Get the right Intel Wi-Fi driver
On a laptop, get the Intel Wi-Fi driver from your laptop maker's support page first. If it has nothing recent, Intel's Wireless Wi-Fi Drivers for Windows 10 and Windows 11 package covers Wi-Fi 7, 6E, 6 and 9000 series adapters except the AX200, and Intel Driver & Support Assistant can pick it for you.
Checked October 30, 2026 against the manufacturer's own pages.
Driver downloads
| Driver | Version | Released | Size | Windows | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Wireless Wi-Fi driver | 24.80.0 | October 20, 2026 | 72.3 MB | Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit | Download from intel.com |
Values copied from the manufacturer's page on October 30, 2026. The file always downloads from the manufacturer, never from this site.
The short version
What to install and where it comes from. Every link goes to the manufacturer or Microsoft, never to a copy.
Official files only, nothing bundled
Step by step
Write down the adapter name
Right-click Start, open Device Manager and expand Network adapters. Intel Wi-Fi cards appear with names like Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 or Intel Wireless-AC 9560. You need that name to match the download.
Let Windows Update look first
Go to Settings, Windows Update and select Check for updates. Then open Advanced options, Optional updates and see whether an Intel wireless driver is offered.
Check the laptop maker's page
Enter your model or serial number on the maker's support site and look under Networking or Wireless. Makers sometimes add their own settings for the Wi-Fi card and antennas.
Use Intel's package if your adapter is listed
Open Intel's Wireless Wi-Fi Drivers page, confirm your adapter is in the supported list, and download the Windows 10 and 11 installer. Intel Driver & Support Assistant can do this check for you.
Restart and test the connection
Restart after installing, connect to your network and run a large download. If the connection drops or the adapter vanishes, go back to the maker's version.
How to tell an Intel card from another brand
The adapter name in Device Manager usually says Intel. If it shows only as Network Controller under Other devices, open its Properties, Details tab and pick Hardware Ids. A line beginning PCI\VEN_8086 means Intel made it: 8086 is Intel’s code in the public PCI ID Repository. Other codes point to other makers, and this page does not apply to them.
Why the laptop maker can lag behind Intel
Intel releases its Wi-Fi package on its own schedule. Laptop makers test each version with their hardware before posting it, so their copy is often older. That is not a problem if Wi-Fi works. Reach for Intel’s version when you have a specific fault, such as dropouts, and the maker’s newest driver does not fix it.
Questions
My adapter is not in Intel's list.
Intel's current package covers Wi-Fi 7, 6E, 6 and 9000 series cards. Since release 24.30.1 the Wi-Fi 6 AX200 has its own Intel download, and older cards are left out. Use the driver from your laptop maker or Windows Update for those.
Does this also update Intel Bluetooth?
No. Intel publishes Wireless Bluetooth drivers as a separate download, even when Wi-Fi and Bluetooth share one card. Install both if both need updating.
Is Intel Driver & Support Assistant safe?
It is Intel's own tool and comes from intel.com. It checks Intel hardware in your PC and lists driver updates for those parts only.
Wi-Fi disappeared after a new driver.
In Device Manager, open the adapter's Properties, Driver tab and use Roll Back Driver. Then install the version from your laptop maker.