Task manager icon missing from Notification area

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Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand your concern, and we in Community will try to help you in the best possible way we can.

I suggest that you try the steps below and check if the issue persist.

1. Open task manager (ctrl+alt+delete).

2. Locate «Details» tab and find «explorer.exe» and click on End Task.

3. Go to «File» click on «Run new Task» and type «explorer.exe» in the dialog box and click on «OK».

Your reply is very important for us to ensure a proper resolution.

For further assistance, you can post your query in Microsoft Community.

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Task Manager icon appears in the notification area.

But I don’t know whether it will disappear again or not, ‘cos it disappears spontaneously ‘sometimes’.

Another thing, I chose ‘Hide when minimized’ option. I had to check this again.

I have upgraded from Windows 8.1 Pro, and in that system I made a Task Scheduler to open Task Manager each time I log on my computer. It was a problem in 8.1, and I think also in 10, that sometimes it opens spontaneosuly on starting PC (the thing I like) sometimes it doesn’t, but I think it is less disobedient in Windows 10.

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As I thought, task manager disappeared again. Could make it reappear by Ctrl+Alt+Del. Task manager also forgot my choice ‘Hide when minimzed’.

What’s the permanent remedy?

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The thing gets worse few days back.

Now Task Manager IS ABSENT from the Task Bar Notification Area, AND I CAN’T MAKE IT REAPPEAR BY RESTARTING MY SYSTEM OR BY CTRL+ALT+DEL.

I don’t know whether it is related to any update or not. I regularly update Windows 10, and can’t remember exactly when Task Manager disappeared for good.

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I had the same problem as well. I brought up the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, and on the Taskbar tab, at Notification area, I clicked Customize. I then clicked «Select which icons appear on the taskbar». Task Manager was listed and was turned on, but its icon was blank. I turned it off and turned it on again, closed and restarted Task Manager, and the little icon now appears in the notification area. Meanwhile, in «Select which icons appear on the taskbar», Task Manager now shows its proper icon as well.

This worked exactly the same for another program whose icon wasn’t showing up properly as well.

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Task manager icon missing from Notification area

Replies (6) 

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand your concern, and we in Community will try to help you in the best possible way we can.

I suggest that you try the steps below and check if the issue persist.

1. Open task manager (ctrl+alt+delete).

2. Locate «Details» tab and find «explorer.exe» and click on End Task.

3. Go to «File» click on «Run new Task» and type «explorer.exe» in the dialog box and click on «OK».

Your reply is very important for us to ensure a proper resolution.

For further assistance, you can post your query in Microsoft Community.

16 people found this reply helpful

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Task Manager icon appears in the notification area.

But I don’t know whether it will disappear again or not, ‘cos it disappears spontaneously ‘sometimes’.

Another thing, I chose ‘Hide when minimized’ option. I had to check this again.

I have upgraded from Windows 8.1 Pro, and in that system I made a Task Scheduler to open Task Manager each time I log on my computer. It was a problem in 8.1, and I think also in 10, that sometimes it opens spontaneosuly on starting PC (the thing I like) sometimes it doesn’t, but I think it is less disobedient in Windows 10.

2 people found this reply helpful

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As I thought, task manager disappeared again. Could make it reappear by Ctrl+Alt+Del. Task manager also forgot my choice ‘Hide when minimzed’.

What’s the permanent remedy?

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The thing gets worse few days back.

Now Task Manager IS ABSENT from the Task Bar Notification Area, AND I CAN’T MAKE IT REAPPEAR BY RESTARTING MY SYSTEM OR BY CTRL+ALT+DEL.

I don’t know whether it is related to any update or not. I regularly update Windows 10, and can’t remember exactly when Task Manager disappeared for good.

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I had the same problem as well. I brought up the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, and on the Taskbar tab, at Notification area, I clicked Customize. I then clicked «Select which icons appear on the taskbar». Task Manager was listed and was turned on, but its icon was blank. I turned it off and turned it on again, closed and restarted Task Manager, and the little icon now appears in the notification area. Meanwhile, in «Select which icons appear on the taskbar», Task Manager now shows its proper icon as well.

This worked exactly the same for another program whose icon wasn’t showing up properly as well.

18 people found this reply helpful

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Task Manager System Tray Icon in Windows 10

I would like to have the system tray icon of the Task Manager started at boot in WIndows 10.

I have tried the batch file method in StackOverflow and the old Windows 7 Method it does not seem to work anymore.

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Hi Lamak, my name is Neil, I’m an independent adviser for Microsoft and a Windows user like you.

Have you tried pinning the Task Manager to your taskbar?

Open task manager and then right click on the icon on your taskbar and choose pin to taskbar.

This will ensure that task manager is always there and just a single click away to open.

I will try and find out about loading it in your system tray if it is still possible.

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Hi Lamak, my name is Neil, I’m an independent adviser for Microsoft and a Windows user like you.

Have you tried pinning the Task Manager to your taskbar?

Open task manager and then right click on the icon on your taskbar and choose pin to taskbar.

This will ensure that task manager is always there and just a single click away to open.

I will try and find out about loading it in your system tray if it is still possible.

The pinning is easy, I just want to see the icon in the system try where I could just mouse over to see the stats.

It used to be possible in previous versions but with Windows 10 Microsoft has gone backwards.

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Yeah, fair enough. I was just seeing if you thought of that (sometimes it’s easy to overlook the easy options). but it depends why you want to use task manager I suppose. Personally, I wouldn’t want a pinned icon either 🙂

I’ve found a registry edit that I am trying right now and I’ll let you know if it works or not 🙂

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Yeah, fair enough. I was just seeing if you thought of that (sometimes it’s easy to overlook the easy options). but it depends why you want to use task manager I suppose. Personally, I wouldn’t want a pinned icon either 🙂

I’ve found a registry edit that I am trying right now and I’ll let you know if it works or not 🙂

Have not heard back from you. Has the registry edit worked for you?

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Hi, I apologise for the delay. The answer is unfortunately no 🙁

I did go on to find a more, let’s say, in-depth fix, (quite convoluted) but after trying that, I still could not get it to work.

The only way to get the effect you want is for you to press ctrl+shift+Esc to bring up Task Manager manually and then click on Options.

Then select «Hide when minimised» to put a tick next to this.

Then when you minimise the window it won’t be on your taskbar and only show in the system tray with the small icon.

So getting this to be done automatically is a no as far as I can see. But quickly pressing ctrl+shift+Esc and then minimise after boot up takes me less than a few seconds.

I’m sorry I cannot be of more help!

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How to open Task Manager in Windows

Most Windows users will be familiar with this problem: Their computer noticeably slows down and the execution of programs or processes grinds to a halt, yet, they can’t see which application is causing the slowdown. In some cases, open windows freeze and stop responding to your commands.

If this sounds familiar, the Windows operating system series (as of Windows 2000) provides a practical tool to help you: the Windows Task Manager. This handy program provides an overview of all running processes alongside information about the computer’s power consumption. We’ll show you the options for opening the Task Manager.

What is Windows Task Manager?

When a user launches and uses one or several programs, these user-controlled processes join a whole host of default processes that are already running in the background. Typically, a browser with several tabs, a text editor with an open document, an email client, a graphics program, and software for playing background music may all run at the same time. Though it’s true that these applications are clearly visible via their distinct symbol on the taskbar, their exact influence on PC performance cannot be discerned at first glance.

The Windows Task Manager gets rid of this uncertainty by offering an overview of all applications running in the background. When you discover an unnecessary process, you also have the option of ending this directly from the Task Manager. The practical tool provides detailed information on individual processes. Below you can see a quick overview of the most important tasks in the Task Manager:

• A process’s CPU and memory utilization (CPU is the abbreviation for “Central Processing Unit” and denotes your computer’s main processor)
• A process’s data carrier utilization
• Network load triggered by a process
• A process’s power consumption
• A list of programs in which autostart is activated

This information allows you to spot a program running at high capacity that you do not even need or use. You can deactivate these directly from within the Task Manager or uninstall them from your computer.

The Task Manager provides a list of all active processes and detailed information regarding them.

Open Task Manager with your mouse, keyboard or a shortcut

Windows offers several options for opening the Task Manager. The handy program can be called up using your mouse, your keyboard, or a nifty Task Manager key combination. The option you go for depends on your personal preference. If your operating system is no longer responding properly, however, opening the Task Manager is the way to go. This is the case if all programs and windows are frozen.

Below, we explain the various options for opening the Task Manager. The instructions and pictures refer to Windows 10, however, they also apply to Windows 7 and 8 with only a few changes.

Are you not sure which Windows version you are using? Check out our article “Find Out Your Windows Version” to see the version you’re currently using in just a few steps.

Opening Task Manager with a shortcut

Key combinations are usually the quickest option for accessing applications. Task Manager is no different. When you press the three keys [ctrl] + [alt] + [del] at the same time, Windows will open a simple menu on a plain background. Select the “Task Manager” option in this menu to launch Task Manager in a new window.

If you use Windows 7, this option is displayed under “Start Task Manager” in the menu.

However, Windows also offers a quick and easy Task Manager key combination that will take you straight to the tool. For this, hold down the [ctrl] + [shift] + [esc] keys at the same time. Task Manager will then open automatically without requiring any further mouse clicks.

Start Task Manager from the “Run” dialog window

You can also open the Windows Task Manager using the “Run” dialog window – the tool you may have used to send short text commands to the operating system. You can bring it up either by opening the Start menu (by clicking the Windows icon) and clicking the “Run” button, or by pressing the [Windows] + [R] key combination.

Enter the “taskmgr” command and click “OK” to immediately open the Task Manager.

Open the Task Manager with the “taskmgr” command in the “run” dialog window.

How to launch Windows Task Manager from the taskbar’s context menu

You don’t necessarily need a keyboard in order to open the Task Manager. Starting the program from the context menu allows you to manage it without a single keystroke. To do this, first right-clickon the taskbar in order to call up the context menu. In this, select the “Task Manager” option with the left mouse button. The same function is displayed to users of Windows 7 as “Start Task Manager”.

You can also open Task Manager in the taskbar’s context menu.

Starting the Task Manager via the Windows icon’s context menu

From Windows 8, you can also start the process manager from the context menu that you can call up via the Windows icon. Just like the previous option, no keyboard is necessary for this. In order to open the Windows button’s context menu, just right-clickon the Windows icon – this can usually be found in the left-hand corner of the taskbar. The context menu will launch. Another way to open this menu is by using the keyboard shortcut [Windows] + [X]. Either way, the next – and final – step is to select the “Task Manager” option.

The Windows button’s context menu can be opened with a right-click or a Task Manager shortcut.

Using the search function to call up the Task Manager

Finally, Windows also provides the option of searching your whole computer for content of all types. You can use this option to find and open the Task Manager quickly. In Windows 10, the search field is usually located directly on the taskbar (otherwise in the Start menu).

Enter the search term “Task Manager”. The displayed search results will update automatically as you enter it. As soon as the appropriate result appears, select it with a left-click in the “Best Match” field or click on “Open” in the right field as shown below.

Search for the term “Task Manager” in order to open the process manager.

Can’t find the search function in your taskbar? Right-click on the bar, then open the “Search” menu and select the “Display search field” option with the left mouse button. The search field will appear on your taskbar.

If you use Windows 7 or 8: Open the Start menu with a left-click on the Windows button. In Windows 7, the search bar becomes immediately visible. Enter the search term as described above then hit the Enter key on your keyboard. In Windows 8, you won’t see an entry field, but you don’t need one. Just open the start menu and type in your search term. The operating system will automatically perform the search and show you the results.

If the Task Manager is already open, you can also pin it to the taskbar for easy access if you like. To do this, right-click on the Task Manager symbol on the taskbar and select the option “Pin to the taskbar” with a left-click. This will allow you to open the Task Manager in just one click at any time.