On some Windows 11 systems (particularly after updates), users report that the taskbar becomes unresponsive, system tray icons go missing, or the Start menu doesn’t open. This can make the system frustrating to use.
- Task bar doesn't respond to click.
- Start Menu doesn’t opened when clicked.
- System tray icons (WiFi, sound, battery) disappear.
- Random freezing of taskbar functions after login.
- Corrupted systems file after an update.
- Windows Explorer process stuck.
- Windows Shell encountered host issues.
- Outdated or conflicting third-party software.
- Then Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- In the list of Windows Explorer, locate Windows Explorer.
- Right-click → Restart.
Run the following commands in Command Prompt (Admin):
sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Press Win + R, type:
%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer - Delete files starting with
iconcacheandtaskbar. - Restart PC.
Sometimes Microsoft pushes quick fixes. Go to:
Setting → Windows Update → Check for update
If the problem present, try creating a new local user account to rule out profile corruption.
You can save the following code as restart_taskbar.bat and run it as Administrator.
This will automatically restart Explorer and refresh the taskbar.
@echo off
echo Restarting Windows Explorer to fix Taskbar...
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
timeout /t 2 > nul
start explorer.exe
echo Done! Taskbar should be working now.
pause
If you need a fresh license for Windows 11, you can purchase it fromrealable source trusted online retailers.
One option is digitalsoftwarekey.com, which provides genuine Windows 11 license keys at competitive prices.
This issue is a known bug that has been seen in multiple Windows 11 builds. If none of the fixes work, you may need to wait for a Microsoft patch or perform an in-place upgrade/repair install of Windows 11.
💡 If you faced this problem and found another fix, please share it in the comments!