HP Laptop WiFi Problems: Is a USB Adapter the Best Temporary

A Facebook post by user Derrarg on January 29, 2025, detailing a malfunctioning WiFi card on their HP laptop has ignited a flurry of troubleshooting suggestions from the online community.

Derrarg's post explained that the laptop's dedicated WiFi light remained stubbornly off, and the WiFi option had vanished from the taskbar, although the ethernet connection was functioning normally.

Seeking a quick solution, Derrarg inquired about the viability of using a USB WiFi adapter as a temporary fix.

The post quickly garnered responses, with fellow users offering a range of potential solutions.

Constant Inta suggested a possible fix involving a system shutdown and unplugging, reminiscent of a solution used on a personal computer.

David offered a more hardware-focused approach, suggesting that depending on the WiFi card type, Derrarg could replace it with a newer WiFi 6e or WiFi 7 card.

David further specified the type of card based on the slot, either half mini PCIe or M.2.

John pointed to potential software conflicts, noting that Microsoft had confirmed that updates KB5050009, KB5050021, and KB5049981 had reportedly caused issues with audio, and KB505009 specifically with Bluetooth and WiFi, for numerous users, and mentioned that workarounds were available.

Thienry advised downloading the Intel Driver Support Assistant for the latest drivers, emphasizing that this was often a better option than relying on HP's support options.

Thienry also noted that the latest Windows 11 drivers had been released recently, one for WiFi and the other for Bluetooth.

Gaguine expressed hope that a USB WiFi dongle would indeed provide a working solution, but cautioned that the range, especially with the smaller nano-dongles, might not be as good as the original WiFi card.

Derrarg's post and the subsequent responses highlight the common challenges users face with technology and the power of online communities in collaborative problem-solving.

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