HomeWindowsTop 6 Ways to Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Top 6 Ways to Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

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Windows 11 is available on the public platform, and anybody can install the update on the compatible machine. Drivers play a crucial role in the consideration list since it is responsible to keep your PC connected to the internet. Iโ€™m going to show several ways to update LAN and WLAN drivers in Windows 11, and I will do it without third-party tool involvement. Yes, you donโ€™t need an additional tool to update network drivers in Windows 11 machines.

Download Updated Drivers from Official Site

Your desktop or laptop manufacturer maintains an update in the โ€œSupport & Driversโ€ section. Iโ€™m always surprised to find experts suggesting Windows Update as the primary source of drivers update.

I completely refuse it because your PC manufacturer tests the latest drivers of the selected hardware and then puts them on the site. Let me walk you through the network drivers download process for desktop and laptop.

Desktop: I assembled my PC, and it is rocking MSI B450M PRO-VDH V2, so I have to look for updated drivers on the MSI site.

Try CPU-Z, and it displays the motherboard model number.

Step 1: Go to Search Engine and lookup for the machineโ€™s hardware and open the official page.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Step 2: Click โ€œSupport & driversโ€ to continue.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Step 3: Click on โ€œDriversโ€ to continue.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Step 4: Choose an operating system.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Note: If Windows 11 is not listed in the drop-down menu, then your board is discontinued by the manufacturer.

Step 5: Find network drivers from the list.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Step 6: Download the network drivers from the page.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

If your board supports WLAN, then you will find wireless network drivers in the same place. I have shown you an alternative below, so you donโ€™t have to worry about network problems due to outdated LAN or WLAN.

Laptop:

Step 1: Go to Search Engine and lookup for the laptop model, and open the official page.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Step 2: The laptop drivers page shows up on the screen.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Step 3: Scroll down and find the โ€œWLAN or LANโ€ section.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Now, download the network adapter drivers from the page and choose the correct processor variant. I suggested you CPU-Z find the motherboard model, and it will display the processor variant as well. Companies drop outdated hardware support, so if you donโ€™t find Windows 11 in the list, then the manufacturer ended support for it.

Download Updated Drivers from Publisher

Almost all Windows PC has network adapters engineered by Realtek, Qualcomm, and Intel. Fortunately, companies like Realtek releases updated drivers for older boards, and I had one of those in the past. My desktop and laptop have network adapters engineered by

  • Press Windows Key + S and then open โ€œDevice Managerโ€.
  • Let devices load in the new tab.
  • Click on โ€œNetwork Adaptersโ€ to reveal more options.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

  • Note down the network adapter series name, and it is โ€œRealtek PCIe GBE Family Controller #2โ€, in my case.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

  • Search for the name and open the first page from the manufacturer.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

  • My motherboard network chip was listed in the product lineup.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

  • I double-checked the exact model number from the official MSI page.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

  • Save the network adapter designed for Windows 11.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Now, you donโ€™t have to rely on manufacturers to update the section since you learned how to look up the updated network drivers by yourself.

Windows Update to Latest Build

Microsoft collaborated with leading component manufacturers to bring essential drivers in one place. We know that collaboration results in Windows Update, and it is a somewhat reliable source to update drivers in the system.

Step 1: Press Windows Key + I, and that will open โ€œSettingsโ€.

Settings

Step 2: Click on โ€œWindows Updateโ€ located at the left sidebar bottom.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Step 3: Click on โ€œCheck for updatesโ€.

Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Step 4: Let Windows download the necessary updates, and then click on the โ€œInstall nowโ€ button.

I believe Windows Update has room to improve, but you shouldnโ€™t become a victim of its shortcomings. I implore the readers to create a System Restore point if anything were to go wrong. A restore point will bring back the system into its previous state, which puts you at an advantage.

Alternative to Outdated LAN

Maybe the LAN port has stopped working, or the hardware component has reached its life cycle. Nothing will change the fact that there is an internal problem with the LAN chip. In such cases, you have two options on the table, and you have to make a quick decision.

  1. Get the board repaired by the manufacturer if itโ€™s under warranty.
  2. Book an appointment with an authorized engineer for third-party repairs.
  3. Buy a Wi-Fi dongle.

I would select the third option and buy a USB Wi-Fi dongle instead. My desktop doesnโ€™t have WLAN integrated into the board, so I purchased a USB Wi-Fi dongle (from TP-Link) for under 7 USD.

LAN Cable Speedtest Results:

USB Wi-Fi Dongle Speedtest Results:

I inserted the Wi-Fi dongle in a USB 3.0 port and maintained only a meter distance to the Wi-Fi router. My Wi-Fi router rests on the top of the desktop cabinet, and it is visible in the photo I shared above.

RELATED GUIDES:

Whatโ€™s next? โ€“ Update Network Drivers in Windows 11

Windows 11 is built on Windows 10 framework, and it wonโ€™t ask for updated drivers yet. But, it wonโ€™t be the same since Microsoft has proven with the 10th edition that they intend to bring in new features along the way. Windows 10 was working smoothly on older machines during the initial days, but it rammed up the RAM and CPU usage after few years of updates. Let us know which solution helped you to update the network drivers in Windows 11 PC.

Mukesh Bhardwaj
Mukesh Bhardwajhttps://itechhacks.com
Editor - An aspiring Web Entrepreneur and avid Tech Geek. He loves to cover topics related to iOS, Tech News, and the latest tricks and tips floating over the Internet.

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