Realtek RTL8821CE driver
Realtek has a download page for the RTL8821CE with a WLAN PCI Express driver, version 2023.56.0502.2017 dated 22 August 2018, for Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. For Windows 11, Windows Update or your laptop maker's driver is the safer first choice. The Bluetooth half is a separate package.
Checked October 30, 2026 against the manufacturer's own pages.
Driver downloads
| Driver | Version | Released | Size | Windows | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Realtek WLAN PCI Express driver | 2023.56.0502.2017 | 2018/08/22 | 32 MB | Windows 7, 8.1, 10, 32 and 64-bit | Download from realtek.com |
| Realtek Bluetooth USB driver | 1.4.887.3011 | 2018/08/22 | 71 MB | Windows 7, 8.1, 10, 32 and 64-bit | Download from realtek.com |
Values copied from the manufacturer's page on October 30, 2026. The file always downloads from the manufacturer, never from this site.
Hardware IDs on this page
| Hardware ID | Device name |
|---|---|
PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_B821 | RTL8821CE PCIe 802.11ac Wireless Network Controller |
PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_C821 | RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter |
Match the first line of Hardware Ids in Device Manager (Properties, Details) against this list. Names come from the public PCI ID Repository.
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
Confirm the chip
In Device Manager, Network adapters, look for Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11ac PCIe Adapter. Hardware Ids: VEN_10EC with DEV_B821 or C821.
Try Windows Update first
Install optional driver updates; Windows may offer one.
Use your laptop maker
PC makers such as Acer, HP, Lenovo and ASUS publish the package tested with your model.
Only then Realtek's package
Open Realtek's RTL8821CE page. It lists Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 only, so on Windows 11 treat it as a fallback.
Install Bluetooth
The card is a combo chip. Realtek says the Bluetooth driver is needed with the WLAN driver. Install it as a second step.
A budget Wi-Fi 5 combo chip
The RTL8821CE is a one-stream 802.11ac card with Bluetooth. It shows up in Device Manager as a Realtek PCIe adapter, and the PCI list carries two device IDs for it. It is a Wi-Fi 5 part, so do not expect 6 GHz or Wi-Fi 6 features.
What Realtek publishes
Realtek’s page for this chip offers a WLAN PCI Express driver and a Bluetooth USB driver, both dated 22 August 2018. The WLAN package covers several related chips, so one installer serves them all. The page also says the driver works with Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. A newer maker driver is usually a better match on Windows 11.
Typical trouble
Slow speeds and sudden disconnects are the usual reports on this class of card. After a driver change, restart twice and forget the network before reconnecting. If it still fails, roll back to the maker’s version. Replacing the card is possible in many laptops through the M.2 slot, but check the maker’s service guide first.
Questions
Which other chips does the same Realtek package cover?
The page lists RTL8723BE, RTL8821AE, RTL8822BE and RTL8723DE as combo chips, and RTL8812AE, RTL8192EE and RTL8188EE as WLAN-only.
Does Realtek list Windows 11?
Not on the page we read. It lists Windows 7, 8.1 and 10.
Is it Wi-Fi 6?
No. It is 802.11ac, which is Wi-Fi 5. The RTL8852BE is the Wi-Fi 6 chip.