How to View Your Network Adapters in Windows 11

A network adapter (often called a Network Interface Card or NIC) is the physical or virtual hardware component that allows your Windows 11 PC to communicate with other devices over a network. Your computer likely has multiple adapters: a physical Wi-Fi card, an Ethernet port, perhaps a Bluetooth network connection, and virtual adapters created by VPN software or virtual machines. When troubleshooting internet connectivity issues, identifying IP addresses, or configuring custom DNS settings, the first step is often locating and viewing the status of your network adapters.

Method 1: Using the Modern Settings App

Windows 11 has modernized the way you view network hardware, moving many essential details into the primary Settings interface.

1. Click the Start button and open the Settings app (or press Windows Key + I).
2. In the left-hand navigation menu, click on Network & internet.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the main page and click on Advanced network settings.
4. Under the “Network adapters” section, you will see a list of every adapter currently installed on your system (e.g., Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth Network Connection).
5. If an adapter is currently disabled, it will say “Disabled.” You can click the Enable button next to it to turn it on.
6. Click the small downward-pointing arrow next to an adapter to expand its details. Here you can view its current status, media state, and click “View additional properties” to see deeper technical information like the MAC address and driver version.

Method 2: Using the Classic Control Panel

Many IT professionals and long-time Windows users prefer the classic “Network Connections” window from the legacy Control Panel, as it provides a denser, icon-based overview of all adapters and offers quick access to right-click context menus.

1. Press the Windows Key on your keyboard to open the Start menu search bar.
2. Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter.
3. This command instantly opens the classic Network Connections folder.
4. Here, you will see large icons for every network adapter.
   • A green signal bar indicates an active Wi-Fi connection.
   • A blue monitor icon indicates an active Ethernet connection.
   • A greyed-out icon indicates the adapter is disabled.
   • A red ‘X’ indicates the adapter is enabled but completely disconnected (e.g., the Ethernet cable is unplugged).
5. You can right-click on any adapter in this list to quickly Enable/Disable it, run the Windows network diagnostics tool, or open the detailed Properties window to configure IPv4/IPv6 settings.