How to resolve the missing network icon in the Windows notification area?

Perhaps you are wondering what happened to the network connection symbol in your notification tray. You often have an internet service in this situation, but you're unable to see the ethernet icon, Wi-Fi signal bar, or connection status symbol. Other times, the network and sharing centre symbol is absent, and you are unable to access the internet.

The network service may not be operating, the entire network status symbol may be missing, or a problem with Windows Explorer may be to blame. Most of the time, activating the vanished icon in the notification panel settings will restore it. Try the other ways described in this tutorial if it doesn't work for you.

For Windows 8/8.1/10

Method 1

Step 1: Select Settings with a right-click on the taskbar.

Step 2: Choose "Turn system icons on or off" from the Notification area section by scrolling down.

Step 3: Search for Network and turn the switch thereon.

Method 2

Step 1: Using the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + Shift + Esc or by right-clicking the taskbar and choosing "Task Manager," you may start the Windows Task Manager.

Step 2: Find "Explorer" under the "Processes or Details" tab.

Step 3: Select Restart from the shortcut menu by selecting Windows Explorer or explorer.exe. Choose End Process in Windows 7.

Step 4: To start a new task, select File > New Task.

Step 5: Enter after typing explorer.exe into the field.

Method 3

Step 1: Select Display Properties by right-clicking on a blank area on your desktop.

Step 2: You may change the Color Quality setting from 32 to 16 bit depending on how your Display settings are set up.

Step 3: Restart your computer, then click Apply to turn it back to 32-bit.

Method 4

Only use this step if you have already tried the other options or are familiar with how the Windows registry works.

Step 1: To launch the registry editor, press Windows + R, type "regedit," and then press Enter.

Step 2: Go to the below-mentioned registry key.

Step 3: Find the Config entry within this key and select "Delete" from the context menu. If you missed this entry, don't worry; nothing's wrong.

Step 4: Switch off your computer. Upon restarting, the configuration entry will immediately be rebuilt.

This approach is for those whose settings have been manually or through a third-party software altered. If you don't see Config, ignore it.

Method 5

As a final attempt, if none of the solutions mentioned above are successful, we may try removing certain registry keys and forcing Explorer.exe to restart from the command line.

Step 1: When the dialogue box appears, click Windows + R, type "cmd," right-click on the entry, and choose "Run as administrator."

Step 2: now carry out each of the next instructions individually.

Step 3: Check to see whether the problem is fixed by attempting to access the network icon now.

For Windows Vista and 7

Method 1

Step 1: Select Properties from the pop-up menu by right-clicking the taskbar.

Step 2: Click the Customize button in the Taskbar tab's Notification area section of the Taskbar and Start menu Properties panel to change the appearance of the notification area.

Step 3: The Network item may be found under Icons. Verify that the Show icon and alerts are chosen in the drop-down option under Behaviors towards the right of that entry.

Step 4: Select the Turn system icons off or on the option located at the bottom of the window.

Step 5: In the drop-down option on the right, choose On for the Network entry within System Icons.

Step 6: To save the settings and close the windows, click the OK button on every open window.

For Windows XP and Earlier

Method 1

Step 1: In the context menu, choose Properties after right-clicking the Network Neighborhood or My Network Places icon on the desktop. The Network Connections window in the Control Panel should be opened if this symbol is missing.

Step 2: Right-click the network you wish to display the network icon for in the Network connections box and choose Properties. Take "Local Area Connection" as an example, and choose Properties from the context menu.

Step 3: Lastly, at the bottom of the settings window, tick the boxes next to the Show icon on the taskbar when connected and the Display icon in the notification area when connected.

Step 4: To save the settings and close the windows, hit the OK button on every open window.