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Windows 11 23H2 Taskbar Icons Missing Again

I had an issue with Windows 11 where the icons on the taskbar were switching to the default "icon missing" icon. I rebuilt my machine which is new per dell supports advice. All of the icons were correct when I updated and installed Adobe Creative Cloud and Chrome. I updated my machine to 23H2 on 11/20/2023 (afterwards) and the icons are missing again. I'm up to date on all of my windows updates and dell updates.


I tried the solution from this post, but it isn't working: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/all/fix-included-no-icons-on-task-bar-on-windows-11/9b580be3-080b-4897-a091-8aefdb6f5b6c

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Hello there,
I am Jaspreet Singh.
Please run this scan: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/usi...

Note the results that show up after the 100% mark and make sure you restart your system after the scan.

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Thank you for your reply. I ran the scan and rebooted but have the same results.

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What was the result line after the scan?

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Hello, here are the scan results.

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Hello,

See if this fix helps you:

https://www.kapilarya.com/fix-taskbar-icons-missing-in-windows-11

Hope this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog by a trusted Microsoft MVP.

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Microsoft MVP (Windows IT Pro), since 2014 · Windows Insider MVP, since 2016 · Windows Help (www.kapilarya.com)

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The system files were reported to be correct.
Try rebuilding the icon cache please : https://www.thewindowsclub.com/rebuild-icon-cle...

Disclaimer: this is a non Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate and safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (potentially unwanted products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it

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So I updated my nvidia drivers the day after this worked and the icons are gone again. I followed the same steps as before but I can't recover them.

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Adding context to this issue, I just purchased a new Windows 11 Laptop this week, and much to my dismay Windows 11 is absolutely demonic when it comes to Icon Management. All previous versions of Windows you could drag-&-drop Icons from the Start Menu to wherever you wanted them on the Desktop, and similarly from the Desktop to & from the Taskbar. In Windows 11 I get the International Symbol for No-Go in trying to drag-&-drop Icons to the Desktop (refuses to do it), and same thing for the Taskbar. Did Microsoft cancel the intuitive and simple drag-&-drop method for something complicated and obtuse ??? Or, did Microsoft simply decide that no users could have Icons the way they want them on their Desktop and Taskbar ??? Please let me know if there's a fix for this, or if not, how easy it would be to revert back to Windows 10. Thanks !

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I have two Alienware machines running the same version of Windows 11. My desktop is fine. I’ve had it for a little over a year and never had a problem with it. My other is a laptop too. It’s having the same issue. Maybe it’s an issue with laptops. When I upgraded my display drivers it reverted to the no icon issue. I have an additional Iris graphics card which most laptops have. Maybe that’s an issue.

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i managed to create an app that will refresh explorer.exe and restore the icons , if anyone wants it its on my GitHub for free

https://github.com/d4kxxx/explorerrefresh/blob/main/explorerrefresh.zip

whenever you lose the icons just click on the Explorerrefresh.exe and everything will be back .

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Last updated May 17, 2024 Views 3,591 Applies to: