Your laptop might display an Ethernet icon instead of a WIFI icon due to a Windows update, driver error, or conflict with antivirus software.
In Windows 10 and earlier, you should get an Ethernet icon in the system tray of the laptop's taskbar when Your computer is associated with the Internet via an Ethernet cable.
Likewise, you should get a WiFi icon if you are associated with the Internet via WiFi.
Why does your laptop display Ethernet instead of WiFi?
You'll get an Ethernet icon instead of a WiFi icon even though your laptop is associated with WiFi; this is a relatively standard error and usually a quick fix.
A fresh update likely makes it to your laptop, and it's usually fixed Through the computer's next update.
However, sometimes there is a problem that the WiFi drivers are not perfectly hidden, or your drivers are just the wrong drivers for the corrupted laptop.
Why doesn't the WiFi icon appear on the taskbar?
Suppose the WiFi icon is missing from the taskbar. It could be because the network service is not running or a third-party app conflicts with the laptop system tray notifications.
Sometimes the problem is incorrect Windows settings; sometimes, due to user error or wrong update. For the software, the WiFi icon can be hidden or completely disabled.
This can be easily fixed by restarting Windows Explorer, then starting network services.
After that, open your task manager by right-clicking on the space on the laptop taskbar, then clicking on Task Manager; finally, go to the Processes tab, right-click on Windows Explorer, and then click on the Restart option.
You can also enter the device manager to check for the laptop's WiFi driver updates and enable administrator privileges on the computer to promote WiFi manually.
How to fix the "No WiFi icon" issue in Windows 10
The WiFi icon should always appear in the taskbar if connected to WiFi. In addition, it should update automatically when your laptop connects, disconnects, or reconnects to WiFi.
Sometimes your computer doesn't show any WiFi icon even if you're bound to WiFi. If your taskbar is missing a WiFi icon, try these methods to fix the problem:
Restart WiFi on Laptop
Start with the easiest things to do, go to your laptop settings and then go to Network and Internet, choose WiFi, turn off WiFi by moving the WiFi slider, and then wait about 30 seconds to turn WiFi back on.
If the method does not work, the abovementioned solution will solve your problem; try restarting your laptop and then move on to the more complex processes.
Reboot the laptop
This is the least helpful solution on the list because it is usually a temporary fix; restarting your laptop can make the WiFi icon work; if you're lucky, the problem will be fixed for good.
Restart Windows Explorer
Restarting Windows Explorer can often fix many taskbar issues; open the task manager by right-clicking on the space on the taskbar and then choosing the task manager option.
You can also use the shortcut by pressing your keyboard's Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys.
Ensure you use the full Task Manager version, then click on the Processes tab. From there, right-click on the Windows Explorer option and click on Restart; the WiFi icon should appear immediately, but it should restart. Some laptops even implement the changes.
Remove and re-add the WiFi icon.
- Go to your laptop settings, click on Personalization, and then click on the taskbar; from there, click the "Select which icons appear on the taskbar" option.
- Turn off the network icon and wait about 30 seconds for the network icon to turn back on again.
- The WiFi icon returns immediately in some laptops, but some laptops must be restarted to get the WiFi icon back.
Reinstall WiFi drivers
Reinstalling the WiFi driver is more complicated than most methods listed here. Still, it is the most likely way to solve your problem. You first need to find your exact WiFi adapter model and the actual drivers and instructions you need to follow to install it on your laptop.
Installation steps vary from model to model and driver to driver; for most WiFi drivers, as well as for instructions on how to install them are readily available online on the manufacturer's websites.
Restore the WiFi code from the Show Hidden area.
You may have accidentally dragged the WiFi icon to the show's hidden area. First, check if the WiFi icon is here by clicking the up arrow on the taskbar. If there is, drag it back to the toolbar.
Restart network services for laptops
- Press your keyboard's Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
- Type services.MSc in the box, then click OK to continue.
- In the Services box, make sure that all of the following services are begun; if they are not, right-click the service and choose Start to create it:
- Restart your laptop, and the WiFi icon should work correctly.
- Enable the WiFi icon in Group Policy Editor. To enable the WiFi icon using Group Policy Editor:
- Press your keyboard's Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
- Type (gpedit. MSc) in the dialog and click OK to continue.
- Go to Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar from the Group Policy Editor box. Next, select the Remove Network Icon on the right panel and double-click on it.
- In the window that appears, choose Disabled to continue, then click Apply and OK.
- Restart the computer, and the WiFi icon will return.