Wifi driver AX201 not working

[emmajeanned]

My wifi driver (Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX201 160 MHz) has completely ceased to function. I've tried running the Driver Assistant tool multiple times, and installing the newest version of the driver has not helped at all. 
I'm not very technologically inclined and I'm having a really hard time understanding what to fix here.

Some relevant info: I have a Lenovo Yoga laptop running on Windows 11. 

[n_scott_pearson · Accepted solution]

I suggest that you do a clean install. Here is the process:

1. If you haven't already, download - but do not install just yet - the desired Bluetooth and WiFi driver packages for your adapter. Here are the current links for downloading these drivers: Wireless: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/19351 and Bluetooth: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/18649
2. Disable Internet access. Unplug Ethernet cable and/or disable wireless. Keep disabled until told to re-enable.
3. From the Apps & Features applet, check for instances of Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and Intel Wireless Bluetooth. If none, skip to Step 6.
4. Uninstall each instance of Intel PROSet/Wireless Software and/or Intel Wireless Bluetooth that is present. When prompted, choose to "Discard Settings".
5. Manually reboot your computer, keeping Internet access disabled throughout.
6. From the Device Manager applet, check the Network Adapters section for an entry for Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 and check the Bluetooth section for an entry for Intel Wireless Bluetooth that has an intel driver associated with it. If neither is the case, go to Step 10.
7. Right click on the entry for Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 and uninstall it, choosing to (checkmark) Delete the driver software for this device.
8. Right click on the entry for Intel Wireless Bluetooth and open its properties. If it has an Intel driver associated with it, then uninstall it, choosing to (checkmark) Delete the driver software for this device.
9. Go to Step 5.
10. (Optional but recommended) Clean out all temporary files using the Windows Clean Disk tool. Ensure you have enabled cleaning of System Files. I recommend that you then checkmark all categories offered, even if no files currently in this category (so it leaves it set up for next invocation).
11. (Optional but recommended) Clear each of your browsers' cache.
12. Install the Bluetooth driver package (my rule: always install Bluetooth first).
13. Install the Wireless driver package.
14. Manually shutdown and reboot your computer.
15. Reenable Internet access. Restore Ethernet cable and/or reenable wireless.
16. Test.

Hope this helps,

...S

[emmajeanned]

This worked!!! Thank you so much for the help (and for making the instructions easy to follow)!

[josmatic]

Hi Scot,

I have new PC and I have problems with WIFI 6 AX201 160Mhz at motherboard Msi Pro B660M-A Wifi DDR4. PC is old 8 days. I tried this https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-hardware/intel-wi-fi-6-ax201-160mhz-doe...and also yours solution but do not work for me. I getting Error code 10 and sometimes is 43. What I notice while I follow your instructions, I uninstall Bluetooth but after refreshing Device Manager he appear again. At App & Feature aka. Add and remove programs, there was not Intel Bluetooth.

What mean for you "manully shutdown", "manually restart" - I usually go at Windows icon then Power -> Restart/Shutdown.

Maybe you can check my components at my profile, I install "Intel® Driver & Support Assistant". I am Computer engineer and work like Web developer, so I know some stuff. I also bring PC to local PC experts but did not helped me. Motherboard seller said that he did not have fault Motherboard like this, usually is something bigger. He also think this is driver issue/conflict and he can send me new motherboard.

Regards,

Josip

[GaboLopez]

Hi Scott,

I have a similar problem with the Intel Wifi 6 AX201 160Mhz, it still doesn't work despite following the same instructions, I recently did a fresh install of Windows 11 and to date it's the only device that doesn't work. The strangest thing about the issue is that Bluetooth doesn't work either and it doesn't appear in the list of devices, can you help me?

[Suushi]

Hello Scott thank you so much for the reply worked perfectly. 

For the people with issues make sure you really follow each step as Scott mentioned and, for me, after the new drivers are installed I had to shut down the pc on the power button otherwise would still fail for some reason.

Now for my next problem: Even if this method works perfectly windows keeps randomly (even with pc on) roll back to the bad drivers. How do I stop this? 

This whole issue just started when I upgraded to windows 11, tried rolling it back but the issue persists.

Thank you!

[mraj14]

Have tried all these steps literally 2 times including optional steps.. but to no avail..!!

Have been trying all kind of solutions found over the internet and none worked so far..
Looks like so many users are having the issue and there was no correct solution.

[josmatic]

I give up and bought wifi card for 10€.

[n_scott_pearson]

First of all, before installing ANY device drivers, you installed the Intel Chipset Device Software package provided by MSI, right? If not, install it and then repeat my instructions above. Secondly, it is important to install the Intel Chipset Device Software package BEFORE installing the Intel Driver and Support Assistant. But, hold on, there are other driver packages that you need to install manually beforehand; read this page for more details: Intel Driver & Support Assistant Exclusions

It is very important to install the Intel Bluetooth driver package. The Microsoft generic Bluetooth driver is only going to cause you problems. The Intel Bluetooth driver package will install over the Microsoft driver, so you don't need to do anything special there.

Regarding my instructions, it is *very* important that you following these instructions exactly - especially disabling Internet access and keeping it disabled - including across reboots - until told to restore it at the end. By 'manually shutdown and restart', I mean that, if a reboot is not automatically initiated by the installer/uninstaller, you need to do so manually - and yes, via the Shutdown-Restart sequence.

Finally, a statement: 99% of Error 10 and error 43 is caused by folks not installing the drivers in the correct order or at all -- especially those expecting it to happen automatically (it does not and you should never expect this except for older machines that predated the release of Windows 10).

...S

[josmatic]

Hi, after installation of Windows install drivers from DVD provided by MSI, like this:

As I can see, they are in right order?! Installing from top to bottom. 

Yes, I follow exactly in order and how you explain, disconnect from internet, unplug LAN cable... Shutdown, restart.

That was my first clean installation on this PC. In second I again install Windows, then install drivers from MSI site https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/PRO-B660M-A-WIFI-DDR4/support#driver in order from left to right, so first is Chipset. Again the same issue. I install DSA last, just to check if that will help.

[josmatic]

Hi, I think that I found problem. Intel Bluetooth driver is installed but when I check at Device manager it is still driver from Microsoft:

When I dig deeper It even do want to update driver to Intel which download from Intel site (BT-22.120.0-32-64UWD-Win10-Win11):

 Even if Intel Bluetooth is installed I still can not find it here:

How I can override Microsoft driver? Am I at right direction? 

[n_scott_pearson]

 followed by process, did you use the files downloaded from the MSI site or the (later) files downloaded from the Intel site?

...S

[josmatic]

Hi,
When first install Windows I install drivers from MSI DVD, which came with motherboard.
When I reinstall Windows then I use drivers from MSI site.
After this try everthing...

[n_scott_pearson]

Right, but when you followed the process I detailed above, did you use the latest drivers available on the Intel site? If you used the driver from the MSI site, then you need to repeat the process with the latest versions from the Intel site.

...S

[josmatic]

Yes, I used latest Intel drivers:
Bluetooth: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/18649/intel-wireless-bluetooth-for-windows-10-and-w...
Wifi: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/19351/windows-10-and-windows-11-wi-fi-drivers-for-i...
for Win 10

I think that I found what is problem but do not know how to fix it. I can not override Microsoft bluetooh:

[n_scott_pearson]

Hold on, you've gone off on a tangent...

The PAN device is a virtual device, implemented in software. It sits on top of whatever underlying Bluetooth transport (hardware and driver) has been made available (in this case by Intel). It is provided as part of Windows and the driver provider will *always* be identified as Microsoft.

You need to look in the Bluetooth device category to see the Intel Bluetooth driver. I suspect that you will find, at least from the driver standpoint, it is working.

The concerning thing is the fact that the Wireless (Wi-Fi 6) driver for the AX201 is yellow-banged and not loading. we need more information on the reason for this yellow-bang.

Please download and run the Intel System Support Utility for Windows. When you start the tool, select Everything and then click on Scan. Once it completes the scan process, click on Next and then Save. Pick a name for the text file to create and click on Save to create it. You can then close the app. Finally, open a response post here and then, using the Drag and drop here or browse files to attach dialog (below the edit box for the body of your response post), upload and attach this text file to the response post.

...S

[josmatic]

Hi, thank you for your support. Here is my system info.

[n_scott_pearson]

Hhmmm, this report would seem to indicate that the Intel Bluetooth driver package is not installed. Are you sure that, when you installed it, it actually succeeded?

Try repeating the clean install process again, but this time, just for grins and giggles, delete that PAN device as Step 8A.

...S

[josmatic]

Hi, Yes Bluetooth driver package is installed 100%.

I also deinstall all bluetooth drivers, install newest which came online few days ago 22.130 both for Bluetooth and for Wifi, of course first install Bluetooth. Still wifi does not work. I have new System info for you.

[josmatic]

Hi, original Wifi from motherboard still does not work but seller sent me tp-link tl-wn881nd and work perfectly. I did not want to change whole motherboard because Wifi, so I just plug-in Wifi card in empty slot.

Best regards,

Josip

[n_scott_pearson]

Every case is different - and we really shouldn't be trying to handle your issue on the coattails of someone else's conversation.

Download and run the Intel System Support Utility for Windows. When you start the tool, select (checkmark) Everything and then click on Scan. Once it completes the scan process, click on Next and then Save. Pick a name for the text file to create and then click on Save to create it. You can then close the app.

Next, open a new conversation using the Post a Question button on the Wireless forum's root display. Then, using the Drag and drop here or browse files to attach dialog (below the edit box for the body of your initial post), upload and attach this text file to the initial post.

In this initial post, please also answer the following questions:

• Did you install the Chipset Device Software package before any other Intel driver packages?
• Have you tried following the process that I laid out above?
• What is the architecture of your system? Laptop? Desktop?

If it is a Desktop, answer the following:

• What is the brand and model of the motherboard?
• Is the Wireless module integrated onto the motherboard or did you add it via an add-in PCIe card?
• If an add-in card, did you connect the internal USB cable required to support use of the Bluetooth feature?

...S