Xbox wireless adapter doesn't show up on Windows 10

Hi MikeLucasIsCool! My name is Ricardo an independent advisor ready to help you with this situation!

Have an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10? Find out how to set it up on any Windows 10/11 device. If you have an Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows, we can also show you how to set it up on any Windows 10/11, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7 tablet, laptop, or desktop PC.

Here’s a compatibility chart for the adapter you may have:

Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows 10

Windows 10/11 only

Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows

Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 7

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/help/hardware-ne...

Hi KrystofKnesl,

Thank you for posting on the Xbox forums. I'd be happy to help.

If the adapter is no longer being detected by your PC, then the drivers may have partially uninstalled when you unplugged it but re-plugging the adapter should re-install any missing drivers.

Have you checked in your Device Manager tool and not in the Control Panel? That's the location where you manage the device and it's drivers and if you do see it there, then you need to uninstall the drivers, unplug the adapter, restart your PC and plug in
the adapter once the PC is back on.

I recommend looking over the first two sections of our support guide, "Troubleshoot the Xbox Wireless Adapter for
Windows". You may also need to turn on the "Wake on Wireless" setting on the properties window for the adapter in Device Manager. The steps how to do so are listed in the support article I referenced.

I hope this helps!

Doesn't the Wireless Adapter for Windows 10 work only for controllers?

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/accessories/adapters/wireless-adapter-windows

Thanks Chirs. I followed the two methods shown below to pair the Elite Wireless Controller. However, it does not show up under Windows 10. What shall I do? By "push the button on the Xbox Wireless Adapter", do they mean pressing the end of the usb adpater?
My adapter is the smaller black version.

https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-on-windows/accessories/xbox-wireless-adapter-for-windows-setup

xbox wireless adapter troubleshooting

The adapter didn't auto-install

Because the drivers for the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows are embedded within the Windows 10 operating system, the adapter should auto-install. If it doesn't, try the following solutions:

• Make sure your Windows 10 device is connected to the Internet.
• Make sure your Windows 10 device is up to date by going to Windows Update on your device and checking for available updates.
  
• Reboot your device and try again.
• Ensure your USB ports are not disabled in your Device Manager.
• Try another USB 2.0 or 3.0 port.
• Try reinstalling the drivers in case they have partially installed. To do so, you need to uninstall the drivers. Follow these steps to complete this process:
  1. Go to your Device Manager.
  2. Locate Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows in the Network adapters section.
     
  3. Click Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows to bring up the Properties window.
     
  4. Click on the Driver tab.
  5. On the Driver tab, click the Uninstall button.
     
  6. On the confirmation window, check Delete the driver software for this device.
     
  7. Unplug the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows and reboot your Windows 10 device. Once the device is back on, plug in the adapter.
     
  8. If the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows still does not install, follow all of the above steps thoroughly one more time. If this doesn't work, your adapter needs to be replaced. See How to get service for
     
     your Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows.