Here's how to add or remove the network icon on the login screen or lock screen in Windows 10.
By default in Windows 10, when users are on the login screen or lock screen, they see and can manage the network icon, with the ability to disconnect the computer from the network or connect it to other available networks, without having to first log in to Windows. In short, anyone who sits in front of your computer can disconnect it from the network without even being a user of that computer.
For some reasons, this feature may not be convenient for some users and they may want to disable it. This article will show you how to add or remove the network icon from the lock screen and sign-in screen for all Windows 10 users. You must be logged in as an administrator to proceed with the steps below.
Method A: Using local group policy
Note: Editing local group policy is only available in Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education. All other editions can only use Method B.
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor. To do this, press the Win + R keys simultaneously and in the run window, type gpedit.msc and press the OK button.
2. In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor window, navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Connection
3. In the right pane of the Local Group Policy Editor connection window, double-click the “Do not display the network selection interface” option to edit it.
4. Select the “Enabled” option to NOT display the icon or if you wish otherwise select the “Disabled” option to display it. Its initial option “No setting” is in the Disabled position and therefore the network icon is displayed.
5. Press the OK button to save your selection
6. When you are finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor.
Method B: by modifying the registry
1. Open the registry editor. To do this, press the Win + R keys simultaneously and in the run window, type regedit and press the OK button. If Windows asks you if you want to allow this application to make changes to your computer, press the “Yes” button.
2. Go to the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
3. Right-click in the right pane of the Registry Editor and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Rename the “New Value #1” you just created to “DontDisplayNetworkSelectionUI”
5. Right-click on the new value you created named DontDisplayNetworkSelectionUI and give it the number 1 (Base: hexadecimal) as its value data.
6. Press the OK button and close the registry editor. The save will be done automatically.
7. You are done. The icon will no longer appear. If you want to reappear it simply delete the DontDisplayNetworkSelectionUI value you created previously.
