Network and Internet Settings Missing

Question

Recently, upon opening settings to check my WiFi connection status, I realised the whole group of settings under 'Network and Internet' is now missing. When searching for any specific setting under the 'Network and Internet' heading, they appear in the search bar but when pressed don't redirect me anywhere. I've tried opening these settings through the WiFi icon in the taskbar, but that also doesnt redirect me anywhere. I've found no similar issues with people online, and am not sure what has happened.

Answer 1

If that doesn't work, we need to remove the WIFI driver from the Device Manager and restart the pc to reinstall it.

Here are the steps to completely remove a Device from your computer.

Step 1. Use shortcut keys Windows key+ + X

Step 2. Select Device Manager.

Step 3. Expand the entry for Network Adapters, Right-click the problematic device, which is either an Intel Wireless or Realtek WIFI adapter, and select Uninstall device.

Step 4. You need to check the option Delete the driver software for this device and then click the Uninstall button.

Step 5. Reboot the computer.

After the reboot, please see if the problem is fixed.

If that still does not work, please visit the support website of your laptop or desktop and then download and install the latest Wireless driver, and then restart the PC.

Answer 2

Click on the Start Menu and type in CMD, run it as administrator, and then on the command prompt window, type in sfc /scannow and press enter.

Once done, restart the machine again.

Answer 3

Hi!

Let me help you with this issue.

Have you tried restarting the machine?

Answer 4

It sounds like you are experiencing issues with the Network and Internet settings in Windows 10. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Re-register the Settings app: You can use PowerShell to re-register the Settings app, which may resolve the issue. Open PowerShell as an administrator and run the following commands:

      Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name windows.immersivecontrolpanel | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}
      Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
   

   After running these commands, restart your computer.
2. Check Group Policy Settings: If the network icon is missing, ensure that the policy setting User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar > Hide the notification area is not enabled. You can check this through the Local Group Policy Editor.
3. Verify Network Settings and Services: Make sure that the correct network adapter is selected and that it is working properly. You can do this by going to Device Manager, expanding Network adapters, and checking the status of your network adapter.
4. Let Windows Automatically Detect Network Adapters: You can uninstall the network adapter from Device Manager and restart your computer. Windows should automatically detect and reinstall the network adapter drivers.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider additional troubleshooting methods or seek further assistance.

---

References:

• Network settings crash settings app, wifi and Ethernet not working or appearing - Microsoft Q&A
• Application shortcuts on the desktop, Start menu, and taskbar show blank icons
• How to troubleshoot missing network connections icons in Windows Server 2003 and in Windows XP