Your Wi-Fi is down, and Device Manager says “This device cannot start. (Code 10).” Start with a restart and complete shutdown, then tackle the wireless driver before moving to firmware and hardware checks. The Device Manager repairs below apply to Windows 11 and Windows 10; the Settings paths are for Windows 11.
Confirm the error and restart Windows
Right-click Start and open Device Manager. Expand Network adapters. Double-click your Wi-Fi adapter. Open General and check Device status for “This device cannot start. (Code 10).”
Record the adapter name and its driver version under Driver for choosing a replacement package later. Save your work. Select Start > Power > Restart. Recheck the adapter's Device status after Windows starts.
If Code 10 remains, open Start > Power, hold Shift, and select Shut down. Turn the computer on after shutdown finishes. Tip: Recheck Device status after each repair to see whether the adapter can start again.
Install the correct wireless driver
Start with the driver package made for your exact computer or adapter.
- 1.Find your exact computer model on your PC manufacturer's official support website and open its driver downloads. For a separate TP-Link adapter, use the TP-Link Download Center and match both its model and hardware version.
- 2.Download the Wi-Fi driver matching your device and Windows version. If necessary, download it on another computer and transfer it by USB.
- 3.Save the package locally. If it includes an installer, run it and follow the package's instructions; keep it for a reinstall.
- 4.For an extracted package containing a compatible INF driver, open Device Manager > Network adapters, right-click the adapter, and select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers.
- 5.Select Browse, choose the extracted driver folder, then select OK > Next > Close.
- 6.Complete any restart requested by the installer, then recheck the adapter's Device status.
Roll back a driver update that triggered the failure
If Code 10 appeared immediately after a wireless driver update, try the previous driver. Rollback requires administrator access and a previous driver retained by Windows.
Open Device Manager > Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter, and select Properties. Under Driver, select Roll Back Driver. Choose the reason for the rollback. Select Yes.
Restart if prompted. If Roll Back Driver is disabled, Windows has no rollback available for you to select. Continue with a reinstall using the matching manufacturer package.
Reinstall the adapter and its driver
Surface Pro X owners must skip driver removal: Microsoft says not to uninstall its network drivers. On other applicable Windows 11 and Windows 10 computers, open Device Manager > Network adapters, right-click the Wi-Fi adapter, and select Uninstall device. Leave the driver-removal checkbox unchecked and select Uninstall.
Select Start > Power > Restart; Windows attempts to reinstall the device. If the adapter is missing afterward on Windows 11, open Device Manager > Action > Scan for hardware changes. A rescan does not supply a missing manufacturer driver package.
For an Intel wireless adapter that still fails, save the correct installer before a clean installation. Return to Uninstall device, select Attempt to remove the driver for this device on Windows 11 or Delete the driver software for this device on Windows 10, then select Uninstall. Restart and run the saved installer; Intel advises repeating removal while removable older packages remain, although some built-in Windows packages cannot be removed.
On an ASUS Windows 11 computer with a combined Wi-Fi/Bluetooth adapter and errors affecting both components, save the matching Wi-Fi and Bluetooth packages. In Device Manager, use Uninstall device for the affected wireless device under Network adapters and its component under Bluetooth, selecting Attempt to remove the driver for this device where offered, then Uninstall. Reinstall both saved packages, leaving unrelated Bluetooth devices alone.
Check power and firmware for stubborn failures
Code 10 means the wireless device cannot start, so a persistent error calls for power and firmware checks specific to your computer.
For an Intel Wi-Fi device, fully shut down using Start > Power, holding Shift while selecting Shut down. Remove external power after shutdown finishes. Remove a removable battery only when your computer's instructions permit it; for an internal battery, follow the manufacturer's procedure. Reconnect power.
Start the computer. ASUS power-reset instructions differ by model. Follow your exact model's instructions or contact ASUS support for its procedure.
On Surface Pro 5th Gen and later, Pro X, all Surface Laptop, Laptop Studio, Laptop Go, Go and Studio models, and Surface Book 2 and later, hold the power button until the Surface shuts down, restarts, and displays the Windows logo. Release the button when the logo appears, approximately 20 seconds after you started holding it.
On Windows 11, open Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Install applicable updates. Restart when requested.
Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. Expand the driver section. Select an offered update matching your wireless adapter. Choose Download and install.
Restart afterward. For firmware updates, use the manufacturer's package for your exact computer model and follow its instructions. Keep power connected throughout the update.
On a compatible ASUS computer exposing the update feature, open MyASUS > System Update. Select the applicable driver or firmware items. Choose Update Selected Items. Complete the installation prompts and restart when requested.
Run Windows diagnostics before a network reset
On Windows 11, open Get Help, search for “connect to network and internet,” and select Run network diagnostics. Follow its prompts, then recheck the adapter's Device status. The result to look for is Code 10 disappearing; completing diagnostics alone does not establish that the adapter can start.
Skip the legacy troubleshooters recommended in older tutorials. Microsoft is retiring MSDT and its legacy inbox troubleshooters and lists Hardware and Devices for removal; on Windows 11, network troubleshooting has moved to Get Help, so don't rely on the separate Network Adapter tool from older guides. Use Get Help for current network diagnostics, plus Device Manager and manufacturer hardware tests for device checks.
Save network reset for after the driver repairs. It removes and reinstalls network adapters and resets their settings. Be prepared to reconfigure affected VPN clients or virtual switches afterward.
Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. Select Reset now > Yes. Restart Windows.
Test the hardware when Code 10 keeps returning
For a TP-Link USB Wi-Fi adapter, disconnect it from the current USB port. Connect it to another USB port. Test it on another compatible computer with the correct driver to distinguish an adapter failure from a problem with the original computer or port.
For a user-serviceable TP-Link PCIe desktop adapter, power off the computer. Disconnect power before checking the adapter. Check its installation or try another compatible slot, following the computer and adapter instructions. Install the correct driver afterward.
Run the manufacturer's hardware diagnostics before considering a Windows reset. On a Dell computer with preboot diagnostics, restart and repeatedly press F12 at the Dell logo. Select Diagnostics and run the available hardware tests. Record any error and validation codes for support; wireless test availability depends on the model.
If the failure followed a system change and you have an earlier restore point, open Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore > Next. Choose a restore point from before the failure. Select Scan for affected programs to review its effects. Select Next > Finish.
For a work or school computer, contact your IT helpdesk when driver installation or firmware controls are blocked. Supply the adapter name, driver version, Code 10 message, and the repairs you have tried.
If these checks and repairs fail, contact the computer or adapter manufacturer for a hardware assessment and supply your diagnostic results. Persistent hardware failure requires repair or a compatible replacement. A functioning alternative adapter provides a workaround while you arrange service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restarting my router fix Wi-Fi Code 10?
A router restart does not address Windows failing to start the Wi-Fi adapter. Resolve Code 10 before troubleshooting the router connection.
Why does Windows say the best driver is already installed?
That result does not rule out a newer driver package from your computer manufacturer. Check its downloads for your exact model and Windows version.
Should I run Winsock or DNS reset commands?
Those commands address broader connectivity problems after the adapter can start. They are not an established repair for an adapter still reporting Code 10.
Does Keep my files preserve my apps during a Windows reset?
No. Keep my files retains personal files but removes installed apps and resets settings. Back up before resetting Windows; a reset does not repair failed hardware.