What's the fix for missing WiFi icon in Windows 11?

Some users have reported that the Wi-Fi option or icon is missing on their Windows 11 PCs. Missing or corrupt network drivers or Windows operating system or hardware issues can be some of the reasons why this issue pops up on Windows 11 PC.

If you are unable to find the WiFi icon in the system tray on your PC, then we have listed some methods that can help you solve this problem and get back the missing Wi-Fi icon. Go ahead and try the fixes mentioned in this article one by one in the order mentioned below. Before trying to fix it, check if there are any buttons/physical switches with a WiFi icon on your laptop. If there are any such switches, press them once to enable the WiFi option.

Fix 1 – Restart Windows Explorer

Step 1. Right-click the Windows Start button to open the context menu.

Step 2. Click Task Manager in the menu.

Step 3. In the

Processes tab, look for "Windows Explorer" in the list of processes running on the computer.

Step 4. Select

Windows Explorer and click Restart Task in the upper right corner of Task Manager.

Step 5. After Explorer restarts, check to see if your missing Wi-Fi icon issue has been fixed.

Fix 2 – Enable Wi-Fi Network Adapter

Step 1. Press

Windows R to open the "Run" dialog box.

Step 2. Type

ncpa.cpl and press Enter to open the network connection.

Step 3. Check if your WiFi network adapter is disabled.

If so, right-click on your WiFi network adapter and select

Enable.

Fix 3 – Add Wi-Fi icon to system tray

Step 1. Click anywhere near the

speaker icon in the system tray.

Step 2. You will see a notification or action area. Check if there is a WiFi icon in this area.

Step 3. If the WiFi icon doesn't appear here, click the

Edit Quick Settings icon at the bottom of this action area.

Step 4. Then, click

Add and select Wi-Fi in the options.

Step 5. You will see the

WiFi icon added. The position of this icon can be changed by dragging and dropping it wherever you want it.

Then, click

Finish.

Fix 4 – Check WLAN Auto-Configuration Service

Step 1. Click the

Windows key on your keyboard and type Services in the search box.

Step 2. Select the

"Service" application in the search results.

Step 3. Find

WLAN Auto-Configuration in the list of services.

Double-click it to open the

properties.

Step 4. In

"Properties ", make sure "Startup Type" is set to "Automatic".

Step 5. If the service is not running, click the

"Start" button to start the service.

Finally, click "

Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.

Step 6. Return to the

"Services" window, right-click WLAN Auto-Configuration and select "Restart".

Step 7.

Restart the computer and check if the problem is resolved.

Fix 5 – Disable and enable network adapter in Device Manager

Step 1. Press the Windows X key at the same time to open the Start button context menu.

Step 2. Click Device Manager here.

Step 3. Expand the Network Adapters section by clicking the small arrow next to it.

Step 4. Right-click Wireless Network Adapters in the list and select Disable Device.

Click "Yes" on the confirmation prompt to disable the device.

Step 5. After disabling the adapter, right-click on it again and select Enable Device.

Step 6. Now, check if the missing WiFi icon has reappeared in the system tray.

Fix 6 – Update Network Drivers

Step 1. Press

Windows R to open "Run".

Step 2. Type

devmgmt.msc and press the Enter key to open the Device Manager.

Step 3. Double-click

Network Adapters to expand it.

Step 4. Right-click on the problematic

Wi-Fi device and select Update Driver.

Step 5. In the "

Update Driver" window, click "Browse my computer for driver".

Step 6. Next, click Let me

select from a list of available drivers on your computer.

Step 7. Select the appropriate driver

for your WiFi device from the list and click Next.

Step 8.

RestartPC after updating drivers.

Check if you are still having issues.

Fix 7 – Reinstall Network Drivers

Step 1. Open

Device Manager as described in Steps 1 and 2 in Fix 6 above.

Step 2. Click the arrow next to

"Network Adapters" to expand it.

Step 3. Right-click the WiFi network driver and select

UninstallDevice.

Step 4. Check the box next to

Attempt to remove the driver for this device.

Then, click Uninstall

.

Step 5. After uninstalling the device, click the

Action menu at the top of Device Manager.

Select

Scan for hardware changes.

Step 6. Windows will now automatically detect any missing drivers and install them.

Restart the system and check if the problem is resolved.

Fix 8 – Perform a Network Reset

Step 1. Click the

Windows key on your keyboard and type NetworkReset in the search box.

Step 2. Click

Network Reset in the search results.

Step 3. Then, click the "

Reset Now" button to remove and reinstall all network adapters.

Step 4. Click Yes on the confirmation prompt to continue resetting network settings.

Check whether the problem of missing WiFi icon has been resolved.

Fix 9 – Reset Network Device via Command Prompt

Step 1. Press Windows X and select Terminal (Administrator) in the context menu that opens.

When User Account Control prompts for permissions, click "Yes".

Step 2. Execute the commands given below in the given order.

netsh int ip resetnetsh advfirewall resetnetsh winsock resetipconfig /flushdnsipconfig /releaseipconfig /renew

Step 3. Restart your computer. Check whether the Wifi option is restored after system startup.

Other Fixes

1. Check for Windows Updates

Step 1. Press Windows R to open "Run".

Type ms-settings:windowsupdate and press Enter.

Step 2. Click Check for Updates.

Step 3. Wait for Windows to check for updates. If any updates are found, they will be downloaded and installed.

After updateRestartPC and check if the WiFi icon has been restored.

2. Run the troubleshooter

Step 1. Hit the Windows key and type Troubleshooting Settings in the search box.

Step 2. Click Troubleshooting Settings.

Step 3. Then, select Other troubleshooters.

Step 4. Click the Run button associated with your Internet connection.

Windows will begin checking for any problems and display them to you along with fixes that can be applied.

Step 5. If the problem persists, run the Network Adapter troubleshooter.

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