Windows 11 System tray icons gone or missing after Insider Preview 22610.1 update is a known issue, but there's a workaround

Windows is the most popular OS for laptops and desktops in the world. And Windows 11 is the latest major update to the Microsoft OS.

Microsoft usually sends updates with corrections and new features. The company offers two channels for updates: stable and ‘Insider Preview’ (beta channel).

Through the ‘Insider Preview’ channel, users can preview new features that will arrive in future stable updates. However, the Windows 11 Insider Preview update may also bring some bugs.

Insider Preview 22610.1 is the most recent Windows 11 beta update. But, it seems that the update brought a bug where Windows 11 System tray icons are gone or missing (1, 2, 3).

According to multiple reports, the issue is affecting many users who often use the Insider channel. The Insider Preview 22610.1 update brought the glitch.

Apparently, Windows 11 system tray icons are missing after the update.

System tray icons gone after Insider Preview 22610.1 install. Hidden icon menu is turned on but the caret to expand the menu doesn’t appear – Afterburner and FanControl show up because those are set to “On”. Anyone else have this issue?
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Even the Hidden icon menu option in the taskbar’s “Other system tray icons” is completely empty after the update.

I have the same problem. The overflow up arrow is gone, and the taskbar “overflow corner” selection is also gone from settings. I do see a “Hidden icon menu” selection in the taskbar “Other system tray icons”, but toggling this does nothing. If I select icons under it to on, those background app icons are permanently on the taskbar, not in the overflow section. sfc /scannow is fine, rebooting does nothing.
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The Microsoft team is already aware of the issue and is investigating. But, there are no details on an ETA for a fix yet.

After upgrading to Build 22610, the “Show hidden icons” flyout in the system tray may disappear completely for some Insiders, even though it shows as “on” under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and “Other system tray icons”. We are investigating the issue.
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Meanwhile, the company has shared a potential workaround to users. They recommend following the steps below:

As a workaround if you need access to the icons that would show in the “Show hidden icons” flyout, you can go right-click on taskbar to open the Taskbar settings page, navigate to the “Other system tray icons” and individuals toggle specific apps to “On” until the issue is resolved.
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We will update this story once new details about the matter emerge.

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