By default, the Windows 11 taskbar system tray shows icons of network, volume, and battery (if your PC has a battery). The network icon shows a Wi-Fi icon when connected to a Wi-Fi network and an ethernet icon when connected to an ethernet connection.
However, very rarely, Windows 11 might display the ethernet icon in the system tray even when your PC is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
If you are also encountering this issue, here is how to fix it.
Solution 1 of 5
Restart File Explorer
Step 1: Open File Explorer if it’s not running.
Step 2: Right-click on an empty spot on the taskbar and then click Task Manager to open the same.
Step 3: The Processes tab shows all running programs, including Windows Explorer. Right-click the Windows Explorer entry and then click the Restart option to restart the Windows File Explorer, which also restarts the taskbar.
Check if the Windows 11 taskbar is now correctly showing the Wi-Fi icon.
Solution 2 of 5
Restart Windows 11 PC
Generally speaking, restarting your PC fixes most of the common issues. We recommend saving your work and then rebooting your PC once to check if that solves the Wi-Fi icon issue.
Solution 3 of 5
Turn off Wi-Fi and then turn on Wi-Fi again.
Step 1: Click the network/volume/battery icon on the taskbar to open the Quick Settings flyout.
Step 2: Here, click on the Wi-Fi icon to turn it off.
Step 3: Wait for a few seconds until the taskbar displays the “disconnected” icon.
Step 4: Now, open the Quick Settings flyout again and then click the Wi-Fi icon to turn on the Wi-Fi and connect to your Wi-Fi network. The taskbar should now display the Wi-Fi icon instead of the ethernet icon.
Solution 4 of 5
Turn off the VPN
You will be surprised to know that Windows 11 displays the ethernet icon instead of Wi-Fi when the VPN is turned on at times. So, we suggest turning off the VPN and then check again.
Step 1: Go to Windows 11 Settings > Network & internet > VPN page.
Step 2: On this page, select the VPN connection you want to disconnect from and then click the Disconnect button.
Solution 5 of 5
Disable ethernet temporarily
Step 1: In the Start menu or taskbar search field, type ncpa.cpl and then press the Enter key to open the Network Connections window.
Step 2: Here, right-click the Ethernet icon and then click Disable.
Because we have now disabled the Ethernet, Windows 11 should start displaying the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar system tray.
If none of these solutions help fix the problem, you may consider clearing the Windows icon cache and reinstalling the Wi-Fi driver.
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