Taskbar icons missing


RickNCN

New member
Local time
12:06 PM
Posts
8
OS
Windows 11, Windows 10
I'm not referring to the issue where taskbar icons are there, but are blank with a little placeholder dot. My taskbar icons are completely gone.

I think it's related to the fact that I've redirected Desktop and Documents to one external drive and Downloads, Music, Pictures, Videos to another. When the external drives turn off or are disconnected, I lose the taskbar icons, but usually not right away it seems. Reconnecting the drives and rebooting does not bring them back. It looks like my icons are all represented here which is confusing:

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

Because that's on the C: drive which is never disconnected of course. If that path, above, is correct, and is the location that Windows reads to load the icons, is there a way to get them to reload into the taskbar? I've put a few of them back, but this is what it looks like. Usually the taskbar is nearly full.
1727105321811.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11, Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron
    CPU
    i7-14700
    Memory
    16gb
A few others have reported this same issue.
If you use any 3rd party apps that alter the GUI, that may well be the cause of your problem with the disappearing icons. Uninstall or update such app to newer version to see if it fixes the issue. If it doesn't try rebuilding your icon cache, Rebuild Icon Cache in Windows 11 Tutorial
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 2600.1742
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External +512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
This is a Microsoft bug that apparently has many reasons and solutions. Here are some solutions that you could try, but there is no guarantee that your problem is one of them :

  • Clear File Explorer history

Has apparently triggered this before.


Check both of these after the above tutorial:

%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations
%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations

and delete all files from both folders (make a backup just in case).

Reboot and test

  • Reset & CLEAR Taskbar Pins​


Read the tutorial before you begin.
You will have to readd the ones missing.


  • Alternatively


  • Ensure that there is no product installed on the computer whose purpose is to hide or lock folders.

  • Create a new user account and check if the issue recurs in it. If it does not occur, it could indicate that your user account is corrupted. Access this link and follow the steps to copy all files from the corrupt user profile to the new one : Fix a corrupted user profile (Last drop down in the list) ensure also that it is an administrator account.
    • I’ve never had to create a new user account and migrate the old one so I cannot advise you. Maybe another member can.




For fixing a corrupt user account, allegedly this tutorial was made for that purpose, I can’t find an equivalent here. Ignore the title. Again, I can not advise.
Read first

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows Pro 23H2 Build 22631.4249
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4 x LG 23MP75 - 2 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    100/40Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
Same for me & it happens after placing the laptop in sleep mode & it wakes up immediately. I’m now using hibernation as a workaround.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 64bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PC Specialist Optimus VII V17-960 Gaming Laptop.
    CPU
    6th Gen Intel Core i7-6700HQ Quad Core processor.
    Memory
    16GB HyperX IMPACT 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (2 x 8GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12
    Sound Card
    Intel 2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema 2 & Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Optimus Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
    Screen Resolution
    Full HD IPS display (1920 x 1080).
    Hard Drives
    4TB SSD (internal).
    1x 1TB & 1x 5TB external HDDs.
    Cooling
    STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800 wireless keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech M705 wireless mouse
    Internet Speed
    Upto 100Mbps
    Browser
    Edge.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender & MalwareBytes pro.

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