Is the network, wireless, or Wi-Fi icon missing from the system notification area of the taskbar in Windows 10? Is the network or wireless icon not refreshing automatically? In this guide, we will see how to restore the missing or corrupted network or wireless icon in Windows 10.
With default settings, the network or wireless icon always appears in the system tray area of the Windows 10 taskbar, irrespective of the status of the internet connection. The network or wireless icon automatically refreshes when your PC is connected to a network or disconnected from a network to reflect the status of the internet connection.
If the network or wireless icon is missing from the taskbar, please try out the following solutions to restore the icon.
Solution 1 of 5
Check if the network or wireless icon is hidden
Step 1: Click the small up arrow icon on the taskbar to view hidden icons.
Step 2: If the network or wireless icon is appearing there, simply drag and drop it to the taskbar area.
Solution 2 of 5
Turn on the Network or wireless icon in Settings
Step 1: Open the Start menu, and click the Settings icon to open the Settings app. The Windows logo + I keyboard shortcut can also be used to open Settings.
Step 2: Go to Personalization > Taskbar page.
Step 3: Here, in the Notification area section, click Select which icons appear on the taskbar link.
Step 4: On the resulting page, check the status of the Network icon, and turn it on if it’s turned off.
NOTE: If the Network icon is missing from the page, Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar page, click the Turn system icons on or off link, and then turn on the Network icon.
Solution 3 of 5
Restart Windows File Explorer
This solution is ideal if the network or wireless icon is not automatically updating to show the status of the internet connection. For instance, many times, the icon shows the status as not connected even when you are able to browse the web.
Step 1: Open the Task Manager by right-clicking on the empty area of the taskbar and then clicking the Task Manager option.
Step 2: If you see the Task Manager with a restricted view, click More details.
Step 3: Under the Processes tab, right-click on the Windows Explorer entry, and then click the Restart button.
And if there is no Windows Explorer entry, it’s because the Windows Explorer process is not running. Open up This PC or any folder to see the Windows Explorer entry in Task Manager.
The network or wireless icon should now appear properly.
Solution 4 of 5
Enable the Network icon in Group Policy
This method is applicable only to Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions. This method doesn’t work in the Home edition.
Step 1: In the Start menu or taskbar search box, type Gpedit.msc, and then press the Enter key to open Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2: Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
Step 3: On the right side, look for the entry named Remove the networking icon. Double-click on the same to open its properties.
Step 4: Select Disabled, and then click the Apply button to see the network or wireless icon in the system notification area of the taskbar.
Sign out and sign in again to see the change. You can also restart Windows Explorer to apply the new setting.
Solution 5 of 5
Reinstall the Wi-Fi driver
As a last resort, you can try reinstalling the Wi-Fi adapter driver. Reinstalling the Wi-Fi driver will restore the Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar. But before reinstalling, it’s important to download the latest version of the Wi-Fi driver, as your PC might not connect to the Internet once the Wi-Fi driver is removed.
Refer to how to reinstall the Wi-Fi driver in Windows 10 guide for step-by-step directions.
Our fix to Windows 10 showing an ethernet icon instead of Wi-Fi icon guide might also interest you.
Teo Mantzas says
Hi
very helpfull, you rock guys
thanks
Rasik Bihari says
For me it was happening as ‘Network List Service’ was in stopped state.
ganesh dhivgan says
thanks, this is very helpful
ganesh dhivgan says
Thanks, mate. This article was really helpful. Keep up the good work.
Tobe says
I believe 4 did it for me. The WiFi and mobile hotspot is back after restarting
Mark says
#3 worked for me as well after Win10 update (Feature update to Windows 10, version 20H2)
Mohamed Adel says
Enable Network List Services in Services.msc worked for me
Ana says
Solution number 3 did the trick! Much appreciated!
Grays says
Thanks so much. The step that has to do with restarting windows explorer from task manager solved the problem. I’m still wondering why the icon disappeared. Thanks tho :)
Ed says
None of your solutions work: the Wifi Icon is gone, missing, doesn’t appear in Internet and Networks
null234 says
i.imgur.com/sc5LWLp.png
here u have a screenshot of what could also be the problem
for me, that was the fix i had the service “NLA(Network Location Awareness)” disabled since that my network icon was missing as you can see in the screenshot above i enabled it after that i restartet Explorer.exe and my network icon was back again.
Thank you.
Glen Neff says
None of these fixes worked for me, but I did find a fix that did. Something had disabled the “Windows List Service.” Don’t know how or why, but it was disabled. Once I re-enabled, it I could see available wireless networks again, and after a reboot, the network/wireless icon was back in the tray/notification area.
Fate_baby says
Thank you sir…
Riyaz says
Step 3 works for Me
Really helpful Thank you for this post.
AbzTheG says
NOTHING WORKS!!!!!!!!!?
Horatiu says
As Vivi Lechtman mentioned in the comment section , issue might be related to the scaling settings ( try using a different scaling size : I switched from 110% to 115% , problem solved )
Denis says
I followed all your sollutions but… I DID NOT WORK!!! WHY!!????!??!?!.!?!?
Doug says
None worked for me. I HATE Windows 10! It’s like buying a vehicle and the manufacturer stops by regularly to modify it. Why isn’t there a Class Action Lawsuit over these UnStoppable Automatic Updates? EVERY SINGLE TIME, they damage something on my laptop that takes me untold hours over days or weeks to fix. This time several of my icons not only disappeared. They’re actually changed to those that the Administrator (me) CAN’T turn on or off (the on/off part in system settings is now dimmed down and nothing happens when you hover over it). I’ve rebooted twice. I’ve tried the usual fixes.
Luqman says
Solution 3 did it for me, thanks so much!
fakebitch says
solution 2 worked for me, thanks!!
Narjung Gurung says
Solution 1 worked for me, very helpful. thanks
Muhammad Rizwan Hameed says
Solution 1:
Run Services using Administrator rights.
(a) Check for “Network List Service”
Ensure the service is “Enabled”, service status “Running” and under Startup type “Automatic”
(b) Check for “Windows Connection Manager”
Ensure the service is “Enabled”, service status “Running” and under Startup type “Automatic”
(c) Check for “Windows Connect Now – Config Registrar”
Ensure the service is “Enabled”, service status “Running” and under Startup type “Automatic”
(d) Check for “WLAN AutoConfig”.
Ensure the service is “Enabled”, service status “Running” and under Startup type “Automatic”
Ahmed says
Enable Network List Service in services. This solved the issue for me.
Annette says
None have worked for me. All I have is the ethernet icon. No wifi. HATE these updates.
scarlett says
solution 3 worked for me!! thank you so much for making this!!
Azhar Ali says
yes it really worked for me.. thanks a lot
partha says
i tried all except for the last one and none was of any help….nope no wifi icon showed up ! and i am in a serious need for a help out here….
Vivi Lechtman says
Tried all with no success. Then I noticed that if I removed the Volume icon (or any other) the Network icon would show up. That made me think it was just a matter of (bad) space allocation for icons. I use a 125% scaling factor for display. As soon as it was switched to regular 100% there was enough space for them all to coexist on taskbar.
Maybe this solves someone else’s problem.
Kanka Chakraborty says
i have turned on ” show network icon in taskbar” from begening.. and its still turned on,,, but its not showing,,
i have also tried the second step ,, many times,, doesnot work for me ,,
i have also tried 3 rd one ,, still does not work for me ..,
i have windows 10 pro .. 64 bit OS ,,,, help me ,,
Helpful Person says
Just to let anyone know; Solution 2 is outdated. You have to go to Settings>Personalization>Taskbar and follow Step 3 onwards.
Dark Warrior says
Step 2 worked for me, thank you very much…..………
Catalina Colmenares says
Step 3 worked for me, much appreciated.
Danny says
Solution 3 did the trick
Thanks!
Zack Hitane says
Thank you! The WINDOWS RESTART solution really helped! Thanks INTO WINDOWS!
Candy says
These solutions have not worked for me. I am about to throw my now useless laptop out. All because of an update! Its been fine for months until now Argh !!!!!
John Hammon says
Solution 1 does not apply. There is no small UP arrow. All existing icons display on the taskbar, but wifi icon is missing.
Solution 2 does not work because I did not get options shown on your screenshots. When I click on Notifications & Actions I get Quick Actions, Add or remove quick actions and Notifications. The menu option Turn System Icons on or off does not appear.
Solution 3 – I did that but nothing happened. Still no wifi icon.
Solution 4 does not apply. I have Home Edition.
I still have no wifi icon on task bar and available networks do not display.
Mervyn Akash says
Thanks, mate. This article was really helpful. Keep up the good work.
Segers says
None of these work on my enterprise laptop.
I think I Jynxed something, better let IT whipe my PC
latha says
Drag & drop worked for me. Thanks. A windows 10 update today had caused my wifi icon to hide & had switched off my wifi. I had trouble pasting anything on the desktop. Now everything has got solved. God knows what that update will do further since it will install completely only in my non working hours. Now I regret for having clicked, “Yes” for that update.
Annadurai says
Any solution isn’t possible on my pc only denote broadband connection
Sheila says
Nothing worked for me! I have the home version even tho I had Pro before.
Stephen Almond says
Solution 3 worked for me.
Thank You!
Margaret Collins says
None of these solutions work for me, as the entire wireless protocol is missing. Now Windows does not detect any wireless devices, which means neither does Microsoft, so I cannot verify my identity on this machine, it detects that I do not appear to be connected to the network. Yet of course I AM, or I couldn’t be attempting to verify! It automatically connects to available wireless network, posts the wired network icon, and gives me no access to available networks In settings, there is no wireless category.
Oddly, when I upgraded originally to Windows 10, wireless worked as usual, but then I did a clean install and haven’t seen it since. I have re-installed a couple of times.
YiuJia says
Solution 2 doesnt work because in step 4, the network switch is disabled.
Solution 3 works for me. Damn simple after searching 30min on microsoft support < Hop bookmark
Tanjim says
As always, it worked for me.
pilendo says
Solution 2 worked for me.
Thanks!
Becky says
Solution 3 worked for me. Thank you.
arash says
step 4 worked for me <3 <3 .tnxiu :D :*