Are Wi-Fi drivers usually not preinstalled on motherboards?

It's pretty normal for some motherboards to require you to download additional drivers after setting them up, especially if you don’t have an Ethernet connection. You could connect directly to your modem or router to get the drivers if you need a quick fix, though! It's a hassle, but just know you're not alone.

Yep, it's annoying but perfectly normal. The CD or USB that comes with the motherboard is typically meant for this purpose, allowing you to get up and running. Just remember for next time—you can also download the latest drivers on your phone and transfer them over, which saves a lot of time!

Drivers are managed by the OS, and Windows often doesn't come with all the necessary drivers pre-installed; it mainly uses generic ones. If you switch to a Linux operating system, you'll find it usually has a wider range of drivers available right out of the box.

No, motherboards don't come with drivers installed. The OS needs to install them so it can communicate with the Wi-Fi chip. You usually have to download the drivers separately unless you have a prebuilt system that comes with them already installed. Some high-end boards might preload drivers in the BIOS, but that's not common for most motherboards.