It can be a real headache not to see the wireless icon in adapter settings under network connections. Especially when you really need to connect to the Internet via a wireless network.

  • On some occasions, the Wi-Fi icon is missing on your laptop.

  • If you’re sure that the Internet is working, check out the steps below to tweak some laptop settings.

  • Several other materials on the Internet Troubleshooting page might be of help at some point.

  • We’ve extensively covered Windows-10-related topics. Check them out in the Windows 10 Hub.

  • Download DriverFix (verified download file).

  • Click Start Scan to find all problematic drivers.

  • Click Update Drivers to get new versions and avoid system malfunctionings.

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Many causes can be responsible for the WiFi symbol not showing on laptop issue, including wireless adapter driver issues, corrupted adapter firmware, disabled wireless radio, or improper Windows installation.

So we’ve taken the time to dig into some of the fixes for a missing W-iFi icon on laptops. Since, as you’ll see, these are general methods, you can also try one or all of them for Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, and Windows 10.

What can I do if my WiFi symbol is not showing on laptop?

1. Update the wireless adapter driver

Outdated driver software can lead to several issues with hardware. These include driver corruption, missing software components, and incompatible driver.

  • What can I do if my WiFi symbol is not showing on laptop?
    1. Update the wireless adapter driver
    1. Turn on wireless radio
    1. Perform a system restore
    1. Install a USB wireless adapter

Updating to the latest software version for your driver can repair any issue related to legacy software.

The best way to safely update your drivers is to use a specialized tool to help with downloading and installing the right driver versions.

Since installing the wrong driver can damage your laptop irreversibly, we strongly recommend that you use this method.

2. Turn on wireless radio

If the Wi-Fi icon is not showing on your laptop, chances are that the wireless radio is disabled on your device.

You can enable it back again by turning on the hard or soft button for the wireless radio. Refer to your PC manual to locate such a button.

Also, you can turn on the wireless radio through the BIOS setup. Enter the BIOS setting during the reboot process and locate the network settings page. From there, you can enable the wireless radio. Save the changes and exit BIOS.

4. Perform a system restore

The Wi-Fi icon may sometimes disappear after waking your PC up from hibernation mode.

3. Update the router and adapter firmware

Outdated firmware can sometimes block your router from gaining access to the Internet. The impact extends all the way to the adapter.

As firmware updates vary from one manufacturer to another, you can refer to the user guide that came with your router to update its firmware.

Drivers get outdated regularly, and with DriverFix you simply scan your device and get expert, professional advice on the best components you can get.

Again, we suggest DriverFix, as mentioned above, to do the job quickly and efficiently.

⇒ Get DriverFix

You can fix this issue by restoring your system to a previous setting when it was performing fine.

First, go to System Restore and select a restore point when the wireless network was working properly. Then wait for the process to complete.

5. Install a USB wireless adapter

If all else fails, the only option left is to buy a USB wireless adapter. You can plug these LAN card dongles into a standard USB port in order to connect to the Internet.

If your WiFi icon is not showing in Windows 10, check out our dedicated guide. Likewise, if your WiFi symbol is not showing on Windows 11, we have another guide to help you out.

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If you know of other workarounds to fix a WiFi symbol not showing on a laptop, share your ideas in the comments below.

If the advices above haven’t solved your issue, your PC may experience deeper Windows problems. We recommend downloading this PC Repair tool (rated Great on TrustPilot.com) to easily address them. After installation, simply click the Start Scan button and then press on Repair All.

Still having issues? Fix them with this tool:

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