Additionally, system updates or specific power management settings that disable the adapter to conserve energy can also trigger this problem. In some cases, the issue may arise after the system wakes up from sleep mode or after a restart.
Run the Network Troubleshooter
The first thing that you should do when you are facing this problem is to run the network troubleshooter. Windows comes with a list of built-in troubleshooters that can sometimes help you fix basic problems. While the troubleshooters are not good for issues that are a bit complicated, for a problem like this, the Windows Network Troubleshooter is a perfect fit and it can often locate why you are facing this issue. Thus, running the network troubleshooter should be the first step you take.
Check WiFi Adapter
One of the reasons that you may encounter this problem is if the WiFi adapter on your system is disabled. The WiFi adapter is essentially responsible for establishing a connection to your network through the wireless card or dongle. If the adapter is disabled from the settings menu, you will not be shown the WiFi icon on the taskbar.
Reinstall WiFi Drivers
As mentioned earlier, one of the reasons you might be missing the WiFi icon is when you do not have the required drivers installed on your computer. Additionally, if the WiFi drivers installed aren’t functioning properly, you won’t see a WiFi icon on your taskbar. To resolve this issue, you will have to reinstall the WiFi drivers on your computer. As it turns out, there are actually two ways you can go about this. First, you can uninstall the drivers and then have Windows install the required drivers automatically. While this is an easy process because it is automatically done by Windows, there’s a catch. The caveat is that, in some cases, the drivers installed by Windows may not be appropriate for your wireless dongle/card, which can cause compatibility issues, and thus the WiFi will not work on your system. This is where the second method comes in. The second way of installing the WiFi drivers would be to head to your manufacturer’s website and download the latest version available for your device. This certainly is a more manual approach, but it eliminates any possibilities of compatibility issues with the drivers, which is why we recommend going with the second approach.
