Windows 11 Setup Has No WiFi Option? Fix It

If Windows 11 setup has no WiFi option, the most likely cause is a missing wireless adapter driver. First try a temporary Ethernet connection or phone hotspot. If no networks appear at all, download the exact WiFi driver for your PC or motherboard on another device, copy the extracted driver to a USB drive, and install it from the setup screen.

This problem usually appears on the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen during Windows 11’s initial setup, also called OOBE. It does not automatically mean the WiFi card is broken. A fresh Windows installer simply may not include a driver for the wireless hardware in a newer laptop, motherboard, or add-in card.

Start by identifying what is actually missing

The right fix depends on what you see. Do not start changing router settings if the computer does not show a WiFi control at all.

What you see	Most likely cause	Best next step
No WiFi option and no networks	Wireless driver is missing or the adapter is disabled	Install the exact WiFi driver from USB
WiFi option is present, but your network is absent	Router band, signal, or wireless switch issue	Try a phone hotspot and check the router
Your network appears, but setup cannot connect	Password, router, or internet service issue	Test the same network on another device
Ethernet works but WiFi does not appear	The internet service is working, but the WiFi driver or adapter needs attention	Finish setup over Ethernet, then install the wireless driver

If Windows can see your WiFi network but reports no internet after connecting, that is a different problem. Use our guide to fix WiFi connected without internet instead.

1. Try the quick checks first

These checks take only a few minutes and can rule out a simple setup issue:

Restart the PC once. A restart can make setup scan the hardware again.
Check the laptop’s wireless key or switch. Some models use an Fn key combination or a physical switch to turn the radio off.
Turn off Airplane mode. If the setup screen offers network controls, make sure the airplane icon is not active.
Move close to the router. This matters only when the WiFi control exists but the network list is empty or incomplete.
Check another phone or laptop. If every device has lost the network, restart the modem and router. If other devices connect normally, focus on the new PC.

A missing WiFi option on only this computer points to the computer, not the router. Our broader guide to WiFi working on every device except one explains the same distinction for a PC that has already reached the desktop.

2. Use a temporary connection if one is available

The easiest route is to get Windows online long enough to finish setup and download the correct drivers.

Ethernet: Connect the PC directly to the router. If the computer has no Ethernet port, a common USB to Ethernet adapter may work.
Phone hotspot: Turn on your phone’s mobile hotspot and look for it in the Windows network list. This only helps if the PC can already detect WiFi networks.
Built-in cellular connection: A PC with a supported SIM or eSIM may be able to connect during setup.

After setup reaches the desktop, open Settings > Windows Update and check for updates. Then visit the support page for the exact laptop or motherboard model and install its current wireless LAN driver. The manufacturer’s package is usually a better match than a similarly named driver found on a third-party download site.

3. Install the WiFi driver from a USB drive

If there is no WiFi option during Windows 11 setup, installing the driver directly is the most dependable fix. You need another internet-connected device and a USB flash drive.

Download the exact driver

Find the full model number on the PC label, original box, order page, or motherboard itself.
Open the official support page for that model. Avoid generic driver download sites.
Select Windows 11 and download the wireless LAN, WLAN, or WiFi driver.
If the support page offers Intel, MediaTek, Qualcomm, or Realtek versions, use the package that matches the wireless hardware installed in your exact configuration. Your order specification or PC maker can confirm it.
Extract the ZIP file. Copy the driver’s .inf file and its related files to the root of a USB drive. Microsoft’s current setup instructions specifically use an extracted .inf driver for this method.

If the manufacturer only supplies an .exe installer, follow that manufacturer’s setup instructions. Do not rename an EXE file to INF.

Load the driver during Windows setup

Insert the USB drive while the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen is open.
Press Shift + F10. On some laptops you may need Shift + Fn + F10.
Type diskpart and press Enter.
Type list volume and press Enter. Note the drive letter for the USB drive, such as D.
Close the DiskPart window or type exit.
In Command Prompt, enter pnputil /add-driver D:\*.inf. Replace D with the actual USB drive letter.
When the command reports that the driver package was added, close Command Prompt and return to setup. Give Windows a moment to refresh the network list. Restart the PC if the networks still do not appear.

If the driver files are inside folders, Microsoft’s PnPUtil tool also supports the /subdirs option. A practical command is pnputil /add-driver D:\*.inf /subdirs /install. Use it only with a driver downloaded for your exact hardware.

Should you bypass the internet requirement?

Many older guides lead with the OOBE\BYPASSNRO command. It is not the best first fix for a missing WiFi adapter. It does not install the driver, so the computer will still have no wireless connection after setup. Its behavior can also differ between Windows builds.

Microsoft’s current support guidance says an internet connection is required to finish setup on Windows Home or Pro. It recommends a temporary Ethernet or cellular connection, checking the router, or reinstalling the WiFi adapter driver. Those options solve the connection problem instead of only moving past the screen.

4. If the driver installs but WiFi is still missing

Use this order so that you do not make unnecessary changes:

Confirm the model and driver again. A driver for a laptop family may not match every wireless card used in that family.
Try another USB port. The driver may be fine even if setup did not read the flash drive reliably.
Restart after installation. Some wireless packages need a restart before the adapter becomes available.
Finish with Ethernet if possible. At the desktop, open Device Manager. Expand Network adapters and look under Other devices for a Network Controller with a warning icon.
Install chipset drivers. On a new custom-built PC, install the motherboard chipset package before trying the WLAN driver again.
Check BIOS or UEFI last. Look for an onboard WLAN or wireless setting only if the correct driver still cannot find the device. Record the original setting before changing anything.

If the wireless adapter does not appear in Device Manager after the correct drivers and a BIOS check, Windows may not be detecting the hardware. A loose add-in card, missing antenna module, incompatible card, or failed adapter then becomes more likely. Contact the PC or motherboard maker before buying replacement parts.

What about a new WiFi 7 computer?

WiFi 7 hardware is one common version of this problem, but it is not the only one. A fresh installer may lack the needed driver for a newer adapter from Intel, MediaTek, Qualcomm, or Realtek. The same solution applies: match the driver to the exact PC, motherboard, or card model, extract it to USB, and install the INF package during setup.

Do not use a driver merely because it says “WiFi 7.” Two adapters that support the same WiFi generation can require completely different packages.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my WiFi adapter not showing during Windows 11 setup?

The usual reason is that the Windows installer does not contain a driver for the wireless adapter. A disabled hardware switch, BIOS setting, or faulty adapter is possible, but less common on a new PC.

Can I use Ethernet to finish Windows 11 setup?

Yes. Connect the computer to a router with Ethernet, or try a USB to Ethernet adapter if the PC has no network port. Once setup is complete, install the correct WiFi driver from the PC or motherboard manufacturer.

Why does my phone hotspot not appear either?

If no wireless networks appear, the issue is probably the PC’s WiFi adapter or driver rather than your home router. A hotspot cannot help until Windows can detect and use the wireless adapter.

Can I install a WiFi driver without reaching the desktop?

Yes. Microsoft documents a setup method using Shift + F10, a USB drive containing the extracted INF driver, and the built-in PnPUtil command.

The short version

When Windows 11 setup cannot find a WiFi adapter, try Ethernet first. If there is no WiFi option at all, download the exact wireless driver from the official PC or motherboard support page, extract it to USB, and load the INF file with PnPUtil. If the correct driver still cannot find the adapter, check Device Manager and the BIOS before assuming the hardware has failed.