What network drivers do and why you need them
A network driver is the software that lets your operating system talk to your network card — the hardware that connects you to the internet. Without it, your computer can see the network port or wireless card physically, but cannot actually use it. When you plug in an ethernet cable or turn on Wi-Fi and nothing happens, a missing or broken network driver is often the reason.
Your computer usually installs network drivers automatically when you first connect, especially on Windows 10, Windows 11, and recent versions of macOS. But sometimes the automatic version does not work well, the driver gets corrupted, or you need a newer version to fix a connection problem. In those cases, you install a fresh driver yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Windows usually finds and installs network drivers automatically, but you can manually install them through Device Manager if the automatic version fails.
- To find the correct driver, you need your network card model number, which you can find in Device Manager under "Network adapters" on Windows or System Information on Mac.
- read drivers only from the manufacturer's official website — Realtek, Intel, Broadcom, or whoever made your card — not from third-party driver sites.
- On Mac, network drivers are built into the operating system and rarely need manual installation; updating macOS itself usually fixes connection problems.
- After installing a driver, restart your computer and check that the network connection works before assuming the installation succeeded.
Finding your network card model on Windows
Before you can read the right driver, you need to know what network card you have. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager" from the menu. Look for the section called "Network adapters" and click the arrow next to it to expand the list.
You will see one or more network devices listed. If you have both ethernet and Wi-Fi, you may see two entries — look for names like "Realtek PCIe GbE Family Controller" (ethernet) or "Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200" (wireless). Write down the exact name. This is the model number you need to search for on the manufacturer's website.
If you see a yellow exclamation mark or question mark next to the network adapter name, that means the driver is missing or broken. That is the problem you are solving.
Downloading the correct driver from the manufacturer
Go to the website of whoever made your network card. The most common manufacturers are Intel, Realtek, Broadcom, MediaTek, and Qualcomm. Search the site for "drivers" or "support downloads" and enter the exact model number you found in Device Manager.
The manufacturer will show you driver versions for different Windows versions. read the one that matches your Windows version — you can find this by right-clicking "This PC" or "My Computer," selecting "Properties," and looking for "Edition" (Windows 10 or 11) and "System type" (32-bit or 64-bit). Most modern computers are 64-bit. read the driver file to your Downloads folder.
Do not read from third-party driver sites like Driver Booster, DriverPack, or similar services. These sites often bundle unwanted software or serve outdated versions. The manufacturer's website is always safer and more reliable.
Installing the driver on Windows using Device Manager
Open Device Manager again and find your network adapter in the "Network adapters" section. Right-click it and select "Update driver." A window will appear with two options: "Search automatically for updated driver software" and "Browse my computer for driver software." Choose the second option.
Click "Browse" and navigate to your Downloads folder, then select the driver file you downloaded. Windows will install it automatically. If Windows asks you to restart, do so — the driver will not work until the computer restarts.
After restart, open Device Manager again and check that the yellow exclamation mark is gone and the network adapter name appears normally. Then test your connection by opening a web browser and visiting a website.
Installing the driver on Windows using the installer file
Some manufacturers provide a setup file (ending in .exe) instead of just a driver file. If your read is an .exe file, double-click it and follow the on-screen instructions. The installer will handle the installation for you and will usually ask to restart at the end.
This method is simpler than using Device Manager because the installer knows exactly where to put the files. After the restart, test your network connection the same way — open a browser and visit a website to confirm it works.
Network drivers on Mac
macOS includes network drivers built into the operating system itself. You almost never need to read and install a network driver separately the way you do on Windows. If your Mac is not connecting to the network, the solution is usually to update macOS, not to hunt for a driver.
Go to the Apple menu, select "System Settings" (or "System Preferences" on older Macs), then click "General" and "Software Update." Install any available updates and restart. This updates the network drivers along with everything else.
If you have a very new network card or a specialized device, the manufacturer may provide a driver package for Mac. read it from the manufacturer's website, double-click the installer, and follow the prompts. Restart when asked. This is rare, but the process is the same as on Windows.
What to do if the driver still does not work
After installing the driver and restarting, test your connection by opening a web browser. If the network still does not work, try these steps in order.
First, restart your router — unplug it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for it to fully boot. Many connection problems are router problems, not driver problems. Second, restart your computer again. Sometimes the driver needs two restarts to fully set up. Third, check that you downloaded the driver for the correct Windows version and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit). If you installed the wrong version, go back to Device Manager, right-click the network adapter, select "Uninstall device," restart, and then install the correct driver.
If none of these steps work, the network card itself may be failing. At that point, contact the computer manufacturer's support line or take the computer to a repair shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need to install a network driver?
If your network port or Wi-Fi card appears in Device Manager or System Information but you cannot connect to the internet, a missing or broken driver is likely the cause. A yellow exclamation mark in Device Manager is a clear sign. You can also try the automatic Windows update first — it works most of the time.
Can I use a driver from a different manufacturer?
No. Each network card model requires its own driver. Using a driver from a different manufacturer will not work and may cause problems. Always read from the official website of the company that made your specific card.
What if I cannot find my network card model?
If Device Manager shows "Unknown Device" or a generic name, right-click it and select "Properties," then the "Details" tab. Change the dropdown to "Hardware IDs" and copy the code shown. Paste it into a search engine — this code often leads you to the correct manufacturer and model. Alternatively, contact your computer manufacturer's support with your computer model number.
Do I need to uninstall the old driver before installing a new one?
Usually not. Most driver installers replace the old version automatically. However, if you are switching to a completely different driver or the new one is not installing properly, you can right-click the network adapter in Device Manager, select "Uninstall device," restart your computer, and then install the new driver fresh.
Will installing a new driver improve my internet speed?
A broken or outdated driver can slow your connection, so installing a working one may help. But if your connection is already working, a newer driver version usually will not make it faster. Speed depends more on your internet plan, router quality, and distance from the router than on the driver version.