wlanext.exe is a type of Exe file that sometimes causes errors in Windows 10. However, the executable is a genuine file from Microsoft corporation but because of its nature, it gives a way to malware attack. In addition, wlanext.exe may lead to high CPU usage or other issues.
Here, in this article, we will discuss some simple and effective methods to Fix wlanext.exe in Windows 10. Firstly, we’ll have to differentiate the core file and virus carrying of the same name. Once gets confirmed as malware, we will explain the ways to perform a full scan, clean garbages, use sfc /scannow, System Restore, receive pending updates, and clean installation.
Solutions to wlanext.exe in Windows 10
The .exe extension in the “wlanext.exe” itself is the piece of confusion as this could be a system file or the virus at the same time. The users thus live in a dilemma of what to do next to such files. Let’s ensure first whether the file is a virus or not using the following steps –
Step-1: Press Ctrl+shift+Esc hotkey together and let the Task Manager open.
Step-2: Click on the More details option at the bottom left.
Step-3: Select Processes tab and locate the Wlanext.exe on the list.
Step-4: Now, right click on the same and select Open file location using the context menu.
If the Wlanext.exe file is shown under C:\Windows\System32 folder, your PC is safe from the threat. It is one of your system files is of 101KB on Windows 10.
In case, the file is not located under the above location, this must be a virus designed to hamper the system. There is nothing to worry about it as you can wipe out this easily by just following the discussion below:
Solution to Wlanext.exe in Windows 10 (if it is a virus)
When you are sure that wlanext.exe at hand is a malicious program, you can attempt the following fixes –
Perform a full scan using Windows security
Windows security is the most effective protection tool on Windows 10 that can help you to get rid of Wlanext.exe in Windows 10.
- Press Win logo & S together and type ‘full scan’ in the search box and then hit Enter.
- Click on the Virus & threat protection.
- On the following page, click on the Scan options.
- After that select the Full scan radio button and click on Scan now option.
After finishing the process, you will get a list of infected programs. If you come across, the wlanext.exe, remove this file completely.
If any issue other than malware occurs
Run Disk Cleanup utility
- Press Win+R hotkey to flash the Run dialog box on the bottom left of the screen.
- Type cleanmgr in the text bar and click on OK button.
- Once a small dialog appears, click on the drop-down menu and select C: drive then hit the Enter key.
- Disk Cleanup calculates how much space you will be able to free from the occupied room. After that, you need to click Clean up system files once a wizard appears.
- Again choose the same drive and let the Disk Cleanup for (C:) appear.
- Tick all the options except Downloads and finally, click the OK button.
See – Windows 10 – How to Open and Use Disk Cleanup.
Run Windows System File Checker (“sfc /scannow”)
The System File Checker is a utility which is designed to help Windows users to sort out corrupt core files. If the wlanext.exe in Windows 10 issue occurs because of the corruption then follow –
- Press Win & R shortcut combination to open the Run dialog box.
- Here, type cmd.exe and press Contol+Shift+Enter.
- In case of the UAC dialog box pop-up, tap “Yes” to authorize this process.
- Type sfc /scannow near the blinking cursor and press Enter. This will take around 10 minutes or more to scan the whole system. Wait patiently till this procedure ends.
- At last, reboot your system so that the changes made by the Scanning tool could take place.
- Check whether the wlanext.exe in Windows 10 issue is solved or not. If not, follow the next workaround.
Update outdated Device Drivers
If the issue persists even after running SFC then update the device drivers which have become obsolete or went outdated. Here is the complete method –
- Right click on the Start and select Device Manager from the list
- Now look for the exclamation mark near any devices on the console.
- If found, expand the same then right click on one having a yellow indication.
- Select Update Driver option in the context menu and repeat the same procedure for each yellow warning sign.
Install All Available Windows Updates
If there are pending Windows update available this is the time to apply all of them.
- At first, press Win & I together to launch the Windows Settings app and select the Update & Security category.
- Now, click on ‘Check for Updates’ option in the right pane
Perform a Clean Installation of Windows
If none of the fixes mentioned above are able to solve wlanext.exe in Windows 10, you can try a clean installation of Windows as the last workaround. When you are planning to go ahead with this fix, make sure to create a backup of important files and folders in the external hard drive. Now follow the link to complete the installation – How to Clean Install Windows 10 October 2018 Update.
Some Windows users have been reaching us with questions after discovering that there’s one particular application that is taking up a lot of system resources with no apparent reasons. Wlanext.exe is reported to take over 30% of the CPU capabilities on some computer. Typically, users will use Task Manager to stop the task and the usage will go down, but the task will automatically restart after several minutes or at the next system startup. The issue is not specific to a certain Windows version as there are reports of it occurring on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.
What is Wlanext.exe?
The genuine wlanext.exe file is an important part of Windows – it’s a system process that is designed to host multiple Windows services. It’s an essential implementation on all recent Windows versions – several services can use wlanext.exe to share a process to reduce resource consumption.
The wlanext.exe is also referred to as an Extensibility framework – an interface for wireless security and connectivity features on Windows. Wlanext.exe is is the executable that runs the framework, in case you’re dealing with the legitimate file.
When it comes to the task it performs, it’s main roles is to serve as an interface for the drivers of wireless network adapters (integrated or coming from a USB, PCI or PCMCIA card).
The legitimate wlanext.exe service is located in C:\Windows\System32 folder. If the executable is located somewhere else, it should be recorded as a security threat.
Is Wlanext.exe safe?
While the genuine wlanext.exe poses no security threat whatsoever and it’s actually a crucial part of every recent version of Windows, not the same can be said about copycat malware that uses the permissions that wlanext.exe has to bury themselves deep into the system files to avoid being detected by security scanners.
If you have two instances of the wlanext.exe file, chances are one of them is malware in disguise. But that’s not always the case – it’s also possible that a 3rd party utility installed the second instance. Because of this, it’s important to take the time and take the necessary steps to analyze the file before assuming that the file is a security threat or not.
Keep in mind that the vast majority of successful malware have cloaking capabilities – meaning that they will deliberately seek files with enhanced permissions and take their form to avoid detection.
With this in mind, it’s important to investigate the file thoroughly to ensure that you’re not dealing with a security threat.
Your first step should be investigating the location of the wlanext.exe file. To do this, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. Once you’re inside, go to the processes tab and scroll down through the list of applications until you locate the wlanext.exe file. When you see it, right-click on it and choose Open File Location from the newly appeared context menu.
If the location is different than C:\Windows\System32, that’s another red flag that you might be dealing with a virus infection. But that’s not a given fact since some 3rd party utilities come bundled with their version of the wlanext.exe file.
The next step should be to upload the file to be analyzed against a virus signature database – This will determine if the security threat is real. The most efficient one is VirusTotal. Simply visit this link (here), upload the wlanext.exe file and wait for the results to be generated.
If the analysis reveals some potential security threats, follow the instructions below on resolving the security threat.
Resolving the security threat
If the wlanext.exe file you analyzed previously has raised some concerns regarding it’s genuine, you should use a security scanner to ensure that you locate and remove the virus infection. Since we’re probably dealing with malware with cloaking-capabilities, the best scanner capable of identifying and dealing with the treat is Malwarebytes.
It’s one of the few free solutions capable of dealing with this kind of security threat. If you’re not exactly sure on how to deploy a Deep Malwarebytes scan, follow this article (here) – it contains step-by-step instructions on performing this type of scan.
If the virus purge completes successfully and the malware infection is dealt with, restart your computer and see if you’re still seeing a high resource usage caused by the wlanext.exe file at the next system startup.
On the other hand, if the scan has found no security issues, you can assume that the wlanext.exe file is genuine. In this case, move down to the next method below for analysis on whether you should remove the file from your computer and how to do so.
Should I remove Wlanext.exe?
Wlanext.exe file is an important part for your WIndows-operating system, so removing it will have long-lasting consequences to the way your OS behaves. Firstly, you’ll lose the Extensibility Framework feature, meaning that processes will no longer be able to bundle together, so the overall resource usage will be higher.
So if you only have one instance of the wlanext.exe file, removing it is not recommended under any circumstances.
However, there is a scenario in which removing the file is acceptable. If you’re seeing two active wlanext.exe files in Task Manager and you verified that both are genuine, you can safely remove the one that is located outside C:\Windows\System32.
That was probably installed by a third party utility, so removing it will re-direct the processes that are using the file towards the main one located in C:\Windows\System32. To get rid of the additional wlanext.exe file, move down to the next section below.
How to remove Wlanext.exe
To remove the wlanext.exe file, you will need to uninstall the application that used it in the first place. Nvidia (GeForce Experience) and AMD (Adrenalin) are typically the culprits responsible for installing the second version of this file.
As you can imagine, removing the parent utility will also remove the non-essential wlanext.exe file. Here’s a quick guide on removing wlanext.exe file along with the parent application:
- Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open up the Programs and Features window.
Type appwiz.cpl and Press Enter to Open Installed Programs List - Once you’re inside the Programs and Files window, scroll down through the list of installed applications and locate the parent program (e.g. Nvidia Experience, AMD Adrenalin, etc.).
- After you manage to locate it, right-click on it and choose Uninstall from the newly appeared context menu.
Uninstalling every Nvidia installation - Follow the uninstallation prompts to complete the process, then restart your computer and see if the wlanext.exe file is successfully removed at the next system startup.
wlanext.exe is a part of the Microsoft Windows system files that provide the Wireless Lan Extensibility features on your WiFi-enabled device. WLANExt component is an essential part of those Windows devices which are equipped with 802.11 standard Wireless/WiFi modules. This component is treated as a part of your wireless adapter’s driver software.
I will be covering some basic information of wlanext like file details, uses, and common issues along with some methods to fix the issues/errors on Windows 10.
Quick Overivew
File Size and Location
The wlanext.exe usually located under C:\Windows\System32 folder, but sometimes it may also be located in C:\Windows\SysWOW64 and C:\Windows\SysWOW64 directly too. The file size could be from 73 KB to 101 KB. Here is a brief detail about the process:
| File Name: | wlanext.exe |
| File Size: | 101 KB |
| File Location: | C:\Windows\System32 |
| Product Name: | Microsoft ® Windows ® Operating System |
| Copyright: | © Microsoft Corporation |
| File Description: | Windows Wireless LAN 802.11 Extensibility Framework |
Uses
The Wireless Lan Extensibility framework is responsible for providing network security and connectivity features for our network adapter drivers.
Is it Safe or Virus?
The genuine wlanext.exe is a completely safe executable file. As it is a part of Microsoft Windows system files, you can blindly trust this application/process as long as it is located in C:\Windows\System32.
To check the authenticity of the file wlanext.exe, right-click the wlanext.exe process detail and then click ‘Open file location’. If the location is not C:\Windows\System32, then wlanext.exe on your PC is not genuine and is probably a trojan or spyware. Unfortunately, the genuine wlanext.exe doesn’t have a digital certificate.
Common errors and issues related to wlanext.exe
1. wlanext.exe application error:
“wlanext.exe is not a valid win32 application.”
This error is caused by corrupted windows system (or driver) files.
2. High CPU usage and memory usage: High CPU and memory usage is caused if the wlanext.exefile is a virus program.
3. System crash caused by wlanext.exe whenever PC starts: Again this error is caused by corrupted or outdated driver files.
Follow the methods below to fix these issues and errors.
How to fix error related to wlanext.exe
If you have noticed that wlanext.exe is consuming high CPU usage or crash frequently then below methods can be used to fix it.
Run the network adapter troubleshooter
The network adapter troubleshooter is an in-built Windows utility that can automatically identify and fix network adapter related issues on your PC. Running Windows troubleshooter is a general practice for any system-related error.
1. Press Windows + I together to go to settings
2. Click on Update & Security
3. Go to the Troubleshoot option in the side panel and click it
4. Click on Additional troubleshooters and a list of troubleshooters will appear in the Window
5. Locate and run the Network Adapter troubleshooter.
Update your Wireless adapter driver
On rare occasions, outdated driver files may cause system crashes during Windows boot. To fix this, you can try updating your Wireless Adapter Driver software using the device manager.
1. Press Windows + R together to open the Run application
2. Type devmgmt.msc in the text field and press ENTER to open the Device Manager
3. Expand the list of Network adapters by double-clicking it and locate your Wireless Adapter
4. Right-click your Wireless adapter and left-click on Update driver option
5. In the next window, click on Search automatically for drivers.
Windows will download and install the latest driver software automatically, restart your PC and check if the issue is resolved.
If it is showing that “The best drivers for your device are already installed” then try the next method.
Disable the wireless adapter temporarily
You can disable your Wireless adapter for a few seconds and then re-enable it. This process will restart the wireless connection and hopefully, the problem will be resolved.
Disable using the control panel-
1. Open RUN by pressing WIN + R simultaneously
2. Type ‘control’ in the text-box then click OK or press ENTER
3. Select Large Icons as the view type (look for it in the top-right corner)
4. Locate the Network and Sharing center among the list of control panel items and click it
5. Click on Change adapter settings
6. Locate your Wireless adapter and click on Disable this network device to disable the wireless adapter
Wait for around half a minute then click Enable this network device to re-enable it.
Disable using device manager:
1. Just like method 2 above, go to the device manager and locate your wireless adapter
2. Right-click the wireless adapter and click on Disable device
3. Wait for a few moments and then again right-click the disabled Wireless adapter, click on Enable device.
Disable using the PowerShell:
1. Press Windows + X simultaneously to bring up the quick actions and open Windows PowerShell (Admin)
2. Type the following command and press ENTER to execute it in the PowerShell command line
- netsh interface set interface <name of your connection> DISABLED
3. Wait a few moments, then enter the following command
- netsh interface set interface <name of your connection> ENABLED
Check if the problem is resolved.
Consider using a bandwidth monitoring tool to check how much data has been consumed.
Remove and reinstall the Wireless Adapter driver
Reinstalling the driver will let you replace the existing corrupted driver files with fresh working ones. Follow the steps below to remove and reinstall the driver-
1. Go to device manager and locate your Wireless adapter as we did in the method 2 above
2. Right-click your Wireless Adapter and click on Uninstall driver
3. Click Yes in the confirmation prompt and restart your PC
4. Windows will automatically install the Wireless adapter once your PC boots up successfully.
NOTE: If the Wireless adapter didn’t install automatically, it means that your Wireless adapter chip on your motherboard is damaged (Hardware issue) and you will have to get it repaired or replaced.
Use the System File Checker (SFC) utility
You can use the system file checker, an in-built Windows utility to check and fix corrupted or misbehaving system files.
1. Press Windows + X to bring up the quick action menu and click on Windows Powershell (admin)
2. Type the following command in PowerShell then press ENTER to run the command
sfc /scannow
Or if you want to use SFC in command prompt (admin), just remove the space
sfc/scannow
3. Let the SFC utility run for a few minutes.
Restart your PC after the SFC scan and check if the problems persist.
Check how to fix limited wifi in Windows 10 if you are using a wireless connection.
Scan your PC for viruses
A virus program disguised as wlanext.exe can cause issues like high CPU & memory usage. Scan your PC using antivirus software to detect and remove/quarantine the file.
To use Windows Defender to scan your PC, follow the steps below-
1. Search ‘Windows Security’ in the start menu
2. Click on Virus & Threat Protection
3. Click on the Quick scan button (or you can go to scan options below the quick scan button to perform a full scan).
7. Reset your PC
Resetting your PC is the same as freshly installing Windows without losing your files and settings. This will replace all the corrupted system files with new ones and fix any tampered system setting which is causing the issue.
1. In the start menu, search ‘Reset this PC’ and click on the first option
2. Click on Get Started
3. Select ‘Keep my files’
4. Your PC will restart and the reset process will start which can take more than an hour depending on your PC’s specifications.
Final Word
Update your system regularly and scan it for viruses to avoid system file problems like wlanext. Kindly let us know your suggestions and questions in the comments below or contact us for the same.
Similar files:
- What is NisSrv.exe
- What is twunk_32.exe
- What is Bcmwl5.sys & how to fix it
-
Home
-
News
- Wlanext.exe High CPU Usage: Causes & Solutions
Wlanext.exe High CPU Usage: Causes & Solutions
By Yamila | Follow |
Last Updated
In some cases, you may find wlanext.exe using a lot of CPU in Windows 10/11. What should you do to fix the issue? In this post, MiniTool Partition Wizard provides several troubleshooting fixes for the wlanext.exe high CPU usage issue. You can have a try.
What Is Wlanext.exe
Wlanext.exe, also known as Windows Wireless LAN 802.11 Extensibility Framework, is a system process of Microsoft Windows. It’s located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder and is used to control the wireless network connections on your PC. For instance, it can manage wireless network settings, diagnose wireless connectivity issues, etc.
The Reasons for Wlanext.exe High CPU Usage
Wlanext.exe is a legitimate process. However, sometimes it may occupy too much CPU, putting you into low performance or other system issues. The wlanext.exe high CPU usage problem may result from various factors. Here we list some possible causes as follows.
- Viruses or malware attacks
- Corrupted or missing system files
- Outdated or faulty network drivers
- Hardware issues
- …
How to Fix Wlanext.exe High CPU Usage
When you run into the wlanext.exe Windows 10 high CPU usage issue, try to fix it with the following methods.
Tips:
Before advanced fixes, you can try disabling your network adapter and then re-enabling it to see if the wlanext.exe high CPU usage issue is solved. This post will help you execute the operation: How to Enable or Disable Network Adapters on Windows 10?
Method 1: Use the Network Adapter Troubleshooter
If you experience a high CPU usage wlanext.exe issue, you can try to fix it with the Network Adapter troubleshooter. It’s a Windows built-in utility that repairs network issues.
Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Windows Settings. Then select Update & Security.
Step 2: Go to Troubleshoot and then click Additional troubleshooters on the right side.
Step 3: Scroll down to find and click Network Adapter. Then click Run the troubleshooter.
Step 4: If any are found, follow the given instructions to solve them.
Method 2: Scan for Viruses
A virus or malware infection may lead to the wlanext.exe Windows Wireless LAN 802.11 Extensibility Framework high CPU issue as well. Therefore, it’s important to perform an antivirus scan. You can do this with third-party antivirus software. Alternatively, you can follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open Windows Settings and then go to Update & Security > Windows Security.
Step 2: Click Virus & threat protection to continue.
Step 3: In the next window, click Scan options. Then choose Full scan and click Scan now.
Method 3: Repair System Files
The wlanext.exe high CPU usage issue is likely to happen if there are corrupted system files on your computer. In this case, you’d better run SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) to repair these files.
Method 4: Update Your Wireless Network Driver
The outdated wireless network driver is another possible reason for the wlanext.exe Windows 10 high CPU problem. To fix it, it’s recommended that you update the specific driver.
Tips:
If you encounter the issue of high CPU usage wlanext.exe after a recent driver update, you should try rolling back the driver.
Step 1: Right-click the Start icon and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Double-click Network adapters to expand the category.
Step 3: Right-click your wireless network driver and select Update driver.
Step 4: After that, click Search automatically for drivers.
Method 5: Clean Boot Your PC
Software conflicts may randomly cause the wlanext.exe Windows Wireless LAN 802.11 Extensibility Framework high CPU issue. To troubleshoot this issue, it’s better for you to clean boot the PC. By doing so, your system will start up with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs.
Method 6: Perform a System Restore
If you have created any system restore points before, you can try performing a system restore. This may help you restore your system to a previous state without the wlanext.exe high CPU usage issue. The system restore will not delete personal files on the computer. So, just feel free to do this.
You don’t need to worry even though unexpected data loss occurs after a system restore. You can easily get data back with MiniTool Partition Wizard. It’s a powerful and reliable data recovery tool that enables you to recover deleted/lost data with a few clicks.
Moreover, it’s also a comprehensive partition manager that allows you to partition/resize/clone hard drives, format USB to FAT32/NTFS/exFAT, convert MBR to GPT, and more.
MiniTool Partition Wizard DemoClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
When stuck in the wlanext.exe high CPU usage issue, you can try the above methods to fix it. If you have any problems with this issue, you can leave a message in the comment part below.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Yamila is a fan of computer science. She can solve many common issues for computer users by writing articles with simple and clear words. The very aspect that she is good at is partition management including create partition, format partition, copy disk and so on.
When she is free, she enjoys reading, doing some excerpts, listening to music and playing games.
Windows 10/11 is prone to errors, particularly related to exe files, as malware developers exploit vulnerabilities to launch attacks. One such deceptive file commonly used is wlanext.exe, which can trick unsuspecting Windows users.
What is wlanext.exe and why does wlanext.exe cause problems on Windows 10/11? Read on to know the answers.
About the Wlanext.exe File
Wlanext.exe is an exe file that is known to cause errors in Windows 10/11 devices. Although it’s a genuine file created by Microsoft, considering it’s an exe file, it is often used in malware attacks.
Most of the time, wlanext.exe errors occur at startup. This can be caused by poor programming on Microsoft’s end or conflicts with third-party plug-ins. It can also be caused by an outdated network hardware component. Regardless of what’s causing it, the good news is that there are ways to resolve them.
What to Do about Wlanext.exe Errors on Windows 10/11?
Below, we will share some effective solutions to resolve wlanext.exe errors in Windows 10/11.
Solution #1: Disable then enable your wireless adapter
To fix problems with wlanet.exe, you may need to disable your wireless adapter. Here’s how you do it:
- Press the Windows + X keys to launch the Win X menu.
- Select Device Manager.
- Locate your wireless adapter, right-click on it, and select Disable Device.
- Wait for your system to finish disabling your wireless adapter. Now, right-click on your disabled adapter and select Enable Device.
- Check if the problem persists.
Solution #2: Use the Network Troubleshooter
Your Windows device has a built-in troubleshooting tool that can fix any network-related issues. It’s called the Network Troubleshooter.
To use it, follow these steps:
- Launch the Settings app by pressing the Windows + I keys.
- Navigate to the Update and Security section.
- Select Troubleshoot > Network Adapter.
- Click the Run the Troubleshooter button.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the troubleshooting process.
Solution #3: Boot into Safe Mode
In case you don’t know, Safe Mode is a special part of Windows that only runs the default apps and drivers. You may try to boot your PC into this mode to resolve problems with the wlanext.exe file. Here’s a detailed guide on what to do:
- Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows + I keys.
- Go to the Update and Security section.
- Choose Recovery and hit the Restart Now button.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings.
- Click Restart.
- Check if the problem persists.
- Once your computer reboots, choose Safe Mode with Networking.
Solution #4: Perform a clean boot
This solution may be challenging to newbies, so we highly discourage trying this if you are not that familiar with the ins and outs of your Windows PC.
To perform a clean boot, follow the instructions below:
- Press the Windows + R keys to launch the Run dialog box.
- Type msconfig into the text field and hit OK. This will launch the System Configuration window.
- Navigate to the Services tab and tick the Hide all Microsoft Services option.
- Hit the Disable All button to disable all startup services.
- Next, go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
- A list of startup applications should appear on your screen. Right-click on the first item on the list and select Disable. Repeat this for all startup apps on the list.
- Once all startup apps are disabled, go back to the System Configuration window and hit Apply to save your changes.
- Restart your PC. If the issue no longer appears, it only means one of the apps were causing the problem.
Solution #5: Disable your wireless connection temporarily
If the above solutions did not work, try to disable your wireless connection temporarily. This has worked for some affected users, so it’s worth trying on your end, too.
Here’s how:
- Go to the Settings app by pressing the Windows + I keys.
- Navigate to the Network and Internet section.
- Select Change Adapter Options.
- At this point, a new window will appear. Find your wireless connection on the list and right-click on it.
- Select Disable.
- After disabling your connection, wait for at least 30 seconds, right-click on your connection again, and select Enable.
Solution #6: Reinstall or roll back your device drivers
Reinstalling your drivers or rolling back them back to a previously working state may also work for you.
To roll back your device drivers, follow these steps:
- Launch Device Manager.
- Find your wireless adapter and double-click on it.
- Go to the Driver tab and hit the Roll Back Driver button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to roll back your device driver to a previously working version.
If the problem is still not resolved, you may choose to reinstall your device drivers. Here’s how:
- Launch the Device Manager and find your wireless adapter driver.
- Right-click on it and select Uninstall Device.
- When a confirmation menu appears, check if the Remove Driver Software for This Device option is there. If it is, hit the Uninstall button.
- Once the device driver has been removed, hit the Scan for Hardware Changes Doing this will install the default device driver and hopefully resolve the error.
Solution #7: Check if your system is up to date
Microsoft regularly rolls out system updates and security patches to fix any reported errors in the previous OS versions. By installing them, you can resolve any problems, including those related to the wlanext.exe file.
To check if your system is up to date, do the following:
- Launch the Settings app by pressing the Windows + I keys.
- Select Update and Security.
- Click the Check for Updates button.
- If any updates are available, they will be downloaded and installed automatically.
Solution #8: Perform a System Restore
If all else fails, you may perform a system restore. But again, this might not be an easy solution, especially for beginners. And it can only be done if you have a restore point created beforehand.
Should you wish to perform a system restore, just follow these steps:
- Press the Windows + S keys.
- Into the text field, enter system restore.
- Choose the Create a Restore Point option from the list.
- The System Properties window should appear. Hit the System Restore button.
- Once the System Restore window opens, hit the Next button.
- If available, tick the Show more restore points option.
- Select your desired restore point and click Next.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the system restore process.
Wrapping Up
There you have it! We hope that one of the solutions above worked for you and resolved the wlanext.exe problem on your Windows 10/11 PC. If you want to add anything to this topic, reach out to us in the comments section!
Give us some love and rate our post!