The absence of app icons on your taskbar could be due to a variety of reasons. For instance, if you find yourself in Windows’ tablet mode, it’s possible that the taskbar is intentionally hidden to provide a more streamlined touch-oriented experience. It’s also possible that File Explorer, might be encountering some glitches. This article will show you how to Fix Taskbar Icons Missing on Windows 11. Please see “Windows 10 Yoga Recovery: Download the files needed to create a Lenovo USB Recovery key“, and How to hide the Windows 10 Taskbar.
In some cases, this could result in missing icons on the taskbar. However, there’s no need to fret, as rectifying this situation is quite manageable. One of the culprits for missing icons could be related to Windows’ icon cache. This cache, which stores icon images for faster loading, might occasionally run into problems, causing icons to go missing.
Fortunately, resolving this icon cache issue can be achieved through a simple procedure. Please see Hide or Remove Search Button from Windows 11 Taskbar and How to disable Taskbar Web Search in Windows 10 via GPO and Windows Registry.
However, it’s essential to note that the absence of app icons might sometimes be rooted in more complex issues. For instance, if your core system files are corrupted, it could impact the proper functioning of the taskbar and lead to missing icons.
Methods to Resolve Missing Taskbar Icons on Windows 11
While this sounds daunting, there are effective ways to address these underlying system file problems. Fortunately, this guide provides an array of effective methods to rectify this problem, ensuring a seamless computing experience. Here are other related guides Windows 11 Taskbar: Modifying via Intune and GPO, Hide or Remove Search Button from Windows 10 Taskbar and How to use the Widgets feature on Windows 11.
Method 1: Restart Your PC
The simplest and often most effective solution is to restart your computer. By doing so, you reset the taskbar settings, causing the icons to reappear upon system reboot.
Method 2: Restart Windows Explorer
Another viable solution is restarting the Windows Explorer process, which controls the graphical user interface of Windows. Follow these steps:
Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc key combination to open Task Manager. Navigate to the “Processes” tab and locate “Windows Explorer” from the list.
Right-click on “Windows Explorer” and select “Restart” from the context menu.
This action will prompt the taskbar icons to reappear upon Windows Explorer restart.
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Method 3: Restart Windows Components
Force Windows to reload related background processes by following these steps:
Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc key combination to open Task Manager. Expand the Navigation menu by clicking the three dashes on the top left, then switch to the “Details” tab.
Right-click on each of the listed processes (SearchIndexer.exe, SearchHost.exe, ShellExperienceHost.exe, RuntimeBroker.exe) and choose “End Task.”
Click on “Processes,” select “Windows Explorer,” and click “Restart Task.”
This action will prompt Windows to reload the specified processes and potentially restore the missing taskbar icons.
Method 4: Delete the IRIS Service
Microsoft recognized the “missing taskbar icons” issue and released an official solution: removing the “IRIS Service” from Windows Services. Execute the following steps:
Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, search for command prompt and run as administrator.
Paste and execute the command:
reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\IrisService /f && shutdown -r -t 0
Upon executing this command, the IRIS service will be removed, and your computer will restart, potentially resolving the issue.
Method 5: Recreate Icons Cache Database
Deleting the Windows icon cache database, known as IconCache.db, is another approach to restoring missing taskbar icons:
Press “Windows key + R” together to open the Run command box. Paste %UserProfile%\AppData\Local and press Enter.
Click on “View,” then hover over “Show” and select “Hidden items.”
Locate and delete the “IconCache.db” file, then restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
This action prompts Windows to rebuild the icon database, resolving the missing icons issue.
Method 6: Uninstall Recent Windows Updates
In some cases, the issue may be caused by recent Windows updates. Uninstalling these updates can potentially resolve the problem:
Type “Control Panel” in the search box and open it.
Click on “Programs” in the control panel”
Under “Programs,” click “View Installed Updates.
Locate the latest Windows updates and click “Uninstall.”
Method 7: Run SFC and DISM Commands
If previous methods fail, system commands can be used to repair corrupted Windows files:
Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, search for command prompt and run as administrator.
Execute the command: Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth
After DISM repair, execute: SFC /SCANNOW
Restart your computer once the SFC scan is completed.
Conclusion
With these methods at your disposal, you can effectively address the issue of missing taskbar icons on Windows 11. By following these steps, you can enjoy a seamlessly functioning taskbar that enhances your overall computing experience.