Volume taskbar icon vanished / greyed-out in Control Panel

Anonymous
2014-04-20T14:08:38+00:00

Hi,

Since installing the latest major 8.1 update, my Volume Notification Area icon has disappeared. (It returned briefly but the default seems for it to inexplicably go away again to not return).

It still shows up as active when I go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Notification Area Icons

But toggling this a bubble appears saying "This notification icon is not currently active"

Going then into "Turn system icons on or off", the Volume System Icon is turned off, and greyed-out for access.

Why would this happen?

I see old threads for this happening in Win7, and I'm wary of downloading a registry fix in case my 8.1 computer blows up.

Thanks

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2015-02-19T14:07:54+00:00
  1. Hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete and open Task Manager
  2. Click on DETAILS tab
  3. Find explorer.exe, right-click, and click on END TASK
  4. On the top Menu Bar, click on FILE, RUN NEW TASK
  5. Enter explorer.exe in the task entry box and click on OK
  6. On the top Menu Bar, click on VIEW and REFRESH NOW
  7. Volume icon should reappear after refresh

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Anonymous
2014-05-06T16:56:20+00:00

I checked and my drivers are up to date.

The problem actually fixed itself as suddenly as it started... no idea what that was about.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-12-01T19:08:39+00:00

    this seems to happen whenever i unplug my speakers (not sure it's every time though)

    annoying as once I'm away from them I have no way of shutting the bloody sound off this thing

    FFS it's just happened AGAIN!

    Not even touched the speakers today

    Sort it out!

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-28T16:46:28+00:00

    Hi John,

    Thank you for posting your query here in Microsoft Community. I would also like to thank you for providing the detailed information about this issue and we appreciate it.

    I suggest you to try reinstalling the Audio drivers and check if it helps. Normally this should work if the drivers folder is corrupted. This has helped most of the Community Members facing the same issue.

    Please feel free to visit our website for any help with Windows Operating System.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-11-15T14:45:28+00:00

    Hi, Basith.

    I'm having almost the same problem as Elias. My Volume Control icon doesn't go gray... but it DOES keep disappearing from the Win 8.1 tray. I went to the Control Panel section for configuring the notification tray. At first I tried selecting the setting for every icon until I had it the way I wanted, but it didn't stay that way. In a few days the volume icon had once again been banished to the little purgatory area you have to click the little arrow to see.

    Next, I clicked the box for "Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar." That worked for a few weeks, but today I find the only icon tossed out of the lineup is Volume Control - the one I use most by far! And when I clicked that box on the configuration dialog box, the little arrow disappeared, which makes sense.  But it means I don't have even THAT shortcut available.

    I'd like to know how to get it back, but really more importantly I'd like to know WHY it won't just stay there in the first place.

    I'm using a brand new ASUS R510L with Windows 8.1. I keep it powered on most of the day and generally put it to sleep instead of powering down. Except when I'm installing/uninstalling/monkeying with any drivers or other miscellaneous bits. Then it gets a fresh boot.

    I hope I've provided enough information to explain the problem...

    Thanks for all your assistance in these threads; it's much appreciated.

    John A

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