This could be due to a bunch of reasons, having to do with a corrupt icon cache, issues with the Windows Explorer process, or misconfigured Local Group Policy Editor, amongst other issues. All these can be easily fixed, and you can have the pinned item back in no time. So, let’s go through the most effective methods to fix the pinned apps not showing error in Windows 11.
What can I do if pinned apps aren’t showing in Windows 11?
Before we head to the slightly complex solutions, try these first:
Restart the computer and verify whether Windows 11 disappeared apps are now available. Check for corrupt system files since it’s often the reason Pin to taskbar is not showing in Windows 11.
If these don’t work, move to the fixes listed next.
1. Restart the Windows Explorer process
If you were wondering how do I fix taskbar icons not showing in Windows 11, remember, the Taskbar is bundled with the Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) process, and problems with the latter can lead to pinned apps not showing in Windows 11. Just restarting the process should fix the error for you. Also, this would work when pinned apps are not showing on taskbar in Windows 10.
2. Update the graphics driver
An outdated graphics driver is another likely issue behind pinned apps not showing in Windows 11. So, it’s best that you update the graphics driver and verify if the error is eliminated. Also, you can try other ways to update the driver, in case the Device Manager method does not work and Windows 11 icons are still not displaying correctly. If that sounds like too much trouble, using a reliable third-party app could help. We recommend DriverFix, a dedicated tool that automatically scans for any available updates and installs them for the drivers on your computer, thus keeping them all up-to-date. ⇒ Get DriverFix
3. Delete the icon cache file
The IconCache.db has a copy of every app icon, and when required, Windows directly retrieves it from here instead of going through the app files. If it’s corrupt, you may find the app icon not showing in Windows 11. Once you delete the cache file and restart the computer, it will be recreated which will remove any corruption.
4. Reconfigure Local Group Policy Editor
That’s it, the pinned apps or icons not showing in Windows 11 error should now be fixed, and you can easily access your favorite apps with a click. Also, several users have faced the taskbar apps disappearing error in Windows 10, so if you have another PC running the previous iteration, the linked guide will help you fix it. Do not hesitate to tell us which solution worked for you in the comments section below.
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