App Pinned to Task Bar - not showing icon

Tracy Fehr 0 Reputation points
2026-09-14T19:53:27.85+00:00

I have the snipping tool pinned to my taskbar. As of today, the icon is there; however, it is not showing anything but a black space where that App icon is... How do I fix this issue?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Task Bar
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-14T19:53:41.01+00:00

    This is usually an icon cache or shortcut icon issue. Try these steps in order:

    1. Restart Windows Explorer
      • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
      • In Processes, find Windows Explorer.
      • Right-click it, then select Restart.
      • Check whether the Snipping Tool icon returns.
    2. Clear the icon cache
      • Save open work first, because Windows Explorer will be restarted.
      • Open Task Manager.
      • In Processes, right-click Windows Explorer and select End task.
      • In Task Manager, select File > Run new task.
      • Type cmd.exe and create the task with administrative privileges.
      • Run these commands:
         CD /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local
   DEL IconCache.db /a
      • In Task Manager, select File > Run new task again.
      • Type explorer.exe and press Enter.
    3. Unpin and pin the app again
      • Right-click the Snipping Tool icon on the taskbar and select Unpin from taskbar.
      • In the Search box, type Snipping Tool.
      • Right-click the app, then select Pin to taskbar.
    4. If the icon is still blank, check the shortcut icon handler
      • Warning: registry changes can cause serious problems if done incorrectly. Back up the registry first.
      • Open Registry Editor.
      • Go to: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\IconHandler
      • Verify the (Default) value is: {00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
      • Then go to: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
      • Verify the (Default) value is Shortcut.
      • Then go to: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\InProcServer32
      • Verify the (Default) value is: C:\Windows\System32\windows.storage.dll

    These steps are the documented fixes for blank or missing taskbar icons, and re-pinning the app is also a supported taskbar action.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Clary-N 16,125 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-15T06:46:57.3933333+00:00

    Hi Tracy Fehr,

    Before trying anything else, could you confirm whether you have completed the steps in the AI Answer and whether any other taskbar icons are affected?

    If it only affects Snipping Tool, I suggest repairing the app first:

    1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
    2. Find Snipping Tool, select the three dots and choose Advanced options.
    3. Select Repair. If the icon remains blank, try Reset, although this may clear the app’s settings.

    Next, open Microsoft Store > Library > Get updates and install any available update for Snipping Tool. Restart the computer afterward and check the icon again.

    If that does not help, uninstall Snipping Tool from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, restart the computer and reinstall it using the official Snipping Tool installer.

    If other taskbar icons are also affected, check Settings > Windows Update and install any pending updates. You can then open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands one at a time:

    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

    Allow both commands to finish, then restart the computer.

    If the issue continues, test it from a temporary local account:

    1. Open Settings > Accounts > Other users.
    2. Under "Add other user", select Add account.
    3. Select "I don’t have this person’s sign-in information" > "Add a user without a Microsoft account".
    4. Enter a temporary username and password, then complete the setup.
    5. Save your work, select Start > your account icon > Sign out and sign in to the new account.
    6. Search for Snipping Tool, pin it to the taskbar and check whether its icon displays normally.

    If the icon displays correctly in the new account, that would indicate the problem is likely limited to the original Windows profile. If it remains blank there as well, the issue is more likely system-wide.

    Please also press Windows key + R, type winver and share the Windows version and OS build shown. Let me know whether the problem started after an update, restart or waking the computer from sleep.

    I hope one of these steps gets the icon displaying normally again.

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