Windows 10 Taskbar Icons Missing? Restore Them in 8 Steps

Check out the expert tested methods to fix the issue

by Srishti Sisodia
Srishti Sisodia
Srishti Sisodia
Srishti Sisodia is an electronics engineer and writer with a passion for technology. She has extensive experience exploring the latest technological advancements and sharing her insights through informative... read more
Reviewed by Alex Serban
Alex Serban
Alex Serban
Windows Server & Networking Expert
After moving away from the corporate work-style, Alex has found rewards in a lifestyle of constant analysis, team coordination and pestering his colleagues. Holding an MCSA Windows Server... read more
Affiliate Disclosure
  • The issue could have occurred due to outdated display drivers or corrupted system files.
  • This guide will cover all the available fixes to resolve the issue. 
Windows 10 Taskbar Icons Missing Restore Them in 7 Steps
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If your taskbar icons are missing on Windows 10, this guide can help! We will cover all the available fixes to quickly resolve the problem after discussing the causes. Let’s begin! 

What causes missing taskbar icons on Windows 10? 

There are various reasons why your taskbar icons are missing on Windows 10; some of the common ones are:

  • Corrupted or missing system files – If the system files of your computer are corrupt or missing, then you might face this issue. You need to repair the system files to fix the issue.
  • Bad Windows update – If the recent Windows update is corrupt or missing some files, the icons might get missing from Taskbar. To fix it, you need to uninstall the latest Windows update.
  • Taskbar is malfunctioning – If the taskbar is not working correctly, it might not display all the icons.  
  • Outdated drivers – If your computer has obsolete or old display drivers, then your taskbar icons might be missing. You must update the drivers on your computer to resolve the problem.
  • Icons are hidden – Another possibility could be the icons are hidden from view, hence causing the issue. You need to check Taskbar settings to be sure. 
  • Malware infection – If your computer is infected with viruses, your system files might be damaged. This could cause a lot of issues, including this one. 

What can I do if taskbar icons are missing on Windows 10?

Expert tip:

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Before moving to the troubleshooting steps, make sure you go through these preliminary checks: 

  • Remove all the external peripherals except the default ones.
  • Install Windows Updates.
  • Run a malware scan.
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager, right-click Windows Explorer, and select Restart. 

1. Run the SFC and DISM command

  1. Press the Windows key, type CMD, and click Run as administratorCommand Prompt Windows Run as Administrator
  2. Type the following command to verify the Windows system files’ integrity and press Enter: sfc/scannow 
  3. Copy and paste the following commands one by one to repair the Windows image and press Enter after every command:  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  4. Once the process is complete, restart your computer

2. Use the Settings app

2.1 Change the taskbar settings

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
  2. Go to PersonalizationPersonalization windows 10 taskbar icons missing
  3. Choose Taskbar from the left pane; turn off the toggle for the Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode option.Taskbar 1 windows 10 taskbar icons missing
  4. Now, go to the Notification section and click Select which icons appear on the taskbar.Notification
  5. Turn on the toggle for the icons you want to add. 

2.2 Disable Tablet mode( if using multiple screens) 

  1. Open Settings and go to System.System Windows 10 windows 10 taskbar icons missing
  2. Click Tablet from the left pane. 
  3. Select the Never use tablet mode option from the right pane. Tablet mode
  4. Restart your computer and check if the problem persists. 

3. Update the display driver

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Device Manager RUN COMMAND
  2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
  3. Locate and expand the Display adapters list.
  4. Right-click the driver listed and click Update driver.  windows 10 taskbar icons missing
  5. Click Search automatically for drivers.Update driver 2
  6. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

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  2. Launch the software and wait for the app to detect all incompatible drivers.
  3. Now, it will show you a list of all faulty drivers to select the ones to Update or Ignore.
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  4. Click on Update & Apply Selected to download and install the newest versions.
  5. Restart your PC to ensure the applied changes.
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4. Run the Disk Cleanup tool 

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window. 
  2. Type cleanmgr and click OK. Cleanmgr Run command
  3. On the Disk Cleanup: Drive selection window, select drive and click OK.Cleanmgr 2 windows 10 taskbar icons missing 
  4. Click Clean up system files.Cleanmgr 3
  5. Again on the Disk Cleanup: Drive selection window, select drive and click OK
  6. Select all the content from the Files to delete and click OKCleanmgr 4
  7. Click Delete Files on the window. Cleanmgr 5

5. Delete the Icon Cache

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run console. 
  2. Type %appdata% and click OKAppdata windows 10 taskbar icons missing
  3. Go to the View tab on Windows Explorer and select Hidden items
  4. On the AppData folder, locate IconCache.db and click the Delete icon. ICON
  5. Restart your computer. 

6. Use the Registry Editor

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run console. REGEDIT RUN COMMAND
  2. Type Regedit and click OK to open the Registry Editor. 
  3. Follow the path: Computer\ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\ Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ TrayNotify
  4. Locate and delete IconStreamsRegedit
  5. Also, locate and delete pasticonstreams
  6. Restart your computer. 

7. Reinstall Taskbar

  1. Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, and click Run as administrator.Windows Powershell windows 10 taskbar icons missing
  2. Copy and paste the following command and press Enter: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
  3. Restart your PC and check if the issue persists. 

8. Use the system restore point to restore system settings 

  1. Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and click OpenCP windows 10 taskbar icons missing
  2. Select Large icons from View as and click RecoveryRecovery Windows 10
  3. Now select Open System RestoreSystem restore
  4. On the System Restore window, click NextNext Restore point
  5. On the next window, select the restore point and click NextRestore your computer
  6. Now click Finish to let Windows restore your system settings to the chosen point. Restore

So, these are the methods you must follow to fix the taskbar icons missing issue on Windows 10. Try them and let us know what worked in the comments section below. 

Still experiencing issues?

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If the above suggestions have not solved your problem, your computer may experience more severe Windows troubles. We suggest choosing an all-in-one solution like Fortect to fix problems efficiently. After installation, just click the View&Fix button and then press Start Repair.

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