Buzz
Check out the following article to learn how to fix the issue of a Laptop losing its Wifi icon.
1. Verify the Wifi Icon on the Taskbar
Sometimes, your WiFi icon might have been dragged into the hidden area. So, before proceeding with any solutions, you should check this area to see if it's there – simply click on the upward arrow on the right side of the Taskbar.
If it's not located in this area, try the following measures.
2. Enable Wifi icon in Windows Settings
Sometimes, the disappearance of the Wifi icon is due to changes in Settings. To enable it again, do the following:
Step 1: Press the Windows and I key combination to quickly open the Settings window, then select Personalization.
Step 2: Click on Taskbar in the left menu, then scroll down and select Turn system icons on or off.
Step 3: Ensure that the Network or Wireless icon is turned ON.
Step 4: Return to the Taskbar settings window, click on Select which icons appear on the taskbar.
Step 5: If the Network or Wireless icon is OFF, switch it to ON.
After turning ON, restart your computer and check if the Wifi icon has reappeared.
3. Update Wireless Adapter driver
Outdated driver software can lead to various hardware issues such as malfunctions, missing software components, or compatibility issues. Updating the driver to the latest version can address any issues related to the old version.
You can request Windows to update by opening Computer Management (right-click on the This PC icon, select Manage), choose Device Manager, expand Network adapters, find the Wireless device, and update its driver. Additionally, another way to update is by downloading the Wireless Adapter driver from the official website of your laptop's manufacturer.
4. Restart Windows Explorer
The fourth solution to fix the missing Wifi icon in the Taskbar is to restart Windows Explorer.
Step 1: Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager.
Step 2: In the window that appears, select the Windows Explorer process and click on End task (or Restart if available).
Step 3: Then, you can restart Windows Explorer and check if the Wifi icon has returned.
5. Restart Network Services
Step 1: Press the Windows and R key combination to open the Run dialog, then type “services.msc” and click OK to proceed.
Step 2: In the Services window, locate the following services and ensure they are started. If not, right-click on the service and select Start.
- Remote Procedure Call
- Network Connections
- Plug and Play
- Remote Access Connection Manager
- Telephony
After completing the above steps, restart your computer and check the results.
5. Activate Network icon in Group Policy Editor
Step 1: Press the Windows and R key combination to open the Run dialog, then type “gpedit.msc” and click OK to proceed.
Step 2: In the Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following path: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
Step 3: Double-click on Remove the networking icon.
Step 4: In the window that appears, select Disabled, then click Apply > OK to apply the changes.
Restart your computer and check if the Wifi icon has appeared or not.
7. Activate Network icon using Registry
Step 1: Press the Windows and R key combination to open the Run dialog, then type “regedit” and click OK to proceed.
Step 2: In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the folder HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SYSTEM CurrentControlSet Control Network.
Step 3: Identify the Config key and right-click on it, select Delete to remove it.
* Note: If the Config key is not found, skip it and try another solution.
8. Run Network Adapter troubleshooter
Step 1: Press the Windows and I key combination to open the Settings window, then select Update & Security.
Step 2: Choose Troubleshoot in the left menu to continue.
Step 3: Select Internet Connections, then click on Run the troubleshooter.
Wait for the troubleshooting process to finish, then restart your computer and check if the Wifi icon has appeared.
9. Reinstall Windows
It's highly likely that your computer has been attacked by viruses during usage, leading to unstable operations and strange phenomena. The disappearance of the Wifi icon on Windows could also be due to virus interference, causing your computer to become unstable. In this case, you should reinstall Windows to have a more stable new operating system without errors.
Above, I've guided you through the steps to fix the issue of a Laptop losing its Wifi icon. Wish you all success!
