In Windows 10 and earlier versions, a wireless icon shows up in the system tray of the taskbar when your PC is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Likewise, an Ethernet icon appears when your PC is connected to the internet via an Ethernet cable.
However, at times, Windows 10 might show the Ethernet icon instead of the Wi-Fi icon even when your PC is connected to a Wi-Fi network. As you can see in the pictures below, clicking on the Ethernet icon reveals the network flyout which clearly shows that the PC is connected to a Wi-Fi network (Office Wi-fi in this case).
If Windows 10 is displaying the Ethernet icon instead of Wi-Fi or vice versa, you can use the following solutions to fix the issue.
Restart Windows Explorer (File Explorer)
Restarting the Windows Explorer often fixes issues related to the taskbar and File Explorer. Here is how to restart Windows Explorer.
Step 1: Open the Task Manager by right-clicking on an empty spot on the taskbar and then clicking Task Manager option. You can also use Ctrl + Shift + Esc to quickly launch the same.
Step 2: Switch to the full version of the Task Manager if you got the small one.
Step 3: Under the Processes tab, right-click on Windows Explorer entry and then click Restart option to restart the File Explorer as well as the taskbar. If the Windows Explorer entry doesn’t show up, please open a folder located anywhere on your PC to start the Windows Explorer process.
Check if Windows 10 is now showing the correct network icon in the taskbar.
Turn off and then turn on Wi-Fi
Step 1: Navigate to Settings app > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
Step 2: Turn off the Wi-Fi by moving the slider to the Off position. After a few seconds, move it back to the On position to turn on the Wi-Fi.
Remove and then add Wi-Fi/network icon
Step 1: Navigate to Settings app > Personalization > Taskbar. In the Notification area, click Select which icons appear on the taskbar link.
Step 2: Turn off the Network icon to remove the Wi-Fi/ethernet icon from the taskbar. Turn it on again after a few seconds to add the icon back to the taskbar.
Restart your computer
If the above solutions didn’t help you address the issue, save your work, close all running programs, and then reboot your PC once. This should bring back the Wi-Fi icon.
Reinstall the Wi-Fi driver
As a last resort, you can reinstall the Wi-Fi driver and this will fix the issue for sure. To reinstall the Wi-Fi driver, you should know the Wi-Fi adapter model and then follow the directions in our how to reinstall the Wi-Fi driver in Windows 10 guide for step-by-step directions.
Which solution helped you fix the issue on your PC? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Serhat says
Or you can plug in to Modem’s Ethernet cable to your pc and see the connection ok. Than unplug the cable and see the “no connection” text gone.
This issue happened to me because of my Modem suddenly shotdown and i wasnt notice that and unpluged the cable. After than i tried every thing until Trying the plug again modem with ethernet.
I hope this helps to you Greatings from Turkey :)
Andile sibuye says
Hello. I need help. I have hp laptop it doesn’t show a wifi options i dont what to do maybe you can help me. I tried to reset my laptop but i didn’t work
Sijing Liu says
Hey all, try turning off VPN in your antivirus or VPN program. This might fix the problem although you obviously might not want to turn it off
F500 IT Manager says
Windows 10 prioritizes Ethernet over Wi-Fi. If you’re connected to Ethernet, you will see the Ethernet icon and not the Wi-Fi icon, regardless if you are connected to a Wi-Fi network or not.
DeathImenent says
Why do none of your stupid methods work?!
Daniel B says
Thanks Gary this Is Daniel B from home wood flossmoor played soccer with Justin
Gary Dingle says
Thanks, My wife’s work laptop allows limited access. I am retired IT support. I noted that wifi connected but there was no internet. At the time other devices, tablets, etc, had lost Wifi internet connection. I have half wired and about half Wifi connections. Alls my wired connections were okay. So I connected to the internet via ethernet cable no problem. Next, I removed the ethernet cable and was able to connect to WiFi, but the symbol for ethernet remained as the connection method. I am not familiar with this problem. In fact, I didn’t know about it until my wife started working at home using her work laptop. I have a NETGEAR DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit Cable Modem, Xfinity, The WiFi router is a Gigabit Trendnet. Wireless and ethernet are from the Trendnet. Comcast doesn’t allow duo networks from the cable modem. Sometimes the wireless fails, but the wired connections continue to work. I have not figured that out yet. Thanks
lcfua says
I fixed my computer by restarting the Windows Explorer. What happened and what caused the icon to change?
narendra N. Tummawar says
problem solved by drag and shifting then further not tried secondly I want to know it can be reversal i.e. task bar icon will be shifted at hidden place