I Uninstall the Wireless Adapter

April 05, 2022 Post a Comment

Windows keeps your list of your network adapters updated automatically. Whenever you install a new ane, be that a new Bluetooth connection, new Wi-Fi dongle, or virtual network adapter, you'll notice it listed under Network Connections.

From time to time, you may desire to remove an old network adapter from the list, to keep information technology tidy and to assist go on runway of your active adapters.

So, read on to learn how to remove a network adapter from Windows 10 and Windows 11.

What Is a Network Adapter?

A network adapter is a slice of hardware that enables your estimator to communicate with different devices. For instance, on your laptop, you probable have a wireless network adapter to allow Wi-Fi connections and maybe an Ethernet port to allow for Ethernet connections. You lot may too accept a Bluetooth network adapter to permit for Bluetooth connections, and so on.

windows 10 network adapters network connections window

Network adapters brand it piece of cake for our devices to communicate, largely automating the process of configuring and managing active network connections between devices merely also making it easier to troubleshoot when things go wrong.

Although non in this article, yous may too encounter network adapters referred to as a Network Interface Card (NIC), but these typically refer to an expansion carte plugged into a organisation, like a PCIe Wi-Fi card.

1. Remove the Network Adapter From Network Connections

The commencement mode to remove a network adapter from Windows is through Network Connections. In this window, yous'll find all of your network connections, and information technology's a handy way to manage your network adapters.

Open File Explorer.
Copy and paste Control Console\Network and Internet\Network Connections into the File Explorer address bar and press Enter.
Right-click the network adapter you want to remove and select Delete.

windows delete network adapter from network connections

The network adapter will uninstall, and you've removed it from your system. Notwithstanding, as you may have spotted in the screenshot, the Delete push button isn't always accessible. If you detect the network adapter Delete push button greyed out, motion to the next section.

2. Remove the Network Adapter Using the Device Manager

Side by side up, you can attempt to remove the network adapter using the Device Managing director. The Device Manager is a Windows utility that allows yous to see all of the devices connected to your machine, be that a mouse, keyboard, graphics card, or network adapter.

windows device manager uninstall network adapter

Input Device Director in your Start menu search bar and select the Best match.

Ringlet down and unfurl Network adapters using the pointer icon.
Correct-click the network adapter you want to remove and select Uninstall device.
When the alarm appears, select Uninstall.
Repeat equally necessary.

three. Remove the Network Profile Using the Command Prompt

If the network adapter withal refuses to budge, yous can take another step and remove the network adapter profile from your organisation using the Command Prompt.

windows command prompt show network adapters command

Input cmd in your Start menu search bar, and so select Run every bit Administrator.

Now, if you're trying to remove an Ethernet (wired) connection, input: netsh lan show profiles
Simply, if you're trying to remove a Wi-Fi (wireless) connection, input: netsh wlan bear witness profiles
Received the alarm that the Wired or Wireless Autoconfig Service isn't working? In your Start menu search bar, type services and select the Best friction match, and then gyre down and find Wired AutoConfig or WLAN Autoconfig, right-click and select Kickoff.
If you received the warning bulletin, you should now enter the previous commands from stride 2 or 3.
Find the network adapter you lot desire to remove from the list and make a note of the interface name found at the tiptop of each contour.
Next, input the following command to remove a wired network adapter interface: netsh lan delete profile interface="InterfaceName"
Or, input the following command to remove a wireless network adapter interface: netsh wlan delete profile interface="InterfaceName"

windows services start wired or wireless network service

At present that y'all've removed the network adapter profile from Windows, yous should find that you tin remove the network adapter from the Network Connections window or the Device Manager.

4. Remove Network Adapter Settings Using the Windows Registry

Another option is to remove the network adapter settings using the Windows Registry. But, first, you demand to check the details of the adapter yous want to remove.

Open the Control Prompt and input ipconfig. Notice the network adapter yous want to remove, make a note of the IPv4 Address and continue the Command Prompt window open.
At present, input regedit in your Start carte du jour search bar and select the Best match.
Head to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Organization\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces.
Browse the list of interfaces, comparing the interface DhcpIPAddress to the IPv4 address in the Command Prompt. When you observe a match, y'all've found the corresponding network adapter.
Right-click the network adapter interface name (the long alphanumeric string) in the Windows Registry and select Delete.

windows uninstall network adapter windows registry

Similar the Control Prompt gear up, this doesn't entirely remove the network adapter from your system. You'll still have to finish removing the network adapter via the Network Connections window or the Device Managing director.

Related: How to Fix a Faulty Ethernet Connexion in Windows 10

Is It Worth Removing Onetime Network Adapters?

You don't strictly have to remove old network adapters. In some cases, Windows volition practice the job for you lot if you upgrade or modify your hardware configuration, but this is also what can lead to a list of old network adapters lurking on your organisation.

Furthermore, yous might want to remove virtual network adapters for onetime virtual machines you no longer utilize if the host software hasn't automatically cleaned upward. In my example, virtual motorcar software created over xx different virtual network adapters, filling the unabridged window with unlike options.

Cleaning up your network adapter list should but take a infinitesimal of your time and can make it easier to effigy out which connectedness has an issue when the time arises. If there are only one or two different options in the Network Connections window, you'll know exactly which connexion has an issue.

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