I recently built my first PC with Windows 11, but things aren't going smoothly. My motherboard doesn't have built-in WiFi, and I can't find any WiFi drivers installed. Unfortunately, I don't have access to an Ethernet connection or a USB drive to transfer drivers from another computer. Is there any way to get this sorted out without buying a USB WiFi adapter?
3 Answers
If you have a smartphone, you can download the necessary drivers directly to your phone. Just connect it to the PC via USB and use it as a network connection to access the internet. Pretty handy! If that doesn’t work, you could opt to get an Ethernet cable or find a way to borrow a USB drive to download from another computer.
Honestly, many DIY PCs don't come with WiFi adapters, so that's pretty common. Just check the device manager on your PC to confirm whether there's a WiFi adapter installed. If you see one, you just need the right driver, which you can get from another internet source, like a friend’s computer or a smartphone.
Is there any workaround if I can't find anyone to help?
You might want to check your motherboard for a WiFi card slot. Some motherboards allow you to install a separate WiFi card that can pick up wireless signals. If that's not an option, try using USB tethering with your smartphone. You can connect your phone to your PC via USB and share your mobile data to download the necessary drivers.
So, it sounds like getting a USB WiFi adapter is unavoidable if I can't use a card?
What if I can’t do either of those things?