Network Adapter crashing or not working on Windows 11/10

One of the worst things that can happen to a professional is the crashing of the Network Adapter, it hinders the work of the users by stopping them from connecting to the network. In this article, we will know what you can do if your Network Adapter keeps crashing or is not working on your computer.

Fix Network Adapter crashing or not working on Windows 11/10

There are many reasons for Network Adapters crashing or not working on Windows 11. Some common causes of a crashing network adapter are malware infections and outdated or corrupted drivers. We will try to fix this problem with some simple solutions. So, if your Network Adapter is crashing or not working, follow the below steps.

1. Run the Network adapter troubleshooter
2. Re-enable the Network adapter
3. Update the Network driver
4. Reset the Network settings
5. Reset your Windows

Let’s resolve this issue using these methods.

1] Run the Network adapter troubleshooter

A Network adapter troubleshooter is a built-in utility that automatically diagnoses the issue and fixes common network problems. This troubleshooter will check incorrect network settings and conflicts with other devices on the network. If this utility finds any issue with the network adapter, it will fix it automatically.

You can use Network Troubleshooter from the Get Help app or use the steps mentioned below to do the same from Settings.

Windows 11

• Press Windows + I key to open the Settings app.
• Click on System and on the left side of the screen, scroll down and click on Troubleshoot option.
• Next click on Other troubleshooters.
• Find out the Network Adapter troubleshooter there and click on the Run button associated with it.

Windows 10

• Open Settings.
• Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• Click on Additional troubleshooters.
• Select Network Adapter troubleshooter and click Run the troubleshooter.

Here if the troubleshooter finds any errors and will ask you to fix them, click on apply to this fixed issue. Hopefully, the network adapter crashing issue will be resolved after running the network troubleshooter.

2] Re-enable the Network adapter

Your Network adapter can crash due to some temporary glitches. These glitches can be easily removed by restarting the adapter. This will allow all the related services to flush out the stored cache and rebuild them again. Follow the steps mentioned below to do the same.

• Right-click on the Start Menu icon and click on Device Manager to open it.
• Here, in the following window, expand the Network adapters section.
• Right-click on your network driver and select Disable device option wait for a while and then Enable it.

Enabling after disabling the network adapter will resolve your issue.

3] Update the Network driver

One of the most common reasons behind the network adapter crashing is outdated or corrupted network drivers. If the drivers are not updated, communication between the system and its hardware will hinder, leading to a malfunction and the problem we are facing among many others. In such scenarios, we recommend updating the Network driver.

To update Network drivers in Windows 11 using Windows Updates, follow these steps. The best way to do it is via Optional Updates.

• Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
• Go to the Windows Update tab on the left side.
• Click on the Advanced options.
• Click the Options updates menu under Additional options.
• Expand the Drivers updates section.
• Tick the checkbox and click the Download & install button.

4] Reset the Network settings

A lot of times, some of the network settings are not compatible and cause the network adaptor to crash. However, this can be easily fixed by setting the configuration to its default mode. To do the same, we will perform a Network reset as it removes all the customized settings, network profiles, and drivers that may be interfering with the proper functioning of the driver. Follow the steps mentioned below to do the same.

• Press the Windows + I  keys to open the Settings app.
• On the left side of the screen, select Network & internet.
• Scroll down the screen and click on Advanced network settings.
• Here click on Network reset under the More settings section.
• Finally, click on the Reset now button and wait for a while to complete the process and check if the issue is resolved.

Hopefully, this will do the trick for you.

5] Reset your Windows

If none of the above solutions worked in this case, perform a Reset operation with your PC, making sure to keep files and data.

Hopefully, you can resolve the issue using the solutions mentioned in this article.

How do I fix my network adapter in Windows 11?

Network Adapter can be easily fixed by running the Network Troubleshooter. It is a built-in tool that can scan what’s wrong with your adapter, find the best possible solution for it, and then apply the same. If that does not help, try the Network Reset option.

Read: Windows could not find a driver for your Network Adapter

Your network will keep on disconnecting if the router or the network device is facing some issues. In that case, check if yours is the only device facing some issue, if it’s true run the troubleshooter. In case, all devices are facing issues while connecting to the system, reboot your router and make sure that there is no such device in its close proximity hindering the network.