The Volume icon in my task bar does not work.

Hi Richard,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Community. I understand the inconvenience you are facing. I will certainly help you with this.

1. What exactly happens when you try changing volume using the volume icon?
2. Since when are you facing this issue?
3. Have you recently done any changes on the computer?
4. Do you have speakers or headphones connected to the computer?
 

This issue might be causing because of corrupted system drivers or settings. I would suggest you to try the below steps and check if this helps in resolving the issue.

First use the DISM tool and System File Checker for repairing any missing or corrupted system files:

1.      Click Start.

2.      Type cmd, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to open elevated command prompt (I.e. Command prompt with admin rights).

3.      If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

4.      Type or copy paste the below command lines into it:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

sfc /scannow

To close the Administrator: Command prompt window, type Exit, and then press Enter. Reboot your system to see if problem still occurs.

Do check for available pending Windows Updates out there. Go to Start Button/>Settings/>Update & Security/> Windows Update and check for any available updates. If any try to install them, reboot your PC and see if the problem still persist.

Kindly let us know if you need any further assistance with Windows. We are glad to assist you.

Thank you.

As I said in my post, the Icon DOES NOTHING. It doesn't work.

NOTHING happens when I click it, NOTHING.

This issue happened a couple of days ago (why does that have any bearing?)

I have done no changes on the computer.

I do NOT have speakers or headphones connected to the computer.

Basically it's just another rubbish Windows 10 problem. I NEVER get it on my win 7 machine.

Sorry, but your "fix" is so convoluted I think I'll give it a miss. I'm just an ordinary joe, who wants his computer to work, without the constant farting about to fix stuff that should not need to be fixed.

Last time, the Icon disappeared and I had to do a system restore to get it back. Obviously the wonderful windows 10 update screwed things up that time. 

 I am totally sick of doing system restores, to repair stuff that Microsoft have broken. 

My next step is to throw the machine in the junk, and go buy myself an Apple machine.

Hi Richard,

I can imagine the inconvenience you have experienced.

Kindly give a try with the above mentioned steps and check if this helps in resolving the issue.

If this doesn't work, I suggest you to create a new user account and check if this works.

Here are the steps:

1. Go to Settings.

2. Choose Accounts and then select Family and other users.

3. Select add someone else on this PC.

4. Enter a user name and hit next.

5. Click on Finish.

6. Sign out from the current Account and Log into the new account.

Hope this helps. Please do let us know if you need any further assistance.

Thank You.

I have almost the same problem.
The icon stops working after about a day, it seemed to me, after another out of sleep mode.

If you hover the cursor over the icon, the message appears with the volume level, but you press no response.
I also created a shortcut to the process SndVol - it works.

It did not help:
DISM.exe / Online / Cleanup-image / Scanhealth
DISM.exe / Online / Cleanup-image / Restorehealth
sfc / scannow

I created a second user in the system, and when the problem occurred again, went under it.
Working. But when I came back, it did not work.

It helps to restart, but as I wrote above, for hours or days, and then all over again.

The system is installed about a month ago.

Yep, a real pain. Personally, I have no intention of system restoring, rebooting nor the wild convoluted "fixes" suggested. The Win 10 platform has caused this and many other problems. It is a badly designed half baked system and it is up to Microsoft to sort it out, not their customers. 

If I put my car in for a service and it comes back with the lights not working, I don't expect to have to fix them myself!!

For now, I use the - + volume buttons at the top of the keyboard, wich when pressed, show a volume slide bar at the left screen.

One thing for sure, when I finally run out of patience with Windows 10, it will be a cold day in **** before I buy another Microsoft product.

Just thought I'd add...the word blanked out (****) is the home of Satan. Why it is blanked out escapes me. It's used in the New Testament of the English Bible between 13 and 23 times, depending on which version you have. Who am I offending?

Hi Richard,

Sorry for the inconvenience caused and delay in response.

I suggest you to try the below step and check if this helps.

Step 1:

To diagnose whether this issue occurs in “Safe Mode”, let’s reboot the computer in safe mode with networking and check if the issue appears there as well.

Safe mode is a diagnostic mode for Windows that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started. This helps us in identifying whether the issue is due to some third party programs conflict. The word Safe mode appear in the concern of your monitor to identify which windows mode you are using.

Follow the steps given below and check if that helps.

1.      Unplug external devices connected to the computer expect keyboard and mouse.

2.      From login screen, press Shift key and click on the Power button and click restart to enter Advanced Boot Options.

3.      In this page select troubleshoot option.

4.      And click on Advance option.

5.      Select Startup setting from advance option.

6.      Here you will find Restart button, just click on it.

7.       In new windows press F5 to login with safe mode with networking.

If the issue does not exist, try to clean boot the system.

Step 2: Perform Clean Boot.

Placing your system in Clean Boot state helps in identifying if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue. Check this issue in clean boot state.

1. Press Windows key + X key. And select Run.
2. Type msconfig in the Run box and hit Enter.
3. On the Services tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click to select the Hide all Microsoft services check box, and then tap or click Disable all.
4. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click Open Task Manager.
5. On the Startup tab in Task Manager, for each startup item, select the item and then click Disable.
6. Close Task Manager.
7. On the Startup tab of the System Configuration dialog box, tap or click OK, and then restart the computer.

For more information refer the below link.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note: After troubleshooting, refer to this section "How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting".

Hope this helps.

Kindly get back to us with the status of the issue to assist you further.

I did the two points.
The second day of the volume control works.
I will gradually include services and programs from startup, that would understand that it was a problem.
Here is a screenshot of disabled services and programs:

Hello,

i've tried it all.

First refreshed my PC.

Than did a full refresh (did not keep any file).

then SFC /scannow, both DISM commands, update, disabled non-MS services, disabled startup programs, uninstalled all programs etc. etc. 

It doesn't work. After apply-ing 1511 update, icon stops working, which means: If I click it (left mouse button), nothing happens at all.

So I Guess i'm stucked with https://irzyxa.wordpress.com/tag/volume2/ , although I don't like using third party apps for such simple tasks.

best regards,

Rok

Hello Rok,

Thank you for your response.

I appreciate your time.

I would suggest you to try reinstalling the audio driver in compatibility mode and check the issue.

You need to download audio driver from the computer manufacturer's website.

Further, please follow these steps:

a. Right click the audio driver file and click properties.

b. Click compatibility tab.

c. Click to check "Run this program in compatibility mode for" box and select Windows 8.

d. Click apply and ok.

Now, install the driver.

Please keep us updated.

Thank you

Hello Rok,

Thank you for your response.

I appreciate your time.

I would suggest you to try reinstalling the audio driver in compatibility mode and check the issue.

You need to download audio driver from the computer manufacturer's website.

Further, please follow these steps:

a. Right click the audio driver file and click properties.

b. Click compatibility tab.

c. Click to check "Run this program in compatibility mode for" box and select Windows 8.

d. Click apply and ok.

Now, install the driver.

Please keep us updated.

Thank you

It helped.. Not compatibility mode, but installing driver from Realtek home page... Thanks for the idea.

Best regards,

Rok