Freshly built PC and everything is working smooth…except there is no viewable wifi

Troubleshooting No Wi-Fi Visibility on a Newly Assembled PC: A Step-by-Step Guide

Building a new PC can be an exciting experience, but it often comes with some initial setup challenges. One common issue is the inability to detect Wi-Fi networks immediately after assembly. If you’ve recently put together a computer and find that your Wi-Fi adapter isn’t showing up, don’t worry—this is a solvable problem. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve this issue effectively.

Scenario Overview

A recent builder assembled a PC featuring components such as the Asus Prime B650-Plus WiFi motherboard, an AMD Ryzen 5 9600 processor, a GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card, and a SK Hynix 1TB SSD. During the initial Windows setup, the system prompted for internet access, but no Wi-Fi network appeared as available, prompting the use of a wired connection to complete setup.

Despite completing the initial setup via Ethernet, the Wi-Fi still remains inaccessible. Efforts such as downloading drivers directly from the motherboard manufacturer and toggling the network ports have not resolved the issue.

Possible Causes

Missing or inactive Wi-Fi drivers
Hardware issues with the Wi-Fi module
Incorrect BIOS settings
Windows network configuration problems

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Verify Hardware Presence
Confirm that your motherboard has integrated Wi-Fi. The Asus Prime B650-Plus WiFi model should include onboard Wi-Fi, but double-check the specifications.
Ensure that the Wi-Fi antenna is properly connected. Sometimes, antennas are shipped separately or need to be screwed onto dedicated ports on the motherboard.
Check Device Manager
Open the Device Manager in Windows.
Look under the ‘Network adapters’ section.
If the Wi-Fi adapter appears but has a yellow warning icon, right-click and select ‘Update driver’ or ‘Troubleshoot’.
If it’s not listed, the driver may not be installed or the hardware is not detected.
Install or Reinstall Drivers
Visit the Asus support page for the Prime B650-Plus WiFi motherboard: Asus Support.
Download the latest Wi-Fi driver compatible with your OS.
Install the driver manually, then restart your computer.
Alternatively, use a different machine to download the driver