Tray icons become dysfunctional after killing explorer

[Ally]

[I posted this on superuser yesterday but I doubt it'll get any responses any time soon.]

I'm currently running Windows 10 Enterprise (1909) on a Lenovo Yoga x390 laptop. Recently it's been encountering some issues which have required me to force kill explorer: various icon issues, Windows Explorer issues which I've experienced when using Windows 10 anyway across all versions - I digress.

The most recent issue I've encountered is with the Windows 10 Tray Icons - or some of them. The two in particular at the moment are the WiFi icons and the Volume Control icons. After killing explorer, the two icons are still visible but become completely dysfunctional: Neither left clicking nor right clicking evoke any response from the usual Windows UI. Additionally, when the settings for either of these are changed, the new values are not reflected in the icons (i.e. WiFi network, current volume).

I've made the following related observations:

• Every other tray icon works - all collapsed icons are able to be expanded with the up arrow icon. Keyboard language, notification area and Windows Ink Workspace are functional, along with all non-Windows tray icons.
• Re-killing explorer does not resolve the issue.
• Logging off and logging back on does not resolve the issue.
• Starting explorer as admin does not resolve the issue.
• Restarting is the only fix I can find.
• I've run sfc and have found no issues. It looks like a process issue.

At present, formatting or reimaging my laptop is not an option for me.

 

[stylishlux]

Could you try creating a new administrator user profile and see if the issue persists?
Here's the fastest way to do that:

• Press Windows key + R
• Type control userpasswords2 and click OK
• Click on add under users tab
• Click the option, "Sign-in without a Microsoft account
• Click on Local account
• Choose a name for the account
• Add password if you want to
• Apply and click OK.
  

[DOUBLEPOST=1597823347][/DOUBLEPOST]Side note, I've had this issue myself and this PowerShell fix was what worked for me. You might want to try the following:
1. Right-click on Start Menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type PowerShell and press Enter.
3. Paste the following command in the PowerShell window and press Enter.
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
4. Close PowerShell and navigate to C:/Users/name/AppData/Local/
5. Delete TileDataLayer folder

 

[Ally]

Could you try creating a new administrator user profile and see if the issue persists?
Here's the fastest way to do that:

• Press Windows key + R
• Type control userpasswords2 and click OK
• Click on add under users tab
• Click the option, "Sign-in without a Microsoft account
• Click on Local account
• Choose a name for the account
• Add password if you want to
• Apply and click OK.

Just tried that. No such luck unfortunately.

Side note, I've had this issue myself and this PowerShell fix was what worked for me. You might want to try the following:
1. Right-click on Start Menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type PowerShell and press Enter.
3. Paste the following command in the PowerShell window and press Enter.
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
4. Close PowerShell and navigate to C:/Users/name/AppData/Local/
5. Delete TileDataLayer folder

There were quite a few errors that came up running this, I don't think a lot of the processes could get killed to be re-registered. Also, there's no TileDataLayer folder there.

Tysm for the help so far.

 

[stylishlux]

You could try this related system tray fix, which involves deleting a few registry entries. Make a backup beforehand.
https://news.softpedia.com/news/how-to-fix-broken-system-tray-icons-in-windows-10-523535.shtml

 

[Ally]

You could try this related system tray fix, which involves deleting a few registry entries. Make a backup beforehand.
https://news.softpedia.com/news/how-to-fix-broken-system-tray-icons-in-windows-10-523535.shtml

Dang, didn't work. Thanks though.

By didn't work I mean essentially nothing happened unfortunately. No errors or whatever either. I might have to dig through the event logs but I doubt it'd pick anything up.

 

[stylishlux]

I'll let you know if I think of anything else. Sowwy to disappoint

 

[ShowUp]

[I posted this on superuser yesterday but I doubt it'll get any responses any time soon.]

I'm currently running Windows 10 Enterprise (1909) on a Lenovo Yoga x390 laptop. Recently it's been encountering some issues which have required me to force kill explorer: various icon issues, Windows Explorer issues which I've experienced when using Windows 10 anyway across all versions - I digress.

The most recent issue I've encountered is with the Windows 10 Tray Icons - or some of them. The two in particular at the moment are the WiFi icons and the Volume Control icons. After killing explorer, the two icons are still visible but become completely dysfunctional: Neither left clicking nor right clicking evoke any response from the usual Windows UI. Additionally, when the settings for either of these are changed, the new values are not reflected in the icons (i.e. WiFi network, current volume).

I've made the following related observations:

• Every other tray icon works - all collapsed icons are able to be expanded with the up arrow icon. Keyboard language, notification area and Windows Ink Workspace are functional, along with all non-Windows tray icons.
• Re-killing explorer does not resolve the issue.
• Logging off and logging back on does not resolve the issue.
• Starting explorer as admin does not resolve the issue.
• Restarting is the only fix I can find.
• I've run sfc and have found no issues. It looks like a process issue.

At present, formatting or reimaging my laptop is not an option for me.

Have you tried reaching out to Windows support?

 

[Ally]

Have you tried reaching out to Windows support?

Nope. Being on a school-imaged laptop they very likely wouldn't be able to help as a lot of the policies on here are dictated by the department of education & our school. I also cannot go to the technicians (they are closed iirc additionally) as they would reimage my laptop which isn't an option for me right now.

 

[Samuel V]

Well unfortunately with it being a school laptop I'm not sure if you can do this.

Upgrading to 2004 in theory should fix all your issues as it fixes and corrupt files within Windows while updating, even if SFC didn't pick any up.

 

[Ally]

My issue's been fixed but it's really odd. I went into Registry and had to change AllowCortana in Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search from 0 to 1. I then restarted the computer. I then killed explorer and starting explorer again, which didn't yield the same issue I was having before. I'm so very very confused now.

Thanks bt2S5NpQVjX9yGNKJ so much for solution. Thanks also stylishlux for trying to help too