Forum Discussion
Windows update broke Wi-Fi and taskbar disappeared
Hello,
after the latest Windows updates my PC started to have serious problems. On January 30, 2026, Windows installed an update and Wi-Fi stopped working completely.
To try to fix this, I installed the latest available updates, but the problem remains. After this update, I also noticed that the taskbar has completely disappeared.
Details:
- Wi-Fi does not work at all
- Ethernet connection still works correctly
- The PC seems to work normally
- If I open programs using Command Prompt, they run correctly
- The taskbar is completely missing
Network settings problems:
- In Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center, the network status shows “Unknown”
- The page also shows the message:
- “The service to detect this status is disabled.”
- If I click “Change adapter settings”, nothing happens (no window opens)
- Only “Change advanced sharing settings” and “Media streaming options” links work
- All other links in Network and Sharing Center do not respond
Additional important test:
- I uninstalled the latest Windows update. The taskbar reappears, but Wi-Fi still does not work
- When I reinstall the update, the taskbar disappears again
Because of this, I cannot view, enable, or modify any network adapters.
What can I do to restore:
- The Wi-Fi connection
- The taskbar / Windows Explorer
Thank you for your help.
I want to share how I finally solved the problem.
I first uninstalled the last two Windows updates. This fixed the taskbar, but the Wi-Fi issue was still present.
What completely solved it for me was:
Settings -> System -> Recovery -> Fix problems using Windows Update -> Reinstall now
After the reinstall finished, both the taskbar and the Wi-Fi were working normally again.
Hope this can help others facing the same problem.
3 Replies
I want to share how I finally solved the problem.
I first uninstalled the last two Windows updates. This fixed the taskbar, but the Wi-Fi issue was still present.
What completely solved it for me was:
Settings -> System -> Recovery -> Fix problems using Windows Update -> Reinstall now
After the reinstall finished, both the taskbar and the Wi-Fi were working normally again.
Hope this can help others facing the same problem.
Restart your PC and repeatedly press F8 or hold Shift + Restart to access Advanced Startup Options. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. After restart, select Safe Mode with Networking. Check if Wi-Fi works in Safe Mode. If it does, the issue is likely caused by a driver or software conflict.
Looks like the new update affected wireless functionality or driver.
Can you check in Device Manager, if WiFi driver is listed and working properly.
Try updating WiFi driver, as a first resolution.
If issue still persists, you can refer other suggestions in this fix:
https://www.kapilarya.com/fix-wifi-not-working-in-windows-11
Let us know if this helps!
Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog by a trusted Microsoft MVP.
