If the network icon in the bottom-right corner of Windows 10 shows an incorrect online status

If the network icon in the bottom-right corner of Windows 10 shows an incorrect online status, it may be related to settings for detecting network status, cache, or network adapter issues. Here are some possible fixes:

1. Check Network Status

Ensure your computer is actually connected to the Internet.
Open a browser and verify you can access websites.

2. Reset Network Settings

Open Command Prompt (Administrator):
1. Press Win + S, search for “cmd,” right-click on “Command Prompt,” and select “Run as administrator.”
2. Enter the following commands one by one (press Enter after each): ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset
3. Restart your computer.

3. Check NCSI Settings

Windows uses the Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI) to detect online status, and misconfigurations may cause the icon to display incorrectly.

Modify the Registry:
- Press Win + R, type regedit, and open the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet
- Verify the following key value:
  - The value of EnableActiveProbing should be 1:
    - Double-click EnableActiveProbing, change the value data to 1, and click “OK.”
- If the key does not exist, create it manually:
  - Right-click in the blank space → New → DWORD (32-bit) → Name it EnableActiveProbing → Set the value to 1.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Test Network Connection Verification:
- Press Win + R, type control, and open the Control Panel.
- Go to “Network and Sharing Center” → Click on the current network → Check if “Internet” displays as normal.

4. Update or Reinstall Network Drivers

Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
Expand “Network Adapters”.
Right-click your network adapter and select Update Driver or Uninstall Device (restarting your computer will automatically reinstall the driver).

5. Check Windows Network Services

Ensure the following services are running:

Press Win + R, type services.msc, and open the Services Manager.
Check that the following services are set to “Running”:
- Network List Service
- Network Location Awareness
- DHCP Client
If they are not running, right-click the service name → Select “Start.”

6. Manually Test NCSI Connection

Press Win + R, type cmd, and open Command Prompt.
Enter the following commands to manually test: ping www.msftconnecttest.com nslookup www.msftconnecttest.com
If the response is normal but the icon remains incorrect, further updates or repairs may be required.

7. Update Windows System

Some errors may be caused by system issues. Check and install the latest Windows updates:

Press Win + I to open Settings.
Go to Update & Security → Windows Update → Check for Updates.

8. Last Resort: Perform System Repair

Use the System File Checker (SFC):
1. Open Command Prompt (Administrator).
2. Enter the following command: sfc /scannow
3. Wait for the scan to complete and repair system files.
Run the DISM Repair Tool: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth