Windows 10 Taskbar Not Working After Update

We all know that the taskbar is the gateway to many handy tools and apps for Windows 10. However, it can also be a cause of technical problems for some. Once it does not work or function properly, it becomes almost impossible to perform any tasks on your computer.

The taskbar should return and work as it normally would after your Windows 10 computer has successfully rebooted. Fix #5: Try a Couple of PowerShell Fixes. If your taskbar is there, but you cannot click on it, try to re-register all Windows 10 apps or delete all of them. Re-register Windows 10 Apps. The Meet Now taskbar icon came to Windows 10 versions 1903 and 1909 via the KB4580386 cumulative earlier this week. However, the feature hasn't yet made it to Windows 10 version 2004, the May 2020. The Windows 10 Taskbar not working is a UI error which is easy to fix if you know what needs to be done. Reasons could vary like an error or bug in an associated system file or a recent Windows update that broke something. Let's see the best ways to fix Windows 10 taskbar not working error. Feb 21, 2020 The instructions in this article apply only to Windows 10. Cause of Windows 10 Taskbar Not Responding The Windows 10 taskbar may be frozen for a variety of reasons, including an incomplete operating system update, an update bug, corrupted system files, or corrupted user account files.

With the launch of Windows 10 in 2015, we were treated with a revamped taskbar. Although its function remains the same, it's obvious that it's got a sleek visual refresh.

After the most recent Windows update, many people found their Windows 10 Start menu not working. You may be able to overcome this problem by reinstalling these drivers. Some people have got their Start menu back working again after doing this.

Then again, it also came with something that most Windows users didn't welcome: errors and problems. Many reported that taskbar froze while they were doing other important tasks and processes.

The problem became even worse after the update 2019-03, where the taskbar icons have reportedly disappeared and apps uninstalled.

Windows 10 Taskbar Not Working After Update Windows 10

Considering that the taskbar is considered a key element in Windows 10 computers, having problems with it poses a huge challenge to users. Easy slideshow app for mac. So before you go into a full-blown panic mode, we suggest you try to resolve the problem with the solutions we have for you below.

Fix #1: Restart Windows Explorer.

A quick and possible solution to your 'taskbar icons have disappeared and apps have uninstalled after update 2019-03″ problem is to restart Windows Explorer. This utility is responsible for controlling the Windows shell, which includes the Start Menu, File Explorer app, and taskbar.

To restart Windows Explorer, follow the steps below:

1. Launch the Task Manager using the CTRL + Shift + ESC keys.
2. Scroll down to the bottom-most portion of the window and click More Details.
3. Navigate to the Processes tab and find Windows Explorer.
4. Right-click on it and select Restart. After doing this, you will notice that the taskbar goes missing for a minute or two, but then comes back. Don't worry because it's normal.
5. Restart your computer.

Fix #2: Make Sure Taskbar Is Not Hiding.

If restarting Windows Explorer does not fix your problem with missing taskbar icons and apps after update 2019-03, then you might want to check if you have enabled the taskbar auto-hide feature.

Here's how:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Personalization.
3. Click Taskbar.
4. Check if the switch next to Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode option is enabled. If not, toggle the switch.

Fix #3: Run the System File Checker Command.

If your taskbar is missing and the system tray does not display the clock and other important Windows 10 functions, you might need to use run the System File Checker Command to fix your problem.

Here's a detailed guide on how to do this:

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. Select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
3. In the command line, input sfc /scannow.
4. Hit Enter to execute the command.
5. Restart your computer.

Fix #4: Execute the DISM Command.

In case the SFC command does not resolve your problem, you can try another one: Disk Image Servicing and Management (DISM).

Here's how:

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. Choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
3. On the command line, input DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
4. Hit Enter to run the command.
5. Reboot your computer.

The taskbar should return and work as it normally would after your Windows 10 computer has successfully rebooted.

Fix #5: Try a Couple of PowerShell Fixes.

If your taskbar is there, but you cannot click on it, try to re-register all Windows 10 apps or delete all of them.

Re-register Windows 10 Apps

1. In the search bar, input PowerShell.
2. Hit Enter.
3. Right-click on the top result of your search. Select Run as Administrator.
4. On the command line, enter this: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register '$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml'}.
5. Press Enter.
6. Now go to C:Users[Username]AppDataLocal and locate the Tile Data Layer folder. Delete it.
7. After a few minutes, you should be able to click on the apps and icons on your taskbar.

Windows 10 Taskbar Not Working After Updates

Remove All Windows 10 Apps

1. In the search bar, input PowerShell.
2. Hit Enter.
3. Right-click on the top result of your search. Select Run as Administrator.
4. In the command line, input this command: Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackageGet-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online.
5. Press Enter.
6. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Take note that removing all Windows 10 apps is an invasive solution as it involves deleting important apps, such as Microsoft Store.

Fix #6: Install All Available Windows and Driver Updates.

The problem became even worse after the update 2019-03, where the taskbar icons have reportedly disappeared and apps uninstalled.

Windows 10 Taskbar Not Working After Update Windows 10

Considering that the taskbar is considered a key element in Windows 10 computers, having problems with it poses a huge challenge to users. Easy slideshow app for mac. So before you go into a full-blown panic mode, we suggest you try to resolve the problem with the solutions we have for you below.

Fix #1: Restart Windows Explorer.

A quick and possible solution to your 'taskbar icons have disappeared and apps have uninstalled after update 2019-03″ problem is to restart Windows Explorer. This utility is responsible for controlling the Windows shell, which includes the Start Menu, File Explorer app, and taskbar.

To restart Windows Explorer, follow the steps below:

1. Launch the Task Manager using the CTRL + Shift + ESC keys.
2. Scroll down to the bottom-most portion of the window and click More Details.
3. Navigate to the Processes tab and find Windows Explorer.
4. Right-click on it and select Restart. After doing this, you will notice that the taskbar goes missing for a minute or two, but then comes back. Don't worry because it's normal.
5. Restart your computer.

Fix #2: Make Sure Taskbar Is Not Hiding.

If restarting Windows Explorer does not fix your problem with missing taskbar icons and apps after update 2019-03, then you might want to check if you have enabled the taskbar auto-hide feature.

Here's how:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Personalization.
3. Click Taskbar.
4. Check if the switch next to Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode option is enabled. If not, toggle the switch.

Fix #3: Run the System File Checker Command.

If your taskbar is missing and the system tray does not display the clock and other important Windows 10 functions, you might need to use run the System File Checker Command to fix your problem.

Here's a detailed guide on how to do this:

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. Select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
3. In the command line, input sfc /scannow.
4. Hit Enter to execute the command.
5. Restart your computer.

Fix #4: Execute the DISM Command.

In case the SFC command does not resolve your problem, you can try another one: Disk Image Servicing and Management (DISM).

Here's how:

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. Choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
3. On the command line, input DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
4. Hit Enter to run the command.
5. Reboot your computer.

The taskbar should return and work as it normally would after your Windows 10 computer has successfully rebooted.

Fix #5: Try a Couple of PowerShell Fixes.

If your taskbar is there, but you cannot click on it, try to re-register all Windows 10 apps or delete all of them.

Re-register Windows 10 Apps

1. In the search bar, input PowerShell.
2. Hit Enter.
3. Right-click on the top result of your search. Select Run as Administrator.
4. On the command line, enter this: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register '$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml'}.
5. Press Enter.
6. Now go to C:Users[Username]AppDataLocal and locate the Tile Data Layer folder. Delete it.
7. After a few minutes, you should be able to click on the apps and icons on your taskbar.

Windows 10 Taskbar Not Working After Updates

Remove All Windows 10 Apps

1. In the search bar, input PowerShell.
2. Hit Enter.
3. Right-click on the top result of your search. Select Run as Administrator.
4. In the command line, input this command: Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackageGet-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -online.
5. Press Enter.
6. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Take note that removing all Windows 10 apps is an invasive solution as it involves deleting important apps, such as Microsoft Store.

Fix #6: Install All Available Windows and Driver Updates.

This fix is a bit broad, hence it's applicable to many Windows 10 problems, including taskbar missing icons and oobekeyboard errors.

Outdated device drivers can trigger all sorts of issues. Therefore, updating them is worth trying, especially if you are still trying to figure out what's really affecting your system.

To update outdated device drivers, we recommend using a third-party driver updater. This way, you can be sure that you are installing a driver that is compatible with both your system and hardware.

Aside from updating your outdated device drivers, you need to check if your Windows 10 OS is up-to-date as well. To do this, go to Settings. Select Update & Security. Lastly, click Windows Update and check whether there are pending updates that need to be installed.

Fix #7: Create a New User Account.

Still unable to click on anything on your taskbar? Are the icons and apps on the taskbar missing? It is likely that your current user account does not meet the requirements set by User Access Control (UAC).

Developed by Microsoft, UAC is responsible for ensuring that only trusted users can access certain apps and tools. It grants administrative privileges to users to keep malware at bay. If you are using a guest account and can't even access the calculator, then it is possible that there is a UAC conflict.

In this case, the best thing you can do is to ask the administrator to create a new user account for you. But if you have admin access yourself, simply follow the steps below:

1. Be sure you are logged into an administrator account.
2. Go to Settings and click on Accounts.
3. Navigate to the Family and other users section.
4. Choose Add someone else to this PC.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to create a new Windows user account.
6. When asked for the email or password of the user, select the I don't have this person's sign-in information option.
7. Click Add a user without Microsoft.
8. Provide all the details asked for.
9. Navigate back to Settings.
10. Go to Accounts and then Your Account.
11. Under your account photo, click Sign in with local account instead.
12. Provide your current administrator account password.
13. Hit Next.
14. Enter the username and password of the account you've just created.
15. Select Sign out and finish.
16. At this point, you can easily switch from your administrator account to your newly created local account. From here, you can now delete the account with UAC conflict.
17. Check if taskbar is now working fine.

Fix #8: Free Up Some Disk Space.

There is a chance that you don't have enough disk space that is why your taskbar is acting up. To quickly free up some space, use a reliable PC cleaning tool. After a few clicks, you should be able to get rid of system junk and reclaim valuable disk space.

Conclusion

After trying the fixes above, we hope and pray you won't run into problems with your taskbar again. But if you do, we are confident that you already know what to do.

Do you have any possible fix to add? Share it below!

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Are you clicking on icons at the taskbar but nothing happens?
Or are the icons not shown on your taskbar? Or even worse, is the taskbar not there at all?

Follow one of the 5 simple methods below to fix your issues if your Windows 10 taskbar is not working, and get right back to doing more enjoyable things 🙂

Quick Jump

Win 10 Taskbar Not Working

Method I: Restart Windows Explorer using Task Manager

Windows explorer is responsible for all the Windows User Interface, and since your taskbar is a part of it, then restarting Windows Explorer solves the problem in most cases. Follow me in order to do it:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + ESC buttons or right-click on your task bar and select Task manager to launch it.
2. Click More details if you're not seeing the big panel (see picture).
3. In the Processes tab, right-click on Windows Explorer and then select Restart.

Once your screen refreshes, try to your taskbar again and see if it works. If you can't restart it using Task manager, here is another method to restart it using CMD.

Method II: Restart Windows Explorer using CMD

All process can be killed and run using CMD, we will do this to Explorer.exe which is Windows Explorer's process. Here is how to do it:

1. Press Windows logo key + X and then choose Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Click Yes to give permissions to it.
3. Once CMD is launched, type this command to terminate the Windows Explorer process: taskkill /f /im explorer.exe and then press Enter.
4. The taskbar, the background and the desktop icons are gone, right? It's time to get them back, type explorer.exe and then press Enter.

Everything should be okay now, check it now and if you're still facing some troubles, continue reading for more methods.

Explorer' Method III: Disable some startup programs

Maybe the reason behind the issue is an outsider app that launches at startup. Therefore, we will have to disable all non-Microsoft programs from startup.

Luckily, we have a full guide about disabling and enabling startup programs right here, follow it to disable all non-Microsoft apps as we said and restart your computer and see if it works.

Method IV: Make sure you have the latest Windows 10 version

Checking for updates is one of the greatest keys to solve any Windows problem. Every update comes with tons of solutions for bugs that show up. Some users reported having the taskbar issue from time to time until they updated their Windows to the latest version. It's then recommended to give it a shot:

1. Open Settings from your start menu.
2. Click on Updates & Security.
3. Click on the Check for updates button, your computer will then check for, download and install any updates found.

After downloading and installing the new updates (click here if you want to read about what the latest update changed in your computer), your computer should restart. Now, see if the taskbar is back to work and if it doesn't, here's another method to fix it.

Method V: Check for old restore points

A good solution is to go back in time and avoid the reason behind a problem, no? That's why if all the solutions above fail, you got to try this one:

1. Open Control Panel and search for recovery.
2. Open System restore.
3. Click Next.
4. Choose a previous restore point at a time where the problem wasn't there yet and click Next.
5. Click Finish.

Windows 10 Taskbar Not Working After Update

And that's it!

Windows 10 Taskbar Not Working After Update Windows 10

Did these methods solve your Window 10 taskbar not working issue? Did you find another way to fix your taskbar? We'd love to hear from you in the comment section below!