cause hardware detection issues.

1. Shut down your laptop.
2. Unplug the charger and remove any external devices.
3. Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds.
4. Reconnect the charger and power on the laptop.

Reinstall the Intel Wi-Fi Driver (Clean Install)

1. Go to Device Manager > Network Adapters.
2. Right-click Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX201 and select Uninstall device.
3. Check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device, then click Uninstall.
4. Restart your PC.

Now, download and install the latest driver directly from Intel:

Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 Driver (Official)

Choose the latest version for Windows 11 64-bit and install it manually.

Disable Windows Automatic Driver Updates (Optional but Recommended)

To prevent Windows from reinstalling older or incompatible drivers:

1. Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Go to the Hardware tab > Device Installation Settings.
3. Select No (your device might not work as expected) and click Save Changes.

Run HP Support Assistant

HP Support Assistant can detect and fix driver issues:

HP Support Assistant | HP® Support

1. Install and open the tool.
2. Go to My Devices > Updates and check for any network-related updates.

BIOS and Chipset Update (if issue persists)

Outdated BIOS or chipset firmware can cause hardware instability:

1. Visit the HP Support page
2. Enter your HP Pavilion 15 model number.
3. Download and install the latest BIOS and Intel Chipset drivers.

I hope the information shared has been useful and resolves your concern.

Wishing you a smooth and hassle-free experience ahead!

If this solution helped, please click “Accepted Solution” so others can benefit too. Don’t forget to hit the “Yes” button if you found this helpful!

Warm regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support