How to Get Rid of the ‘Windows did not detect any network hardware’ Issue on Windows Computers

Updated March 2025: Stop these error messages and fix common problems with this tool. Get it now at this link

1. Download and install the software.
2. It will scan your computer for problems.
3. The tool will then fix the issues that were found.

This error usually happens because Windows cannot find the correct driver for your network adapter. If you are experiencing this issue, try updating the driver manually or with the use of a third-party driver updater. In this article, we will talk about the reasons as to why this happens and how to properly deal with this kind of error message.

What could be the causes of the ‘Windows did not detect any networking hardware’ error?

The Windows installed on the computer might have gotten outdated due to which the “Windows did not detect any networking hardware” error is being triggered. This happens because the operating system does not recognize the network card. If you are facing such an issue, here are some lists as to why this happens.

• The network card driver is outdated: If you are using an older version of the software and it has been updated recently, then chances are that the new update may not support all the features of the old one. In such cases, the drivers get replaced by the latest ones. But if the driver is outdated, then it will not work properly. You can check whether the driver is up-to-date by opening Device Manager and checking the status of the device.
• The network adapter has been removed from your computer: If you have removed the network adapter from your computer, then there is no way for Windows to identify the presence of the same in the system. So, when you connect the adapter again, it will show the message “Windows did not detect the network hardware”. To fix this problem, you need to reinstall the driver.
• There are no drivers installed for that network adapter: It is possible that you do not have any drivers installed for the network adapter. In such cases, Windows will not know how to communicate with the network card. So, you should install the appropriate driver before connecting the adapter.
• The network adapter was not recognized by windows: In case the network adapter was not recognized by Windows, then it will not be able to communicate with the network cards. It means that you need to install the required driver first.
• The network adapter has stopped working properly: Sometimes the network adapters stop working after a while. They start showing the error message “Windows did not recognize the network hardware”. To resolve this issue, you need to restart the adapter.
• The network adapter is broken or damaged: Sometimes the network adapters break down or they become damaged. When this happens, the error message “Windows failed to detect any network hardware” appears. To fix this problem, replace the broken/damaged network adapter.

Launch the internet connection troubleshooter

This Windows 10 error is one of the most common errors experienced by PC users. This error code occurs due to misconfigured drivers or outdated software installed on the system. If you are experiencing this error below are the steps on how to run the internet connection troubleshooter.

1. Click the Start button and type “Troubleshooting” in the search box.
2. Select Troubleshooting options under the category Network & Internet.
3. Now click on the Advanced Options link.
4. A window will appear where you can select the option Run diagnostics now.
5. Once the process completes, you will see a list of problems detected. Click OK to close the window.
6. Restart the computer and try accessing the internet again.



Reset your network settings

This method will reset all network connections on your computer. Resetting your network connection settings will restore default values and help you connect to Wi-Fi networks again. You will lose some personal data such as browser bookmarks, passwords, cookies, cache, etc., but it won’t affect your files or programs. If you’re having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi networks, try reinstalling the driver software. You can download the latest drivers from Microsoft here.

If you want to reset your network settings, follow the steps below:

1. Type “regedit” without quotes into the box and press Enter.
2. In Registry Editor, locate the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces
3. Name the value IPEnableLoopbackCheck and set its value to 0x00000001.
4. Close Registry Editor and reboot your PC.
5. Select the Ethernet adapter and click Properties.
6. On the General tab, click Advanced.
7. Check Enable DHCP and Disable Automatic Address Discovery.
8. Then click OK twice.

Restore the computer to an earlier date

The following video demonstrates how to use the Restore option within Windows 10 to return your system settings and files to an earlier date. This method allows you to recover data lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, virus attack, etc. You can even choose to revert your system to an earlier version of Windows.

Here’s how to run a system restore to restore the computer to an earlier date:

1. Press the Win + R keys together to open the Run dialog box. Type System Restore into the text field and then click OK.
2. On the next screen, select the drive that contains the backup image file for your previous operating system. Then click Next.
3. Select the time period when you want to restore the computer back to. For example, if you want to go back to the last day before you started using the computer, select Yesterday.
4. Click Next and Choose whether you want to keep changes made after the restore (recommended) or just restore the system to the state it was in at the selected time.
5. Click Finish and Restart the computer.

Start the network adapter troubleshooter

In case you are facing problems with Wi-Fi connectivity or Ethernet connection, it might be due to some issues with the hardware itself. To resolve such issues, you can use the following steps:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Search for “troubleshoot”.
3. Choose “Windows Troubleshooting.”
4. Click on “Network adapters”.
5. Select “Troubleshoot my current device”.
6. Wait for the process to complete.
7. If the issue still persists, try restarting your computer.
8. If the problem still exists, contact your local IT support team.

APPROVED: To fix Windows errors, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions