Windows 10: Can't left-click on Network icon in notification area. How do I get it

I went through the steps outlined here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...ate-components, and ever since I haven't been able to left-click on the Network notification icon. It responds to right-click (Gives me "Troubleshoot Problems" and "Open Network and Sharing Center"), and I can left-click (and right-click) all other notification icons. Also, nothing happens when I go to Settings->Network & Internet and click on Show Available Networks. How do I fix this?

Also, is there any chance that you could increase the limit as to how long a thread title can be? Right now it's 70 characters, and the thread title should have been "Can't left-click on Network icon in notification area. How do I get it working again?" (85 characters), but I couldn't fit it all in. *Sad Maybe it should be 100 characters.

:)

 

Wi fi icon

The Wireless icon is normally located in the Taskbar > Notification area. If you don't see it.

Right click the Taskbar

Click Taskbar settings

Scroll down to Notification area

Click Turn system icons on or off

Toggle on Network and you should then see the wireless/network icon.

 

Number of Problems in the Taskbar

Hi there,

Since today, I've been getting many problems occurring mainly in the taskbar. A few weeks to a month ago, the search function was not working (i.e., when i clicked on the search icon, it would light up a bit, but nothing happened), which was only a slight
nuisance, but now there are a bunch of other issues as well. Here are the problems I've encountered (from left to right):

1. Start button:

• Does not open when I left-click it - it seems to acknowledge the click, but does not open.
  
• In addition, pressing the windows key on the keyboard does not do anything; but the physical key is functioning properly, as Windows+R will bring up 'run'.
  
• Also, right-clicking the start icon brings up the menu that normally appears (i.e., programs and features, power options, ... shut down or sign out, desktop).
  

2. Search:

• Left-clicking search does not do anything - i.e., I cannot search for programs from the taskbar, I can only search from file explorer (which is much slower).
  
• Right-clicking it brings up the menu that normally appears (i.e., toolbars>, search>, ... lock the taskbar, properties).
• Hovering over search brings up a tooltip.

3. Left-clicking task view works as normal. Hovering brings up a tooltip.

4. Programs:

• Right-clicking any program shortcuts in the taskbar does not bring up a menu like it is supposed to - instead, nothing happens. This makes it very difficult to open a second instance of a program if one is already open (e.g., Microsoft Word, Paint).
  
• Left-clicking a program shortcut opens/brings up/minimises the program as normal.
  
• Hovering over programs does not bring up the tooltip with the program's name.
  
• If I hover over a minimised program so that a window preview comes up, and then move the mouse away, the preview does not disappear unless I hover over another minimised program (whose window preview will not disappear) or type (clicking in an open window
  will not make it disappear).

5. Notification Area:

• Left clicking the important notification icons does not do anything.
  • The most important one, left-clicking the internet access icon does not bring up a list of networks available to connect to. This means if I am not connected to a network, I have to sign out (I can't lock, because that only appears in the start menu, and
    not the right-click menu of the taskbar) and choose a network from the login screen (for some reason, the icon works there). Interestingly, if I try to access the list from Control Panel > Network and Internet > Connect to a network, clicking on 'connect to
    a network' does not do anything. Right-clicking the icon brings up the normal options menu (Troubleshoot and Open Network and Sharing Center)
    
  • Left-clicking the volume icon does not bring up the slider to adjust volume. Thankfully, I can use the buttons on the side of the computer to do this. Right-clicking it brings up the normal menu (Open Volume Mixer, ... Troubleshoot)
  • Left-clicking the 'new notifications' icon does not do anything. Right-clicking brings up a menu (Open Action Center, Turn on quiet hours). If I click on Open Action Center, nothing happens.
    
• Icons in the hidden icon menu (e.g., Safely Remove Hardware, Skype) work as normal. If I bring out the icons in the hidden icons menu (e.g., Safely Remove Hardware, Skype) and place them in the notification area, left-clicking and right-clicking them also
  works. HOWEVER, if I move the internet access and volume icon into the hidden icons menu, left-clicking them still does not do anything.
  
• Hovering over icons and the '^' in the notification area brings up a tooltip as it should.
  

6. Left-clicking the touch keyboard and language icons work as normal.

7. Left-clicking the time does not bring up the clock.

8. Left-clicking the show desktop button works as normal.

So, this is a very complex and irritating problem. Is there any malfunction in some common area that would cause all of these problems? How should I approach this problem?

Many thanks in advance.

 

Control Panel or System settings. If looking at the adapter driver, Device Manager.

 

Hello Stargate38, *Smile

As a test, does entering the command below into Run (Win+R) and pressing Enter open Available Networks for you?

*Arrow explorer ms-availablenetworks:


We don't use more characters for a thread title since they would just get cut off while viewing threads.

 

Never mind. I got it to work after restarting Windows Explorer.