Wi-Fi settings are missing

Before you begin

To check the Network & Internet settings on your Surface, select the Start  button, and then select Settings  > Network & Internet .

You won’t be able to connect to a wireless network if Wi-Fi is not listed in your Network & Internet  settings. If Wi-Fi is missing, the Internet access  icon will also be missing from your taskbar.

Get connected to Wi-Fi

Here are some solutions to try if you can’t connect to a wireless network because Wi-Fi settings aren’t visible on your Surface.

• Solution 1: Restart your Surface and check Wi-Fi settings
• Solution 2: Install updates
• Solution 3: Run the Windows network troubleshooter
• Solution 4: Verify that Wi-Fi is available in Device Manager

Solution 1: Restart your Surface and check Wi-Fi settings

If your Wi-Fi settings are missing, restart (not shut down) your Surface, and check the Wi-Fi settings again. Here’s how:

1. Make sure your router is connected to a working phone jack or cable connection, either directly or through a modem. For more information on setting up the right equipment, see Setting up a wireless network.
2. Select the Start  button, and then select Power  > Restart, or if you have updates pending, select Update and restart.
3. After your Surface restarts, sign in.
4. Select the Start  button, and then select Settings  > Network & Internet .
5. Select Airplane mode, and make sure Airplane mode is set to Off.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are still missing: Go to Solution 2.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are visible: Select Wi-Fi and make sure that Wi-Fi is set to On and that your network name appears in the list of available wireless networks. Select your network, and then select Connect.

Solution 2: Install updates

Installing the latest updates can help fix many common Wi-Fi connection issues, but you’ll need to be online to download updates. If you can’t connect to your home network or to a public wireless network at a coffee shop or library, here are other ways that you may be able to go online and get the updates:

• You can use a wired connection to go online.
• If you have a Surface Pro 3 or Surface 3, you can download a single update file manually to install on your Surface. You can use another PC with internet access to download the file to a USB drive and transfer it to your Surface. For more info, see Install Surface and Windows updates.
• If you have a Surface 3 with built-in mobile broadband connectivity, you can use it to connect to the internet and get updates. For more info, see Set up your Surface 3 (4G LTE).

Once you’re online, here’s how to check for and install the latest updates manually:

1. Select the Start  button, and then select Settings  > Update & Security  > Windows Update.
2. Select Check for updates. If updates are available, they will download and install automatically.
3. After the updates are installed, if your Surface doesn’t restart automatically, you can do it manually: Select the Start  button, and then select Power  > Restart, or if you have updates pending, select Update and restart.
4. After your Surface restarts, sign in.

5. Repeat these steps until you see Your device is up to date after you select Check for updates. For more info about installing updates, see Install Surface and Windows updates.

   • If Wi-Fi settings are still missing: Go to Solution 3.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are visible: Select Wi-Fi and make sure that Wi-Fi is set to On and that your network name appears in the list of available wireless networks. Select your network, and then select Connect.

Solution 3: Run the Windows network troubleshooter

The Windows network troubleshooter can help diagnose and fix Wi-Fi problems. 

Select the Start  button, and then select Settings  > Network & Internet  > Status > Network troubleshooter, and choose from the options. 

• If Wi-Fi settings are still missing: Go to Solution 4.
• If Wi-Fi settings are visible: Select Wi-Fi and make sure that Wi-Fi is set to On and that your network name appears in the list of available wireless networks. Select your network, and then select Connect.

Solution 4: Verify that Wi-Fi is available in Device Manager

If Wi-Fi settings are missing on your Surface, Wi-Fi may be disabled in Device Manager.

1. In the search box in the taskbar, enter Device Manager, and select it from the results.

2. Select the arrow next to Network adapters to expand the adapters list, and check to see if the Marvell AVASTAR Network Controller is listed.
   Notes

   • The name of the network controller may be slightly different depending on your Surface model.
   • If the Marvell AVASTAR network controller is missing: Contact us.
3. Double-click the Marvell AVASTAR Network Controller, select the Driver tab, and then select Disable Device.
4. In the warning  box, select Yes.
5. Then restart the network controller by selecting Enable Device.
6. Restart your Surface by selecting the Start  button, and then  Power  > Restart, or if you have updates pending, select Update and restart. 
   • If Wi-Fi settings are still missing: Contact us.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are visible: Select Wi-Fi and make sure that Wi-Fi is set to On and that your network name appears in the list of available wireless networks.

Here are some solutions to try if you can’t connect to a wireless network because Wi-Fi settings aren’t visible on your Surface.

• Before you begin
• Solution 1: Restart your Surface and check Wi-Fi settings
• Solution 2: Install updates
• Solution 3: Run the Windows network troubleshooter
• Solution 4: Verify that Wi-Fi is available in Device Manager

Before you begin

Check the wireless network settings on your Surface:

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Settings.
   (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and click Settings.)
2. Tap or click wireless network .

What you see

• The Wi-Fi section is missing from your settings.
• The wireless network  icon is missing from the taskbar.

Correct: Wi-Fi appears in Network settings

Incorrect: Wi-Fi settings are missing

Solution 1: Restart your Surface and check Wi-Fi settings

If your Wi-Fi settings are missing, restart (not shut down) your Surface and check the Wi-Fi settings again. Here’s how:
 

1. Make sure your modem is connected to a working phone jack or cable connection, either directly or through your router.
2. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and click Settings.)
3. Tap or click Power > Restart.
4. Sign in to Windows, go back to Settings, and see whether your wireless settings are there.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are still missing: Go to Solution 2.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are visible: Make sure that Wi-Fi is set to On and that your network name appears in the list of available wireless networks. Tap or click your network, and tap or click Connect.

Solution 2: Install updates

Installing the latest updates can help fix many common Wi-Fi connection issues, but you’ll need to be online to download the updates. If you can’t connect to your home network or to a public wireless network at a coffee shop or library, here are several other ways that you may be able to go online and get the updates:

• You can use a wired connection to go online.
• If you have a Surface Pro 3 or Surface 3, you can download a single update file manually to install on your Surface. You can use another PC with Internet access to download the file to a USB drive and transfer it to your Surface. For more info, see Install Surface and Windows updates.
• If you have a Surface 3 with built-in mobile broadband connectivity, you can use it to connect to the Internet and get updates. For more info, see Set up your Surface 3 (4G LTE).
• Use the Skype WiFi app to find a Wi-Fi hotspot. For more info, see How do I use Skype WiFi? 
• You might be able to use a USB dongle with 3G, 4G, or LTE. To learn more,
  see Mobile broadband from start to finish.

Once you’re online, here’s how to check for and install the latest updates manually:

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and click Settings.)
2. Tap or click Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update.
3. Tap or click Check now. If updates are available, tap or click View details.
4. Select the updates you want to install, and tap or click Install.
   If your Surface doesn’t restart automatically, restart it manually after the updates have installed.
   For more info about installing updates, see Install Surface and Windows updates.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are still missing: Go to Solution 3.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are visible: Make sure that Wi-Fi is set to On and that your network name appears in the list of available wireless networks. Tap or click your network, and tap or click Connect.

Solution 3: Run the Windows network troubleshooter

The Windows network troubleshooter can help diagnose and fix Wi-Fi problems. Here’s how to use it:

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Search. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and click Search.)
2. In the search box, enter network troubleshooter, and in the search results, tap or click Identify and repair network problems.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are still missing: Go to Solution 4.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are visible: Make sure that Wi-Fi is set to On and that your network name appears in the list of available wireless networks. Tap or click your network, and tap or click Connect.

Solution 4: Verify that Wi-Fi is available in Device Manager

If Wi-Fi settings are missing on your Surface, Wi-Fi may be disabled in Device Manager.

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Search.
   (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and click Search.)
2. In the search box, enter device manager, and in the search results, tap or click Device Manager.
3. Tap or click the arrow next to Network adapters to expand the adapters list and check to see if the Marvell AVASTAR Network Controller is listed.
   Notes

   • The name of the network controller may be slightly different depending on your Surface model.
   • If the Marvell AVASTAR network controller is missing, contact us.
4. Double-tap or double-click the Marvell AVASTAR Network Controller to open the properties.
5. On the Driver tab, tap or click Disable.
6. In the warning box, tap or click Yes.
7. Tap or click Enable to restart it.
8. Restart your Surface.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are still missing: Contact.
   • If Wi-Fi settings are visible: Make sure that Wi-Fi is set to On and that your network name appears in the list of available wireless networks. Tap or click your network, and tap or click Connect.

• Connect Surface to a wireless network
• How to find your wireless network password
• Install Surface and Windows updates
• Install wireless drivers on Surface Pro or Surface 3