Windows 10: Mysterious Quick Key Make Some Icons Unopenable in System Tray Taskbar

A few weeks ago, there were a few icons in the system tray of the taskbar that I could not open -- specifically, wifi, sound, date/calendar and notification action centre. It was driving me nuts as I went to many computer tech forums and all over social media trying to find a whay to fix it. Nobody had any viable solutions.


Then one day, my son was playing a video game on the computer and after he was done who knows what other fiddling, I could suddenly open icons in the system tray. Hallelujah all was right with the universe. But it got me thinking it must have been a quick key that resolved the issue, but since it was fixed, I didn't worry about it.


My son was using my laptop again yesterday while I worked on the desktop. I am using the laptop today and suddenly, those same icons can't be opened again. I can't open the notification action centre at all while the others I can access in other areas other than those specific icons like last time.


I am positive it has to be a quick key on this laptop that has triggered this annoying issue. But I have spent an hour online and found nothing about it.


Has anyone ever had this issue or heard of it before? Any idea of what a possible quick key combo to fix it? I've tried various combos with F9 since I know the Fn+F9 freezes the mouse another useless quick key and so I felt it may be something similar. I am trying all kinds of combos and so far nothing.


Any help would be amazing. Thank you in advance.

:)

 

How to recover hidden icon in System tray on Windows 10?

Hi Callum,

As you are facing issues with un-hiding the icon in System tray, we will help you with this issue.

Do let us know which is the icon you have deleted from the system tray for better assistance?

I suggest you to try the below steps to add the icons to Taskbar and check if it helps.

• Press Windows key, click on Settings.
• Click on System> Notifications & actions.
• Click on Select which icons appear on taskbar (to select the icons that appear on Taskbar)
  and also click on Turn system icons on or off

Hope it helps. If the issue still persists, let us know with brief description for further assistance. We will be happy to help you.

Thank you.

 

System Icons on taskbar

Hi,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Communities.

Are you referring to the clock system icon on the taskbar?

If so, I suggest you to follow the steps mentioned below:

• 
  Click on the search bar on the taskbar.
  
• 
  Type system icons.
  
• 
  Under Turn System Icons ON or OFF, turn On the Clock and check with the issue.
  

Hope it helps.

 

Mystery Icon In System Tray

Hi Dalchina, Could the icon be one of the new Windows 10 icons, it looks a bit like the new feedback icon.*Smile