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Surface does not connect to wi-fi

MM 30 Reputation points
2025-10-01T16:30:58.5066667+00:00

Hello. If I haven't used my laptop for a couple of days it stops connecting to the wi-fi network. The wi-fi icon disappears and it doesn't highlight any available connections (either mine or anyone else in my block of flats). I have found a work around but it is still deeply frustrating. I either have to re-set the network settings entirely, which takes about 15 mins to do. And then I have to re-enter my wi-fi password. Or I have to do a hard re-set of the laptop. But then I lose all my web pages. Its like the laptop forgets to connect to wi-fi and instead defaults to an ethernet connection. Even though I do not have an ethernet connection.

All my drivers are up to date and I have checked for viruses and malware already.

Another thing is why is it almost impossible to get someone from Microsoft to phone me back with regards to this issue? Every time I request to contact a human being it asks me to sign in to my Microsoft account (even though I have already signed in).

Surface | Surface Book | Network
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  1. D S 95 Reputation points
    2025-10-18T12:18:10.9133333+00:00

    The problem is specifically related to the latest Avastar Marvell driver released by Microsoft, version 15.68.17022.122

    Microsoft needs to work with Marvell to fix the problem. Till they do, the only thing you can do is to try and install a previous driver.

    I was able to find a previous version of the driver 15.68.17021.121 that does seem to work, but I don't know what other issues 121 may cause.

    You can download a .cab of the previous drivers from the following Microsoft website.

    https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=marvell%20semiconductors%20

    Choose the 121 driver, or other previous driver. Download the cab. Double click on the cab to open it, and move the files out of the cab into a folder on your computer.

    Open Device manager and choose to update the driver, with files on your disk. Then choose the folder where you placed these extracted files.

    NOTE: the driver IS signed by Microsoft, so you won't get any errors. This is an official previous release, from a Microsoft website.

    In addition to complaining to Microsoft, please go to the Marvell website and click, "Talk to us" and fill out the form to submit a complaint about driver 122 for the Marvell Avastar wifi card.

    https://www.marvell.com/support.html

    Perhaps someone will pay attention to this problem.

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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  1. Barb Bowman 80,355 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-10-13T19:19:06.31+00:00

    MM, are you connected to a Surface dock or other dock? If yes, as long as you are not using Ethernet, yes, try disabling it.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  2. Barb Bowman 80,355 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-10-13T19:32:03.13+00:00
    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Richard Trinidad 6,040 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-10-01T17:16:32.69+00:00

    Hi MM, Thanks for posting to Microsoft community and for sharing all those details, based on what you've described and the latest info available, here’s a breakdown of what’s likely going on and how you can fix it more permanently.

    This is a known issue with Surface and other Windows laptops. It usually happens because of Power-saving settings, Advanced power features that can prevent network, Driver bugs and Windows may disable the Wi-Fi adapter during sleep or hibernation, which can make it appear as if the device is trying to use a non-existent Ethernet connection.

    Here are some fixes you can try, First, to prevent Windows from Turning Off Wi-Fi Adapter, simply Press Windows + X → Device Manager, Expand Network adapters then Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter → Properties after that Go to Power Management tab then Uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power then Click OK.

    You can also, Disable Link State Power Management, Open Control Panel → Power Options then Click Change plan settings next to your active plan then Click Change advanced power settings then Expand the Wireless Adapter Settings → Set both to Maximum Performance after that in PCI Express > Link State Power Management → Set to Off then Click Apply and OK.

    Also to isolate the issue, have you tried to Refresh the network, Driver? And Run Network Troubleshooter?

    Let me know how it goes so I can guide you more.

    Chard

  4. MM 30 Reputation points
    2025-10-13T18:54:06.92+00:00

    Thank you Chard for your kind answer, but for some reason it doesn't solve my issue. You say "Here are some fixes you can try, First, to prevent Windows from Turning Off Wi-Fi Adapter, simply Press Windows + X → Device Manager, Expand Network adapters then Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter → Properties after that Go to Power Management tab then Uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power then Click OK."

    However, when I go to Device Manager and Expand Network Adaptor and right click Properties of Wi-Fi adapter there is no Power Management tab at all. So I cannot amend anything at all here. I would also like to add that when I expand the Network Adapters there the Surface Ethernet Adapter showing. Should I disable this option to prevent my Surface from trying to connect to Ethernet?

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