How to Troubleshoot ‘Problem with Wireless Adapter’ Issue on Windows 10

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If you’re having trouble connecting to wireless networks, there may be something wrong with your adapter or access point. Many Windows 10 and 11 PCs access the Internet through a wireless adapter. However, wireless adapters can be problematic, especially if you don’t set them up correctly. One of the problems reported by users is a wireless adapter or access point error message.

In this guide, we will show you how to solve this problem.

What does ‘problem with wireless adapter’ mean?

The message “Wireless adapter or access point problem” is an error that may occur in the Windows 10 network diagnostics window.

If you see this message, it means that your computer or Windows device has failed to connect to the Internet because of a wireless adapter problem.

What are the reasons for the ‘problem with wireless adapter’ to occur?

The most common cause of a “problem with wireless adapter” is simply that the access points aren’t broadcasting the correct SSIDs. This is usually caused by one of three things:

1. Incorrect SSID configuration. If you’re seeing this error message while trying to connect to a specific network, double-check the SSID name and security settings.

2. Incorrect password. Make sure you’ve entered the correct password into the access point.

3. Incorrect connection type. Some access points support both infrastructure mode and ad hoc connections. You’ll want to make sure you’re using the proper connection type.

There are several other possible causes, including problems with the operating system, hardware, or software.

Make sure Windows is up to date

Microsoft partners with many hardware manufacturers to bring the latest software updates to devices. This includes firmware updates for printers, scanners, cameras, phones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles, and more. These updates usually include security patches, bug fixes, and performance improvements.

However, it’s important to note that some of these updates may come via Windows Update. In fact, the company says that “updates for most products are delivered via Windows Update.”



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Uninstall your antivirus program

Antivirus software is essential to protect yourself against malware attacks. However, sometimes it can interfere with your wireless network connection. This causes problems like “access point error” or “adapter malfunction.”

If you are experiencing such issues, try disabling or uninstalling your current antivirus program. You might want to check what other security applications you have installed on your computer. In case there is no other reason for the problem, you could use another antivirus application.

Ensure that your wireless adapter isn’t disabled

To check if your wireless adapter works appropriately, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and type “Device Manager.”

2. Click OK.

3. Locate your wireless adapter.

4. Right-click on it and select Properties.

5. Go to the Driver tab and make sure that Enable button is checked.

If you don’t see Enable Button, your device driver is disabled and cannot work correctly. You must reinstall the driver to fix this problem.

Make sure you have the correct password

The common mistake people make while setting up a secure wireless network is forgetting to change the default password. This is because most routers come preconfigured with the same username/password combination. If you connect to the router without changing the default settings, it allows anyone else who knows the default credentials to access your home network.

To avoid such problems, always remember to change your router’s default login information before connecting to the network and use a strong password. You can find out what your current router’s default logins are by looking at the manual or online documentation.

If you don’t know how to do this, we recommend using a password manager. With a password manager, you can quickly generate unique and complex passwords for each site and store them securely.

Your wireless profile should be deleted

1. Open Command Prompt window.

2. Type “netsh wlan show profiles.”

3. Find the name of your wireless profile.

4. Right-click it and select “delete.”

5. Reconnect to your network.

6. Restart your computer.

7. Test your connection again.

8. If there are still issues, try steps 4–7 again.

9. If you’re still having trouble, contact your ISP/network administrator.

Set a new Wi-Fi name and password

Users are reporting that they’ve fixed this problem just by changing the name and/or password of their wireless networks. If you’re having trouble connecting to your home network, try resetting the SSID and WPA2 passphrase. You’ll want to do this before trying anything else.

Here’s how to change your Wi-Fi network name and password:

1. Open up your web browser.

2. Type “router” into the address bar.

3. Click on the “settings” button.

4. On the next screen, scroll down to find the “Wi-Fi settings.”

5. Find the section labeled “SSID” and enter the new name for your network there.

6. Scroll down again and check off the box marked “WPA2 Personal.” Enter the new password here.

7. Save the changes and close out the window.

You need to reset your router

Improperly configured routers can cause this error. If you’re having trouble accessing Wi-Fi networks, check out our guide on how to troubleshoot Wi-Fi problems. You can use this tool to find out what type of Wi-Fi hardware you have installed and whether there are any known issues with your model.

If you still can’t connect, try powering off your device and turning it back on again. Some routers require a complete reboot to restore factory defaults. Also, make sure you’re connected to a network with strong encryption—a WPA2 password is recommended.

You can also reset your router by following these steps:

1. Open the web browser on your computer.

2. Enter the default username and password for your router.

3. Press “Reset Configuration.”

4. Wait about 10 minutes while the router resets itself.

5. When finished, reconnect to the Internet.

Install the latest driver software

To connect to a Wi-fi access point, you need to use the latest wireless network adapter drivers for Windows. This includes both the hardware and the operating system. If you connect to a network but don’t have the newest network drivers, the network cards won’t work correctly. They’ll either stop working entirely or show up as offline devices in Network Connections.

Even though many user guides online will tell you to install third-party software to update drivers, we don’t recommend doing so. Instead, we suggest updating the drivers directly. In most cases, you can do this without installing third-party software. Here are some ways to update drivers:

1. Right-click the Start button and select “Control Panel.” Click “System and Security,” then “Device Manager.” Select the device that needs updated drivers. Right-click the device name and choose “Update Driver.” Follow the instructions.

2. Open Device Manager again. Locate the device that needs updated driver information. Right-click the connection icon next to the device name and choose Properties. Click the Details tab. Scroll down to the bottom of the window and look for a box labeled “Driver Version.” Double-click the box to change the value to the latest driver version.

3. Go back to Control Panel. Click “Programs & Features.” Under “View installed updates,” click the arrow next to “Installed Updates.” Look under “Optional Installed Updates” for the latest driver versions. Click the arrow next to the item to open the list of updates. Install the one(s) you want to download. Reboot your PC after installing the driver.

Try the network troubleshooter

If you are facing issues while connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi, Ethernet cable, or mobile broadband connection, there might be some problem with the Network Adapter. You can use the built-in tool to identify and repair the issue.

To start, locate the network icon on your desktop. Then, right-click on it and select the Troubleshoot Problems option. This will open the Device Manager window. From here, select the Network Adapter device. Click the Start button. A wizard will guide you through the process.



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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Make sure that your wireless adapter is turned on.
  2. Disconnect from the wireless network and reconnect.
  3. Check the configuration of the wireless network connection.
  4. Forget about your wireless network and reconnect from scratch.
  5. Reboot the access point.

"Wireless adapter or access point problem" is an error that can occur on Windows 10 in the Network Diagnostics window. What is it? Report mapping. If you get this message, it means that your computer or Windows device was unable to connect to the Internet due to a problem with your wireless adapter.

  1. From the Start menu, go to Settings.
  2. Click on Network and Internet.
  3. By default, you should be on the Status tab.
  4. Click on the Reset Now button.
  5. Click Yes to confirm and restart your computer.
  6. The computer will now reboot, and the network adapters and configuration will be reset.