You must install the NETGEAR genie WiFi adapter software or a standalone driver to use your NETGEAR WiFi USB adapter on your Microsoft Windows PC.
If you are not very comfortable with PC networking, we recommend that you install the NETGEAR genie WiFi adapter software for easier setup. If you have prior experience with PC networking and prefer to manage your WiFi devices and connections through Windows, you can install the standalone driver without NETGEAR genie.
If your computer uses Microsoft Windows 7 or newer, Windows might automatically install drivers for your adapter when you plug it in. Because NETGEAR does not have access to and cannot provide support for built-in Windows drivers, we recommend that you install the official NETGEAR drivers for your WiFi USB adapter. For more information, see Does Microsoft Windows automatically install NETGEAR network adapters?
The easiest way to set up your NETGEAR WiFi USB adapter is with the NETGEAR Resource CD included with your adapter. If you lost your NETGEAR Resource CD, or if your computer does not have a drive that reads CDs, download the software for your WiFi adapter from the NETGEAR Download Center.
To install the NETGEAR WiFi USB adapter software or standalone driver on Microsoft Windows with the NETGEAR Resource CD:
- Insert the NETGEAR Resource CD into your PC.
If the NETGEAR Resource CD window does not appear, browse the files on the CD and double-click autostart.exe. - Select Setup to install NETGEAR genie, or select Install Windows Standalone Driver to install the standalone driver.
- Follow the prompts to complete the software or driver installation.
To install the NETGEAR WiFi USB adapter software or standalone driver on Microsoft Windows with downloaded software:
- Browse your PC for the .zip file that you downloaded from the NETGEAR Download Center.
The .zip file name starts with your WiFi USB adapter’s model number. - Right-click the .zip file and select Extract All.
- Follow the prompts to extract the installation files.
- Browse your PC for the extracted installation files.
- Double-click the .exe file with Windows in the name to install NETGEAR genie, or double-click the .exe file with Windows_Standalone in the name to install the standalone driver.
- Follow the prompts to complete the software or driver installation.
For more information:
- How do I set up my NETGEAR WiFi USB adapter?
- How do I connect to a WiFi network using my NETGEAR WiFi USB adapter and NETGEAR genie?