While the 7260 can be coaxed into working on Windows 11, it is a "legacy" experience. For those tired of the hunt, many opt for a $20 upgrade to an card, which fits the same slot but offers modern Wi-Fi 6/6E speeds and native Windows 11 support.
Restart your PC; Windows 11 may automatically reinstall a stable, older generic version. Power Management Tweak: In Device Manager, right-click the Intel AC-7260 Properties Power Management "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" Maximum Performance Settings: Control Panel Hardware and Sound Power Options Change plan settings Change advanced power settings Set "Wireless Adapter Settings" > "Power Saving Mode" to Maximum Performance for both battery and plugged-in states. Intel Community Are you currently seeing a specific error code or experiencing intermittent disconnects with this card? Solved: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 Driver Update intel dual band wireless-ac 7260 driver windows 11
If the Wi-Fi works but the Bluetooth portion is missing, it is often a "soft block" issue common in Windows 10/11 upgrades. While the 7260 can be coaxed into working
The 7260 uses a standard PCIe interface and generic Wi-Fi protocols. Windows 11 will still recognize it. The Bad News: The default Microsoft-provided driver (dated 2016) is buggy. You must install Intel’s final legacy driver manually. Power Management Tweak: In Device Manager, right-click the
Fortunately, the Windows 10 drivers usually function perfectly on Windows 11 if installed manually.
