Windows 11 Pinned Apps Not Showing: Get Them Back in 4 Steps

Easy solutions to get things up and running

4 min. read

Updated onApril 22, 2024

updated onApril 22, 2024

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We all often pin apps, programs, andwebsites to the Taskbarfor quick access, which seriously saves a lot of time otherwise spent searching and launching them. However, many users have reported that pinned apps or their icons are not showing in Windows 11.

This could be due to a bunch of reasons, having to do with a corrupt icon cache, issues with the Windows Explorer process, or misconfiguredLocal 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, restart the computer and verify whether Windows 11 disappeared apps are now available; check for corrupt system files.

1. Restart the Windows Explorer process

If you were wondering how to fix taskbar icons not showing in Windows 11, remember that 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An outdated graphics driver is another likely issue behind pinned apps not showing in Windows 11.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 cantry other ways to update the driver, in case the Device Manager method does not work and Windows 11 icons are still not displaying correctly.

3. Delete the icon cache file

TheIconCache.dbhas 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 thetaskbar apps disappearing error in Windows 10, and others said theXbox app kept repinning itself to the taskbarafter a restart. If so, the linked guides will help you fix it.

Do not hesitate to tell us which solution worked for you in the comments section below.

Windows 11 Pinned Apps Not Showing: Get Them Back in 4 Steps#

What can I do if pinned apps aren’t showing in Windows 11?#

1. Restart the Windows Explorer process#

2. Update the graphics driver#

3. Delete the icon cache file#

4. Reconfigure Local Group Policy Editor#