I’ve been working on setting up a service fabric cluster (read more on service fabric if you’re interested in the technology) using some old laptops I had lying around. I installed Windows Server 2016 without issues. Then I tried to install the WiFi drivers in order to have network and internet access on the laptops. However, I kept getting “A service installation section in this inf is invalid” when trying to install the WiFi driver.
It turns out that Windows Server doesn’t ship with the Wireless LAN Service installed. In order to use WiFi on a Windows Server you need to have this service installed. Luckily this can be easily done using a PowerShell command. First you need to open a PowerShell prompt, make sure you run it as administrator. Then run the following command:
Add-WindowsFeature -Name Wireless-Networking
Restart your machine after the command executes and then install the WiFi driver. You might need to restart your machine again after installing the driver before you can connect to a WiFi network. At least I had to restart my machine again.
You should now be able to connect to a WiFi network.
You sir are awesome! This worked!
Thank you a lot!
This helped me to solve similar problem.
Hey thanks for this. I was having this issue on Server 2019 and couldn’t figure out why the driver wasn’t installing.
Me Too! Was driving me nuts. Thank you for the article!
ooh man. you saved my day… wow.
this wasted my lot of time.
thank man.
Add-WindowsFeature -Name Wireless-Networking
Thanks
This is great
This helped me so much with my new PC build and my four SSDs with Server 2019.
thank you ! Now I can remove this Ethernet cable going through the living room
Thank you for providing this information!
THANK YOU!
Been trying like crazy to do other stuff. Damn.
Great!
Thank you for the post. Your solution worked perfectly! Had to start the WLAN AutoConfig service after restart but once I did that, it found and installed my Realtec 8188 WLAN adapter. Much appreciated!
It worked just fine for me!
Thank you!
Found this after many driver install uninstall upgrades.. worked like a charm after did the steps mentioned.. Thanks a lot..
Thanks! The solution worked for me as well.
Thanks again!
You sir are awesome
Thank you very much for your advice!
Thank you. I chased round the registry for ages for some inexplicable and fruitless reason. That was until I searched “Windows Server” as an addendum to the problem. Up came you and your precise solution. I am impressed and grateful. I have added you to my favourites from now on.
Fantastic. Solve my issue on Windows Server 2019 running on a Dell Power Edge R710 Server
You Rock!!! It Worked.
thanks heaps!!!
Thanks Lot
also works on Windows 2019
OG – Thanks Bro
This was awesome… saved me from so much headache.
Random internet article, saving the day since 2019!
It’s almost like Microsoft didn’t expect servers to run wirelessly 😉
Thank you so much! Verified this solution still works in 2021.
THANK YOU!!!!!
F**K!!! Lost 6 hours, thanks man!!!
Thank You Very Much!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lost hours, Thank You
Can someone please explain how to run this command step by step? Seems like this is the solution I’ve been looking for! Much appreciated!
thanks a lot!
This article has saved my sorry ass at least three times at this point. God bless you
thank you very much, im using server to skip the bloaware installed in win 10 / 11
What a MAN!!! -Fixed, thanks!
Genius! Amzing!
Thanks ! You are the best
Dude thanks. i been trying every method but not working. This is simple yet save my life & time
Thanks! Saved me a lot of time
Second to none!
Thank you, it worked for me on windows server machine!
I did not make it use the PowerShell but rather enabled Wireless LAN Services Role to the server by adding roles and features wizard.
Thanks again!
YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO i love you!!! spent 2 hours straight to make my homelab work with wifi and finally found your solution!
Man you are a life saver , loads of thx .
Spent 5 hours working on it and this was the fix. Thank you so much!!!
Ruben Mamo you are a life saver!!! This command worked like a charm and helped me to save tons of my time and get rid of a huge headache.
THANK YOU SO MUCH !!! YOU ARE THE MAN !
Thank you so much. I installed Server 2016 on 11th Gen i3 Laptop but unable to install the WiFi. No follow your guide and it’s working now.
THANK YOU. Four years later and this article is still helping people!
Thanks…
Bless you. Worked on Window Server 2022 Datacenter Edition.
I spent HOURS trying to figure out this exact issue when I was setting up a home server. I could not for the life of me figure out why the driver would not install. I figured it had something to do with the INF file so I spent a long time trying to mess with that and find a version that was specifically compatible with Windows Server. I was quite literally pulling my hair out after troubleshooting for four hours when I find your guide here as a hail mary. Thank you!
Thank you so much!
Thanks, this was the issue all along, it’s hard to find this info with all the crap google return
Nope, didn’t work for me for now> tried to enable this feature> error code message 0x80070002
Worked Like a Charm
Thanks a lot…!!!