Disappearance of Windows 11 Taskbar Icons after Switching Virtual Desktops

Anonymous
2023-11-24T09:01:51+00:00

Windows 11 22H2
In Windows 11's built-in virtual desktop feature, there is a high probability that icons of active applications on the current desktop may not be displayed when switching between different virtual desktops. The icons only appear when I click on the respective application. I have attempted to resolve the issue through restarts and using Sfc and Dism for repairs, but the problem persists. An essential configuration to note is that the taskbar is set to display windows only from the current desktop.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-08-10T16:06:19+00:00

    Man I hate this goddamn OS so much. I am stuck using this and I hate it every day even more.

    I have seen this virtual desktop function years back but never really used it, but now that I NEED it to work

    For real there is no real comparison to the virtual desktops on macOS, they are smooth from corner to corner, this Microsoft cant even display the icons properly.

    ~<edited to remove COC violations>

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-08-09T19:40:03+00:00

    The most disappointing part of this issue is that it tells me Microsoft employee's don't use Microsoft products, at least don't use them as hard as real developers do. Exploiting their dominant market position is eventually the beginning of the end.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-08-02T08:03:49+00:00

    ⬇️⚠️ Here is a workaround, until Microsoft finally decides to fix the issue! ⚠️⬇️

    The workaround is to install ExplorerPatcher.

    This seems to fix the issue where icons disappear when switching virtual desktops in a multi-monitor environment.

    Steps:

    1. Download ExplorerPatcher and install it. This will restart Windows Explorer and change your taskbar to the Windows 10 one.
    2. Once installed, open the start menu and launch Properties (ExplorerPatcher).
    3. On the first settings tab Taskbar, change Taskbar style back to Windows 11 (or keep Windows 10 if you want ^^).

    Image

    Voilà! After restarting the File Explorer, the icons should stop disappearing when switching virtual desktops!

    If this works for you, please share it as largely as possible! The issue has been driving us insane for long enough.

    Also consider donating to the ExplorerPatcher project which is Open Source (disclaimer: I'm not affiliated to the project in any way)!

    Thanks for posting this, but unfortunately it didn't solve the issue for me completely - it may have only slightly reduced the frequency of it happening. Disabling animation effects seems to be the only reliable workaround for now.

    Over 9 months of this issue existing on Microsoft's current operating system... Tragic, really.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-07-26T15:00:50+00:00

    Has this issue been followed up by the official staff?

    No, they can't be bothered with fixing any issues. They are too busy releasing useless features. Whatever team is handling taskbar on windows is by far the worst team in Microsoft like how can a simple issue be allowed to go on for so long?

    I'd have to agree with this statement at this point. There have been people asking for basic fixes and features specific to the taskbar and it's behavior for a very long time, and in usual Microsoft fashion there is just no response or acknowledgement. Letting users use the quick settings and notification center on multiple monitors for one. They display the calendar and time on all monitors but you can't interact with it. Something that worked fine on Win10. It's their model at this point to take away features and reduce the usability of the product...look at the "new Outlook" and it's the same story.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-07-24T22:04:54+00:00

    Hi John,

    This issue is still occurring.

    Can you please forward it to the relevant team so an update with fix can be pushed out?

    Thanks

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