Best Laptop Wi-Fi Adapters to Buy in November 2025
TP-Link Nano AC600 USB WiFi Adapter(Archer T2U Nano)- 2.4G/5G Dual Band Wireless Network Transceiver for PC Desktop, Travel Size, Supports Windows (11,10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP/Mac OS X 10.9-10.14)
- ENJOY LAG-FREE INTERNET WITH DUAL-BAND 2.4G/5G CONNECTIVITY.
- COMPACT, PLUG-AND-LEAVE DESIGN SAVES SPACE AND HASSLE.
- INDUSTRY-LEADING 24/7 SUPPORT WITH 2-YEAR WARRANTY INCLUDED.
TP-Link AC600 USB WiFi Adapter for PC (Archer T2U Plus)- Wireless Network Adapter for Desktop with 2.4GHz, 5GHz High Gain Dual Band 5dBi Antenna, Supports Win11/10/8.1/8/7/XP, Mac OS 10.9-10.14, Black
- ACHIEVE 3X FASTER SPEEDS WITH LONG-RANGE 802.11AC WI-FI ADAPTER.
- ENJOY LAG-FREE STREAMING WITH DUAL-BAND SPEEDS UP TO 433 MBPS.
- EASY SETUP AND UNIVERSAL COMPATIBILITY FOR ALL WINDOWS AND MAC OS.
TP-Link AC1300 USB WiFi Adapter(Archer T3U)- 2.4G/5G Dual Band Wireless Network Adapter for PC Desktop, MU-MIMO WiFi Dongle, USB 3.0, Supports Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP/Mac OS X 10.9-10.14
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ULTRA-FAST USB 3.0: 10X FASTER THAN USB 2.0 FOR SWIFT CONNECTIONS!
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MU-MIMO & BEAMFORMING: ENJOY LAG-FREE WI-FI THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME!
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COMPACT & PORTABLE: TAKE HIGH-SPEED WI-FI WHEREVER YOU GO!
USB WiFi 6 Adapter for PC Desktop & Laptop, 900Mbps Dual Band 2.4/5GHz with Bluetooth 5.3, Nano Size Plug & Play, Windows 11/10 Driver-Free, Reconnect 7 Devices Simultaneously
- WIFI 6 EFFICIENCY: ENJOY STABLE, LONG-RANGE CONNECTIONS WITH LOW LATENCY!
- DUAL-BAND SPEED: SMOOTH STREAMING AT 600 MBPS ON 5GHZ, 287 MBPS ON 2.4GHZ.
- PLUG & PLAY SETUP: EASY INSTALLATION FOR WINDOWS 10/11, NO DRIVERS REQUIRED!
UGREEN WiFi Adapter for Desktop PC, AX900 USB WiFi 6 Adapter with 5GHz/2.4GHz Dual Band, Built-in Driver for Windows 10/11
- EXPERIENCE LIGHTNING-FAST SPEEDS WITH WIFI 6 TECHNOLOGY!
- DUAL-BAND SUPPORT ENSURES SEAMLESS CONNECTIONS AND HIGH PERFORMANCE.
- EASY PLUG-AND-PLAY WITH BUILT-IN DRIVERS FOR WINDOWS 10/11.
Wireless USB WiFi Adapter for PC - Nineplus 1300Mbps Dual 5Dbi Antennas 5G/2.4G WiFi Adapter for Desktop PC Laptop Windows11/10/8/7/Vista/XP, Wireless Adapters for Desktop Computer Network Adapters
- UPGRADE TO AC1300MBPS FOR HIGH-SPEED GAMING AND STREAMING.
- DUAL-BAND ANTENNAS ENSURE STRONG WIFI COVERAGE AT LONG DISTANCES.
- PLUG-AND-PLAY DESIGN WITH FAST CUSTOMER SUPPORT FOR HASSLE-FREE SETUP.
To connect a Windows laptop to a Wi-Fi network, you can follow these steps:
- Turn on your laptop and wait for it to boot up completely.
- Click on the "Start" button located on the bottom left corner of the taskbar.
- From the start menu, select "Settings."
- In the settings window, click on "Network & Internet."
- In the left-hand side menu, choose "Wi-Fi" to display the available wireless networks.
- If the Wi-Fi option is turned off, click on the toggle switch to enable it.
- Your laptop will automatically start searching for available Wi-Fi networks. Wait for a few seconds until the list populates.
- Click on the name of the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to from the available networks list.
- If the network is secure, you will be prompted to enter the Wi-Fi network password. Type in the correct password.
- Optionally, you can select the checkbox labeled "Connect automatically" if you want your laptop to connect to this network automatically when it's in range.
- Once you've entered the password or made the automatic connection selection, click on the "Connect" button.
- Windows will now attempt to connect your laptop to the selected Wi-Fi network. It may take a few moments for the connection process to complete.
- If successful, your laptop will display a "Connected" status message for the Wi-Fi network.
- You can now open a web browser or use other internet-dependent applications to verify your internet connection.
Remember, the steps may slightly vary depending on the Windows version you are using, but these general instructions should help you connect your Windows laptop to a Wi-Fi network successfully.
How to configure Wi-Fi settings on a Windows laptop?
To configure Wi-Fi settings on a Windows laptop, follow these steps:
- Open the "Settings" by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
- Click on "Network & Internet."
- From the left-hand side menu, select "Wi-Fi."
- Toggle the "Wi-Fi" switch to the on position if it is not already enabled.
- A list of available Wi-Fi networks will appear. Click on the network you want to connect to.
- If the network is secured, enter the Wi-Fi password and click "Connect." Make sure the password is correct, paying attention to uppercase and lowercase letters.
- If you want your Windows laptop to connect automatically to this network in the future, check the box that says "Connect automatically."
- Once connected, you will see a message that says "Connected, secured."
Additional configuration options, such as managing saved networks, IP settings, or Wi-Fi adapter properties, can be accessed by clicking on "Advanced network settings" or "Network and Sharing Center" under the Wi-Fi settings.
Note: The steps may vary slightly depending on the version of Windows you are using, but they should be relatively similar.
How to find Wi-Fi networks available in my vicinity?
To find Wi-Fi networks available in your vicinity, you can follow these steps:
- Check your device's Wi-Fi settings: Go to the network settings on your device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.) and make sure the Wi-Fi function is turned on.
- Wait for your device to scan: Your device will automatically scan for available Wi-Fi networks in your vicinity. This process may take a few seconds to a minute.
- Browse available networks: Once the scan is complete, a list of available Wi-Fi networks will appear on your device's screen. The list may include both secured networks (requiring a password) and open networks (no password required).
- Identify the networks: Look for the network names (also known as SSIDs) listed. Some may be familiar (e.g., your home network or a nearby cafe), while others may be unfamiliar.
- Check signal strength: The list may also display the signal strength of each network, often represented by bars or a signal meter. This can give you an idea of how strong the connection is from where your device is located.
- Connect to a network: Once you've identified a network you want to connect to, simply select it from the list. For secured networks, you will need to enter the correct password to establish a successful connection.
Note: Keep in mind that finding Wi-Fi networks may vary slightly depending on the device or operating system you are using.
How to update Wi-Fi drivers on a Windows laptop?
To update Wi-Fi drivers on a Windows laptop, you can follow these steps:
- Determine the model and manufacturer of your Wi-Fi adapter by doing the following: Press Windows Key + X and select "Device Manager." In the Device Manager window, expand the "Network adapters" category. Find the Wi-Fi adapter, and note down its model and manufacturer.
- Visit the official website of the manufacturer and go to their support or download section.
- Search for the latest driver available for your specific Wi-Fi adapter model and download it.
- Once the driver has been downloaded, double-click on the installer file to start the installation process.
- Follow the on-screen instructions provided by the installer. It may involve accepting the license agreement, selecting installation options, or providing additional information.
- After the installation is complete, restart your laptop to let the changes take effect.
Note: If you face any issues during the installation or your Wi-Fi adapter is not listed on the manufacturer's website, you can also try using the Windows Update service to automatically update the drivers. To do this, simply follow these steps:
- Press Windows Key + X and select "Settings."
- In the Settings window, click on "Update & Security."
- In the left sidebar, choose "Windows Update."
- Click on "Check for updates."
- If an update for your Wi-Fi adapter is found, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
If the above methods fail, you can also try running Windows troubleshooter, contacting the manufacturer's support, or seeking assistance from a professional technician.
What is a MAC address and how to find it for a Windows laptop?
A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for communicating on a network. It is a combination of six pairs of alphanumeric characters (e.g., 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E) that are globally unique to identify the network adapter.
To find the MAC address of a Windows laptop, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Start menu by clicking on the Windows icon in the bottom left corner.
- In the search bar, type "cmd" and hit Enter. This will open the Command Prompt.
- In the Command Prompt window, type "ipconfig /all" and press Enter.
- A list of network adapters will be displayed. Look for the one you want to find the MAC address for (usually listed as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or LAN).
- Under the adapter's information, search for the "Physical Address" or "MAC Address" field. The alphanumeric value displayed next to it is the MAC address for that adapter.
You can note down the MAC address for your reference or to provide it when needed for network-related configurations or troubleshooting.