Advertisement

Change network icon click action in Windows 10

Windows 10 features several major interface changes from Windows 8 and earlier Windows versions. One of the changes is the new network pane, called now as the Network Flyout. It is shown when you click the network icon in the taskbar in Windows 10. Windows 10 allows you to customize this behaviour and change the Network Flyout to the Network pane from Windows 8 or to even open the Settings app. In this article, we will see what options you have got. You will be able to change the network icon's click action.

Advertisеment


To change the network icon click action in Windows 10, you need to apply a simple Registry tweak. Just do the following:
  1. Open Registry Editor.
  2. Go to the following Registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Settings\Network

    Tip: You can access any desired Registry key with one click.windows 10 network icon click action 01

  3. Change permissions on the Network subkey as described HERE. Alternatively, use my freeware RegOwnershipEx app and obtain full access to that key with one click.roex 01 roex 02
  4. Now change the ReplaceVan DWORD value.
    windows 10 network icon click action 02
    You can set one of the following numbers as a new value for this parameter:
    0 - to open the default Network flyout.
    1 - to open Network settings in the Settings app.
    2 - to open a Windows 8-like Network pane.

That's it. The tweak will be applied instantly, no reboot or logoff is required.

Here are a few screenshots. When ReplaceVan is set to 0, every time you click the Network tray icon you will see the default Network flyout:windows 10 default network flyout

When ReplaceVan is set to 1, the appropriate network settings are supposed to open in the Settings app. However, in my Windows 10 build 10130, it just opens the Settings app. This behavior might be fixed in a future build of Windows 10:windows 10 settings app

And finally, here is how the network flyout will look when you set ReplaceVan to 2:windows 10 old network flyout

Tip: the updated Winaero Tweaker can save your time and will allow you to change the appropriate option just with on click. 2015-08-12 13_35_14-GreenshotYou can download Winaero Tweaker here:
Download Winaero Tweaker | The list of Winaero Tweaker features | Winaero Tweaker FAQ

I think this is a good change but since it has no user interface to tweak the behavior, don't be surprised if Microsoft takes it away in the finalized version of Windows 10.

Support us

Winaero greatly relies on your support. You can help the site keep bringing you interesting and useful content and software by using these options:

If you like this article, please share it using the buttons below. It won't take a lot from you, but it will help us grow. Thanks for your support!

Advertisеment

Author: Sergey Tkachenko

Sergey Tkachenko is a software developer who started Winaero back in 2011. On this blog, Sergey is writing about everything connected to Microsoft, Windows and popular software. Follow him on Telegram, Twitter, and YouTube.

8 thoughts on “Change network icon click action in Windows 10”

  1. So it isn‘t possible to change what network icon does after clicked on Windows 8? I‘d prefer it opening Network Connections.

    1. I would like to have such option too, but there is no way to set what exactly to open. No option to set the command.

  2. i like me other way for obtain network flyout as windowsvista. this classic 8 networkflyout is stupid It covers the entire right edge screen. Windowsteam is always responsible for making angry to the fans of the system .

  3. In windows 10, It’s possible connect to a Wireless router with the Windows 8-like Network pane??
    When I enter the Wireless Password it does nothing and can’t connect, if I return to the default Network flyout it connect fine. Is this a know problem or it’s only in my end??

    I’m on Windows 10 Version 1803 compilation 17134.165.

  4. Is it possible to make the icon open a control panel page like Network and Sharing Centre or the Wifi Status window?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

css.php
Using Telegram? Subscribe to the blog channel!
Hello. Add your message here.