Intel Dual Band - Wireless-ac 7260 Driver Windows 11

The Wi-Fi installer does not install the Bluetooth driver. You must download the separate Bluetooth driver package from Intel: BT_18.33.0_64_Win10.exe

Yes. The inbox driver from Microsoft (version 18.33.8.2) will work for basic connectivity during and after installation.

Before downloading any drivers, ensure you actually have the correct hardware. Many laptops (e.g., older Lenovo ThinkPads, Dell XPS 13, Asus ultrabooks) shipped with this card. However, there are two major variants:

Also, note that the AC 7260 is sometimes paired with Bluetooth 4.0. The Bluetooth driver packages are separate. intel dual band wireless-ac 7260 driver windows 11

How to verify:

If you see an exclamation mark or an error code (e.g., Code 10, Code 43), you definitely need to reinstall or update the driver.

If you have this card installed on a Windows 11 machine, you will likely experience one of the following: The Wi-Fi installer does not install the Bluetooth driver

This is the most notorious issue with the 7260. It often stems from aggressive power management.

Fixes:

  • Disable Bluetooth Coexistence: Set Bluetooth Collaboration to Disable (this can stop interference but may degrade Bluetooth performance).
  • Change Router Settings (if possible): Disable 802.11ac beamforming or force the 2.4 GHz band.

    • Introduction: The Legacy of a Reliable Adapter Also, note that the AC 7260 is sometimes

    The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 was, in its heyday, one of the most popular Wi-Fi adapters found in premium laptops and desktop motherboards. Released as part of Intel’s 8-Series chipset era, it brought 802.11ac Wi-Fi (now known as Wi-Fi 5) and Bluetooth 4.0 to millions of devices from brands like Lenovo, Dell, HP, ASUS, and Acer.

    Fast forward to today, and many users are upgrading their operating systems to Windows 11. This is where a common problem emerges: Windows 11 does not automatically provide the correct or stable driver for this older, yet capable, piece of hardware. Users report random disconnections, slow speeds, Bluetooth dropouts, or the adapter vanishing from Device Manager entirely.

    This article is your definitive resource for finding, installing, troubleshooting, and optimizing the Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 driver on Windows 11.

    The AC 7260 combines Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on a single M.2 or mini-PCIe card. Windows 11 may install Wi-Fi but ignore Bluetooth.

    Fix: