Volume, Battery (Power) or Network Icon Disappear or Missing from Vista Taskbar Notification Area (System Tray)

In Windows Vista notification area (previously known as system tray or simply systray) at the end of the taskbar, there are always a few system icons that show status and allow adjustment control of some system components, such as clock, network connections, sound volume and battery power. If any of these system icons are missing or disappearing from the notification system tray in Vista, users can easily make these invisible hidden icons to unhidden and appear visible again in the Vista taskbar’s notification area.

To fix and restore the missing system icons in Vista notification area or system tray, right click on the black/empty space on the system tray itself, or on the taskbar. In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog window that appears, click on Notification Area tab if it’s not already there.

Fix Missing System Icons

In the System Icons section, tick the check box for Clock, Volume, Network or Power components to display the corresponding icons in system tray.

Sometimes, the check boxes may be disabled and grayed out probably due to third party drivers that want to show manufacturer’s icon instead. Thus users cannot change the setting to display the system icons at taskbar. In this case, click on Customize button in the Icons section at the end of Hide inactive icons option. Locate the icon items that represents the component or program you want to display in notification area, and then select Show or Hide when inactive from the behavior drop down list. Make sure it’s not Hide that’s been selected.

If the check boxes are grayed out or disabled, there is a fix to show the notification are system icons again.

75 Comments

Robert May 21, 2012 at 11:58 pm

This worked perfectly. Thanks, I search so long to find the volume control.

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selvan777 December 21, 2011 at 7:05 am

I’d like to know if it’s possible to hide the power icon when the battery is absent.

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jason A June 2, 2011 at 6:07 am

very useful – this information.

Thanks, and keep up the great work

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paul April 30, 2011 at 6:16 am

Thanks for this brilliant site, it took me ages using the help section in my pc and no joy, I do a websearch come here on the first click and problem solved… a big thankyou from me

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tony April 21, 2011 at 5:12 am

Thanks! Very helpful. Often it's so much quicker to find info thru a search engine than messing around in the "help" sections of my computer.

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Christian Solano February 26, 2011 at 6:53 am

This note about the icons helped me a lot!, thanks it was extremely helpful!

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Kate January 13, 2011 at 10:34 pm

I looked on several different websites and tried doing all the tasks they asked me to do, but nothing worked. So here's how I found a solution. Click Start. Click on Control Panel. I selected the classic view. Click on Taskbar and Start Menu. Then select Notification Area at the top. There should be a list called System Icons, and below are four options: Clock, Volume, Network, and Power. Click the box for Volume so there is a check mark; then click Apply and then OK. Problem Solved.

–> But here's where I had a problem. The box for volume was shaded gray and I was unable to check the box. All you need to do is restart your computer, re-do the steps above, and the Icon will show up back on your Taskbar.

Hope this helps!

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Mrs. J. December 17, 2010 at 4:05 pm

LOVE it. SO helpful! Thank you!

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khanbaba October 14, 2010 at 6:14 am

thx thx thx thx

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JJW October 7, 2010 at 2:30 pm

Thanks. I could reappear my network and volume icon.

In my case the boxes were disabled. Then I found that the Lock Taskbar was disabled . I enabled it and then enabled volume and network icons.

Bye

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John September 14, 2010 at 5:15 am

nice

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Shivraj Menon August 30, 2010 at 12:46 am

Thanks. I could reappear my network and volume icon.

In my case the boxes were disabled. Then I found that the Lock Taskbar was enabled. I disabled it and then enabled volume and network icons.

Bye

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lisaa August 27, 2010 at 9:54 am

OMG , TY !

I knew it was somethihng like this , but I didn't remember ! Ty , again !

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joe July 29, 2010 at 12:35 pm

thanx people………… life savers!!!!!!

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Nadia June 6, 2010 at 1:08 pm

thank you. this really worked. awesome job

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vichu April 24, 2010 at 11:54 pm

I've tried what you said.But the volume and network icons are still missing from the notification area

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Stu April 1, 2010 at 6:33 am

This worked a treat thanks. After running the download was able to turn on the the volume, Network and Power icons under the taskbar properties / notification area tab – thanks a million – it was driving me crazy!!

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ur suck March 31, 2010 at 1:10 pm

worst guide ever

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Seejith March 22, 2010 at 3:15 pm

Thnaks. I didn't had to spent much time searching in Windows Vista.

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jignesh February 6, 2010 at 12:48 am

Thanks..

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lucy January 18, 2010 at 3:00 am

Legend! As said above- first of many forums that did manage to shed any light on the situation. this worked. Thank you.

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Joanne January 4, 2010 at 3:33 pm

Thank you soooo much!!

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Clint December 20, 2009 at 10:23 pm

That was sooooo easy!I found so many forums to fix this problem but all were very complicated and risky.Thanks heaps.

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afi December 2, 2009 at 1:12 am

omg…finally!!!

thanks ..u really2 help me..

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Sarah November 12, 2009 at 9:47 pm

Copied sherru too and it worked! (and i was skeptical it wouldnt cause thats always my luck). thanks! woo hoo!

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