How to Fix Red cross on Network icon in Windows 10 / 11

Are you seeing a red cross-mark over the network icon on the Task-bar? If you are, then there is some problem with the network device on your computer. Don’t worry. There are some easy fixes available to solve this issue at your end. But before trying these major fixes on your computer, you should attempt these easier ones which can solve your issue at much more ease.

Preliminary fixes

1. Try rebooting your computer and check if the network is working or not.

2. Check if any of the keys of your keyboard is having WiFi sign on it. Try pressing the key to access the list of networks.

(In some keyboards, you need to press the Fn key to activate the multimedia key.

Try pressing (Fn+ WiFi) key on your computer.)

 

Wifi Sign

 

3. If you are using Ethernet cable, unplugging and plugging it to your computer may help you.

If any of these workarounds didn’t alleviate your situation, try these fixes on your computer-

Fix-1 Enable WiFi from Network Connections-

If the WiFi device on your computer is disabled on your computer, enabling it may help you out-



1. At first, press the Windows key along with the ‘R‘ key. This will open up the Run window.

2. Then, type “ncpa.cpl” in that Run window, click on “OK“.

 

Ncpa Err Connection Reset

 

2. When the Network Connections window opens up, right-click on the network connection you are using and then click on “Enable“.

 

Enable

 

The network connection will be enabled on your computer.

You should be able to use the network connection on your computer.

 

Fix-2 Disabling and Enabling network adapter-

Disabling and enabling the network driver may help you out.

1. From your keyboard, Press Windows key+X and then click on the “Device Manager” to access the utility.

 

1devmgmt 1

 

2. In Device Manager window, expand the list of “Network adapters“.

3. Then, what you have to do is to right-click on the problematic network driver and then click on “Disable device“.

 

Disable Device

 

4. Click on “Yes” to disable the adapter.

 

Yes Disable

 

After disabling the adapter, you will be notice a down arrow sign beside the disabled adapter.

5. Now, in the same window, right-click on the disabled adapter and then click on “Enable device” to enable the network adapter again.

 

Enable Device

 

Wait for a while as the device will be enabled again.

Check if any update is pending or not-

6. In the Device Manager window,  right-click on the adapter driver on your computer and then click on “Update driver.

 

Update Driver

 

7. In the next window, choose the option “Search automatically for updated driver software“.

 

Driver Update

 

Windows will search for the latest driver for your network device, download it and install it on your computer.

Close Device Manager window.

You should be able to use the network connection just like before.

Fix 3 – Reset Network

1 -Search cmd in search box located in taskbar.

2 -Now, right click on command prompt icon appearing and then select run as administrator

Cmd Admin Min

 

3 – Now, run the command given below in cmd window.

netsh winsock reset

4 -Close the cmd window.

Fix-4 Automate necessary services-

Some services are necessary for the network services function properly.

1. At first, click on the search bar and type “services“.

Then, simply click on the “Service” to access the utility.

 

Services

 

2.  In the Services window, double click on “WLAN AutoConfig” services.

 

Wlan Double Click

 

3. Now, click on the drop-down menu beside the option “Startup type: and select “Automatic“.

4. Then, click on “Apply” and then on “OK“.

Also , click on Start to start the service

 

Wlan Auto

 

5. Now, scroll down and find the “Network connections” service. Double click on it.

 

Network Connections Double Click

 

6. At first, set the ‘Startup type:‘ to “Automatic” setting.

7. Then, you need to click on “Start” to start the service, if the Service Status is ‘Stopped‘.

8. To save the changes on your computer, click on “Apply” and “OK

 



Automatic

 

9 -Similarly , Start the following services and make the startup type to automatic for the services listed below

  • Network Connections
  • Network List Service
  • Network Location Awareness
  • Network Store Interface Service

Close Services window.

Your issue should be solved.

Fix-5 Troubleshoot the particular network adapter-

If you are facing the problem with a particular network adapter troubleshooting it may help you-

1. Press the Windows key along with the ‘S‘ key from your keyboard. Then, you need to write “Network Connections“.

2. Then, you will have to click on the “Network Connections” from the elevated search result.

 

View Network Connections

 

3. When the Network Connections window opens up, you need to double click on the network adapter.

 

Wifi Double Click

 

4. In the next window, click on “Diagnose“. This will diagnose the WiFi issue.



 

Daignose

 

Let the troubleshooter run and detect the problem on your computer.