The WiFi Miniport is essentially a virtual device that only exists after the user has successfully succeeded in setting up a hosted network. When the WiFi Miniport adapter is missing, it will stop being visible inside Device Manager or the Adapter Settings list. If you’re currently struggling to get the Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter back, this article will help you troubleshoot the issue away. Below you have a collection of methods that other users have used to resolve the issue. Please follow the methods below in order until you find a fix that allows you to retrieve the Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter. Let’s begin!
Method 1: Enabling Multimedia/Gaming Environment and Adhoc support 802.11n
Some users have managed to resolve the issue by modifying some WiFi adapter settings. By enabling Multimedia/Gaming Environment and Adhoc support 802.11n, some users have managed to stop the Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport Adapter Missing error from occurring. Here’s a quick guide on how to enable Multimedia/Gaming Environment and Adhoc support 802.11n from Device Manager: If the Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter is still missing, move down to Method 2.
Method 2: Enabling the WLAN service
Although the WLAN service should be enabled by default, there are certain 3rd party applications (particularly PC optimizers) that will disable this service in an attempt to free up resources. You can test this theory by visiting the Services screen. If the WLAN service is disabled, you can modify the startup behavior and modify the service to Automatic in order to make sure that you always have it enabled. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this: If Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport Adapter is still missing, move down to Method 3.
Method 3: Using Command Prompt to enable WLAN
If the two methods above have been ineffective, let’s see whether force starting the WLAN service via an elevated Command Prompt will force the Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport adapter to re-appear. Some users have managed to resolve the issue after using a simple command inside Command Prompt. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this: If the Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport adapter is still missing, move down to Method 4.
Method 4: Using a previous system restore point
If all of the above have proven to be ineffective, you might be able to get your Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport adapter by using System Restore to revert your PC to a previous state. The System Restore feature allows Windows users to revert their machine to a previous state. We can use System Restore to revert your computer to a state where the Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport adapter was not missing. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:
Method 5: Doing a Windows Reinstall or Repair Install
If none of the methods above have allowed you to get the Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport adapter back, a reinstall is practically your only option left. If you have Windows 10, you can make the process a whole less painful by opting for a repair install. A repair install reinstalls all windows components while allowing the user to preserve their personal files and applications. If you don’t have Windows 10, a sure way to fix the default behavior of Microsoft Virtual Wifi Miniport Adapter is to do a clean Windows install.
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