Windows 10: Win11 taskbar failed to function

Windows 11 came from upgrade couple of months ago got a problem where the taskbar stops working. Cant click at all. Buttons like apps, search and startmenu are not all working. Even the icons in the system tray are not usable at all therefore I cant connect to my Bluetooth and WIFI. I restarted my Windows 11 and still nothing.

:)

 

Taskbar Only Works on Secondary Display (Win11)

Greetings,

Since plugging my Eluktronics MAX-17 with Win11 Home into my television via HDMI, my main Primary laptop display's Taskbar is blank, black, unclickable and off to the lefthand side. However on external monitors it shows clearly the correct way. I've tried flipping Taskbar settings around in various ways but nothing corrects it.

TLDR: I've tried the many troubleshooting steps available online, see below for a list.

BACKGROUND:

• No new software or driver updates involved:
  
  • I merely linked my W11 Eluktronics MAX-17 laptop to my TV via HDMI, and since it accepted the external display my Taskbar went off to the left side of my primary display, and became bereft of all app icons.
    
  • The overflow section still appears to have some app icons in it, but barely just.
    
• Clicking on the blank Taskbar does nothing. Right-Clicking also does nothing.
  
  • However, the real Taskbar will show only on an extended display, not on the primary, if I connect one:
    
  • If I have the external connected, I can switch my secondary to primary and it *looks* like it's fixed, but that obviously goes back to normal once unplugged and my primary becomes the de-facto primary again.
    

STEPS TRIED:

• Chose all alternate options under actual Taskbar settings by enabling/disabling Taskbar on all monitors, etc., reducing resolution, simple troubleshooting.
  
  • Note there seems to be less control over Taskbar behavior in W11.
    
• Restarted the Windows Explorer service, and related processes:
  

ShellExperienceHost.exe (couldn't find this one)

SearchIndexer.exe

SearchHost.exe

RuntimeBroker.exe

• Used CMD >> reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\IrisService /f && shutdown -r -t 0
  
• Used CMD >> DISM ScanHealth and RestoreHealth (no corruption detected)
  
• sfc /scannow
  
• Reinstalled the UWP using PowerShell: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$ ($ _. InstallLocation) \ AppXManifest.xml”}
  
• Modified Registry: EnableXamlStartMenu under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced - (set to 0)
  
• Deleted icon appcache under Users...Local
  
• Turned off Fast Startup
  

Going bonkers. I will try other external displays next, and maybe try my work USB display hub and see if anything changes. I feel like I tripped some weird bug.

 

Blank Win11 Taskbar Icons

This has been an ongoing annoying problem since upgrading to Win11. Some of my taskbar icons show blank. (see below 4th from left which should be showing the Windows Mail icon)

I've tried a number of troubleshooting efforts after Googling the problem but nothing seems to help, including:

• Install all updates from both Microsoft and Lenovo
  
• deleting the app and re-adding it
  
• deleting the Iris Service key
  
• deleting the icon cache
  
• restarting explorer like a dozen times in a row
  

Lenovo Legion Slim 9 running up-to-date Win11.

 

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.