Some users have reported about missing taskbar icons or disappearing taskbar icons in Windows 10. Below are some methods to fix this problem.
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Taskbar icons are missing in Windows 10
For dual mode (tablet/desktop) computers, the problem of missing tray icons is mainly due to accidentally enabling tablet mode on the device.
In most other cases, the problem of missing or disappearing system tray icons can be fixed by restarting File Explorer and clearing the app icon cache.
If this doesn’t help, you should be able to fix the problem using other methods as given below.
1. Disable tablet mode
If you are using a dual-mode computer, follow the steps below to disable tablet mode.
1. Open settings and click the system Symbol.
2. On the next screen, click table mode in the left pane. Select in the right pane Use desktop mode Possibility.
Restart your computer and you should find the missing system tray icons back on your computer.
2. Restart Windows Explorer
Sometimes the problem of missing taskbar icons in Windows 10 is due to Windows Explorer service not working on your computer.
1. Right click on the beginning click and click task manager.
2. In the Task Manager screen, right-click Windows explorer and click the Start anew Possibility.
After doing that, you should be able to see the missing icons in the taskbar again.
Note: If you cannot find the Windows Explorer entry, open any file or folder on your computer. This will bring up the Windows Explorer entry in the Task Manager screen.
3. Clear the app icon cache
When the App Icon Cache gets corrupted, it can cause taskbar icons to be missing or disappear from the taskbar in Windows 10.
1. Right click on the Start button and click To run.
2. In the Run Command window, type Application Data and click OK.
3. In the AppData folder, double-click the Local folder.
4. In the local folder, right-click IconCache.db and click Extinguish.
Note: If you cannot see IconCache.db, enable the “Show hidden files” option in File Explorer.
5. close file manager window and Start anew your computer.
After restarting, you should find the missing system tray icons back on your computer.
4. Remove temporary files
1. Right click on the Start button and click To run.
2. In the Run Command window, type %temp% and click OK.
3. Clear all files is in the temporary folder.
Restart your computer and see if the app icons appear on the taskbar again.
5. Reinstall the taskbar apps
1. Right click on the beginning click and click PowerShell (administrator).
2. In the Powershell window, type the following command and press the Enter Key.
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
This will reinstall and re-register all of the default built-in Windows 10 apps on your computer. Restart the computer and see if the app icons are now back on the taskbar.
6. RUN SFC command
1. Right click on the Start button and click command prompt Administrator.
2. On the command prompt screen. Type sfc /scan and press the Enter key.
If that doesn’t help, try repairing the system image.
7. Repair system image
1. Open command prompt as admin
2. In the command prompt window, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth and press the Enter Button.
Close the Command Prompt window and see if the system icons reappear on the taskbar.
8. Use System Restore or create a new user account
If a system restore point is available, you can use system restore to return your computer to its previous operating state.
If no system restore point is available, you must create a new local user account and use this new user account.
