Problems with Windows: how to return the volume icon to the taskbar

There is no such user of Windows operating system, which at least once did not deal with problems related to sound and sound equipment. The most common problems are due to improperly installed sound card drivers or their conflict with various programs. To the breakdowns associated with the sound, there may also be involved various malfunctions in the operation of the operating system or the infection with viruses.

One of the annoying problems may be the disappearance of the volume adjustment icon from the system tray. With it, you can get instant access to various audio parameters, but perhaps the most important function for the user is to quickly access the volume control of the speakers or headphones, as well as view applications that play the sound.

There are several ways to restore the volume icon to the Windows 7 taskbar , you can learn more about them below.

Method one: look in the hidden icons

If you can not find the volume icon in the system tray, check to see if it is in the hidden icons. You will need to right-click on the clock in the lower right corner, and then left-click on the "Customize the notification icons" option. A window will open with a list of all the icons that can be displayed in the task bar, in which, opposite the "Volume" item, click on the "Show icon and notifications" line in the drop-down menu. This method is the easiest, and more details on how to return to the taskbar volume icon will help the following.

Method two: restart "Explorer"

Most often, the icon for adjusting the volume level disappears due to the banal glitch of the operating system, and in this case a simple restart of Windows can help. However, in this case, it may be sufficient to restart the Explorer application. To do this, go to the task manager, using the keyboard combination Ctrl + Shift + Esc or using the context menu, which is caused by right-clicking on an empty place in the taskbar. In the window that opens, you need to go to the Processes tab and terminate explorer.exe. Then, on the Applications tab, you must run a new task by clicking on the appropriate button and typing manually the process name with the extension. Confirm the action by clicking on the "OK" button.

Method three: reset the icon settings

Another answer to the question of how to return the volume icon to the taskbar may be to reset the icon settings in the notification panel. Again, as in the first method, go into the properties of system icons and now select the item "Restore the behavior of the icon by default". However, this method helps infrequently.

Method four: we work with the editor of local group policies

This method is associated with the editor of local group policies. In the search field of the Start menu, you must find and run the gpedit.msc command, then go to the User Configuration. Here, after selecting the "Administrative Templates" you need to go to the "Start Menu and Taskbar" menu and find the "Hide the volume icon" item in it. After opening the last item, you must click the "Disconnect" radio button and apply the changes made. To apply the changes, you will need to restart the operating system.

Method Five: Rule the Windows Registry

It is based on editing a specific registry branch. The command regedit.exe typed in the search field will help to start the editor. Next, go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER branch and follow the path: Software \ Classes \ LocalSettings \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ TrayNotify. Opening the notification item in the system tray, we learn how to return to the task bar the volume icon. It is only necessary to delete two registry entries: IconStreams, PastIconsStream, and then restart the process of the explorer.

In the event that all previous methods did not have the desired effect and the question of how to return to the taskbar the volume icon is still not resolved, it is recommended to use the software application from Microsoft called Fix It. This solution helps to cope with many problems that arise in the course of Windows, including can help with the above problem.

True, judging by the feedback of users, the positive effect of using this application is not always possible, but this method has the right to life. In addition, at least one of the previous methods should solve the problem. If not, you can try reinstalling the sound device driver.