Why Doesn't My Laptop Recognize My New Intel® Wireless Adapter?
Content Type: Compatibility | Article ID: 000005846 | Last Reviewed: 08/11/2023
Your laptop may not recognize new hardware when you install an Intel® Wireless Adapter for several reasons.
Manufacturer limitations
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may limit the computer to only specific wireless adapters, causing an installation error when booting with a different, previously installed wireless adapter.
We recommend contacting the manufacturer, vendor, or place of purchase about availability and support for Intel Wireless Adapter upgrades. Laptop manufacturers must meet regulatory requirements to determine if you can install the Intel Wireless Adapter in your system.
Regulatory issues
We do not recommend installing or upgrading the various Intel Wireless Adapters.
Replacing an adapter associated with specific wireless software and a different adapter type may cause connection issues or software error messages. For example, if you replace a Wi-Fi/WiMAX adapter with a Wi-Fi adapter, you may receive WiMAX error messages and lose connectivity to the WiMAX network.
Driver limitations
Your computer manufacturer can customize drivers and software to enable or alter features, or provide improved operation on your computer. Contact the manufacturer for the latest updates and technical support information.
If you can no longer get driver support from your computer manufacturer, you can download generic Intel drivers.