Show Wi-Fi status in the Mac menu bar

The Wi-Fi status icon gives you quick access to the current connection, available networks, and the Wi-Fi on/off control. Showing the icon does not change your network security and does not turn Wi-Fi off automatically.

You can also manage Wi-Fi from Control Center or from System Settings. Turn Wi-Fi off only when you intend to disconnect: doing so interrupts network access, synchronization, and other online services.

How to fix it

macOS 26 and later

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Select Menu Bar in the sidebar.
  3. Under Menu Bar Controls, select Wi-Fi.

You can also open Control Center, choose Edit Controls, and drag Wi-Fi to the menu bar.

macOS 13–15

  1. Open System Settings.
  2. Select Control Center.
  3. Find Wi-Fi, then choose Show in Menu Bar.

macOS 11–12

  1. Open System Preferences.
  2. Select Dock & Menu Bar, then Wi-Fi.
  3. Enable Show in Menu Bar.

macOS 10.11–10.15

  1. Open System Preferences and select Network.
  2. Select Wi-Fi.
  3. Enable Show Wi-Fi status in menu bar.

Security boundary

The icon improves visibility and makes it easier to disconnect, but it is not a firewall or access-control feature. If SimpleumCheck also reports Wake on network access, review that setting separately.

Sources

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Other security setting to check

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