Most laptops built in the last 5 years have a Wi-Fi network card built into them. If you own an old laptop or if you want to make sure your laptop is equipped with a wireless network card, you will simply need to follow the instructions provided in this article.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Check the Laptop Model
Step 1. Examine the underside of the laptop for the make and model
On the bottom of the computer, there should be an adhesive label that shows the model of the device with a series of letters and numbers. Make a note of this code on a piece of paper.
If you can't locate your laptop model, try examining the inside of the battery compartment. It may be visible here on the computer case
Step 2. Search online using your computer model
Type your laptop model number into a search engine so you can review the device's technical specifications. You will have all the detailed information about the device available, including whether or not it is equipped with a wireless network card.
If the hardware configuration of your laptop has been changed after purchase or if it is a second-hand product and you want further confirmation, please continue reading the article
Method 2 of 4: Use Windows 7 or an Earlier Version
Step 1. Access the "Control Panel" via the "Start" menu
The latter is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Click on the "Start" button to open the menu of the same name, then click on the "Control Panel" item.
Step 2. Locate the "Device Manager" link within the "System and Security" section
After opening the "Control Panel" window, click on the "System and Security" icon, then select the "System" option. The "Device management" link is present on the page that appears. Click on the latter to open the dialog box of the same name.
In order to access the "Device Manager" system window, you may need to enter the computer administrator account password
Step 3. Click on the "Network Adapters" category
Inside the "Device Manager" window, all hardware peripherals and devices present in the computer are listed. Go to the "Network Cards" section to view the list of all network cards installed on your laptop.
Step 4. Locate your computer's Wi-Fi card
There is no single name for a Wi-Fi network card, so you'll have to go through the entire list of network adapters looking for an indication like "wireless", "802.11" or "WiFi" in the name.
If there is no card listed in the "Network adapters" section that says "wireless" or "WiFi" in its name, your computer does not have this type of network adapter
Method 3 of 4: Use Windows 8 or higher
Step 1. Open the Windows 8 charms bar
Move the mouse cursor to the upper or lower right corner of the screen. The Windows Charms Bar will appear.
Step 2. Click on the "Settings" icon
It is located at the bottom of the menu that appeared. The Windows "Settings" menu will appear.
Step 3. Look at the first of the six icons that appeared at the bottom of the Windows 8 Quick Settings menu
The first icon of the group, located at the top left, is made up of five bars of increasing size arranged from left to right. If there is the indicated icon, it means that your laptop is equipped with a Wi-Fi network card.
Method 4 of 4: Using a Mac with OS X Yosemite Operating System
Step 1. Open the "About This Mac" window
" Access the "Apple" menu by clicking on the Apple logo icon located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear from which you can select the "About This Mac" option.
Step 2. Click on the "System Report" button
At the top of the "About This Mac" window there are several tabs listed, select the tab labeled "Overview" (this should be the default). Locate the "System Report" button and click on it with the mouse.
Step 3. Click on the "Network" section to consult the information about the wireless network card
Scroll down the list in the left panel of the window until you find the "Network" section, then click on it with the mouse to expand it. At this point click on "Wi-Fi."
Step 4. Network adapter information is listed in the "Interfaces" section
If your Mac has a Wi-Fi card, it will be listed within the indicated section. The name of the device will be displayed under "Card Type", for example "AirPort Extreme" (your Mac's card name may be different).
