Win10 Taskbar icons become unresponsive after disconnecting a second monitor

Because pointer hover still produces a preview, Windows is detecting the taskbar, but click handling becomes unreliable after the display topology changes. Restarting Explorer or reconnecting the monitor resets that state, which makes a graphics, dock, or Explorer interaction more likely than a permanently broken taskbar setting. First use Windows+P to choose the intended display mode before unplugging, then try Windows+Ctrl+Shift+B when the failure occurs to reset the graphics driver. Update Windows and install graphics and docking-station drivers from the PC maker; if the problem began after a driver update, test the previous driver using Device Manager’s Roll Back option. Also test the second monitor directly rather than through a dock or adapter, and try a different cable or output. If it happens only with one monitor path, the hardware path is implicated. If it persists with no external display, test a clean boot to identify an interfering shell utility