I can’t connect to Wi-Fi at all, only Ethernet is shown as an option in my new laptop. Why?

Lulu 40 Reputation points
2025-11-24T19:35:57.71+00:00

Hello. I legit can’t connect to Wi-Fi, and the option is not showing at all. Not in the settings, not in the bar at the bottom, it’s only and exclusively ethernet. Not even in the control pannel its showing. My laptop is a Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 Intel 15” it this helps.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Internet and connectivity
Answer accepted by question author
Edward Schlobohm01 10,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-11-25T14:26:49.14+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me. It sounds like your laptop isn’t detecting the Wi-Fi adapter, which is why you only see Ethernet as an option. If Device Manager only shows Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller and WAN Miniports, the wireless driver is missing or the hardware isn’t being recognized. This usually happens if the driver wasn’t installed during setup or if the Wi-Fi card is disabled in the BIOS.

To fix this, first check your BIOS settings and make sure the wireless adapter is enabled. Then install the Wi-Fi driver. If you have an Ethernet connection, use it to download the latest WLAN driver from your laptop manufacturer’s support page. If you don’t have Ethernet, you can download the driver on another device and transfer it via USB, or use your phone’s hotspot with USB tethering for temporary internet access.

Once you’re online, run Windows Update,it often installs missing drivers automatically. After installing, check Device Manager again. You should see something like Intel Wireless or Realtek WLAN under Network Adapters.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Edward

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Answer accepted by question author
Edward Schlobohm01 10,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-11-24T20:12:16.7933333+00:00

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out to the Microsoft community and for sharing those details. Just to clarify, when you open Device Manager and look under Network Adapters, do you see any wireless adapter listed, like Intel Wi-Fi or Realtek, or is it completely missing? This will help us figure out if the issue is related to the driver, the hardware, or if Wi-Fi is disabled in the BIOS.

In the meantime, here are a few things you can try:

First, check Device Manager by pressing Win + X, selecting Device Manager, and expanding Network adapters. If you don’t see a Wi-Fi adapter there, that’s likely the cause. If it’s listed but has a yellow warning icon, try updating or reinstalling the driver.

Next, download and install the latest WLAN driver for your Legion 5 series from Lenovo’s support site, then restart your laptop.

Also, make sure the WLAN AutoConfig service is running. Press Win + R, type services.msc, find WLAN AutoConfig, set the startup type to Automatic, and click Start.

If that doesn’t help, check your BIOS settings by restarting your laptop and pressing F2, F10, or Delete to enter BIOS. Make sure Wireless LAN is enabled.

Finally, you can try a network reset by going to Settings - Network & Internet - Advanced network settings - Network reset, which reinstalls all network adapters.

Hope this helps! Let me know how it goes.

Kind regards,

Edward

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  1. Edward Schlobohm01 10,210 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-11-26T14:49:43.7+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for getting back to me. It sounds like your system isn’t detecting the Wi-Fi adapter at all, which is why you only see the Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller (that’s your Ethernet) and WAN Miniports (virtual adapters). If WLAN AutoConfig is missing and there’s no wireless adapter in Device Manager, it usually means:

    The Wi-Fi card driver isn’t installed or is corrupted.

    The Wi-Fi card is disabled in BIOS or physically disconnected (less common on laptops unless it was serviced) You’re correct, if you need to download the WLAN driver, you’ll need an internet connection. Since Ethernet is working, you can use that to download the driver.

    Here’s what you can do:

    Check BIOS/UEFI: Make sure the wireless adapter is enabled.

    Download the correct driver:

    Go to your laptop or motherboard manufacturer’s support page.

    Look for the Wireless LAN or Wi-Fi driver for your exact model and Windows version.

    Install via Ethernet: Connect your PC to the router with a cable, download the driver, and install it.

    Restart and check Device Manager: After installation, you should see the Wi-Fi adapter listed.

    Hope this helps,

    Warm regards,

    Edward

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  2. carl carl 10 Reputation points
    2025-11-25T16:01:06.6333333+00:00

    This often happens if the Wi-Fi driver isn’t installed or needs updating. Check in Device Manager under “Network adapters”—if the Wi-Fi adapter is missing or has a warning icon, download the latest drivers from Lenovo’s support site for your Legion 5i Gen 10.

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  3. AI answer

    2025-11-24T20:07:25.7833333+00:00

    If your Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 10 laptop is not showing any Wi-Fi options and only Ethernet is available, there are several potential causes and troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue:

    1. Physical Wi-Fi Switch: Some laptops have a physical switch or a keyboard shortcut (usually a function key like F2 or F3) that enables or disables Wi-Fi. Make sure this is turned on.
    2. Airplane Mode: Check if Airplane mode is enabled. You can toggle this in the settings or by using the keyboard shortcut (often Fn + a function key). If Airplane mode is on, it will disable all wireless communications.
    3. Device Manager:
      • Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager."
      • Expand the "Network adapters" section and look for your Wi-Fi adapter. If it’s not listed or has a yellow exclamation mark, there may be a driver issue.
    4. Update Drivers:
      • If your Wi-Fi adapter is listed but not functioning properly, right-click on it and select "Update driver."
      • You can also visit the Lenovo support website to download the latest drivers for your specific laptop model.
    5. Network Reset:
      • Go to Settings -> Network & Internet -> Status.
      • Scroll down and select "Network reset." This will remove and reinstall all your network adapters and set other networking components back to their original settings. After the reset, restart your laptop.
    6. BIOS Settings:
      • Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS setup (usually by pressing F2, F10, or Delete during startup).
      • Check the wireless settings in the BIOS to ensure that the Wi-Fi is enabled.
    7. Windows Updates:
      • Ensure that your Windows operating system is up to date. Go to Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update, and check for updates. Sometimes, updates can resolve connectivity issues.
    8. Check for Hardware Issues: If none of the above steps work, there may be a hardware issue with the Wi-Fi adapter. You might need to contact Lenovo support for further assistance or consider taking the laptop to a service center.

    By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve the issue with your Wi-Fi connectivity.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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