So far I have run into two new issues with the system tray icons with the Windows 11 Insider Build 22581.1 released in the Beta Channel. 1. I'm not able to move system tray icons around as before2. System tray icons are not being removed after closing the app or killing the process (*workaround is to restart the explorer.exe process for icon to be removed from tray). I'm hoping these issues will be resolved soon.

Same here. If this was really by design, it was a terrible decision.

plokert The system tray up arrow and system tray box have d disappeared. is this a issue by design or is this a error int he program. i can toggle the icon on and they are put on the task bar right, but that is annoying as hell

Absolutely. I haven't seen anyone post a positive comment about the change. Hopefully it gets reverted and there is a rethink about how to deal with tablet mode. Irrespective of the mode you're working in how can this change be beneficial?

knight117 Found a solution to moving the order of the icons. If you go to Settins/Personlization/Taskbar/Other System Tray Icons, then turn off all the icons that are not hidden, at that point turn each back on, but turn them on in the order you want them to display and they will stay in that order. Haven't tried restarting yet, though, to see if it holds. Maybe later today.

DrBobNZ The order resets after a restart though, right? I also don't like the new change and wish for the icons to be draggable again.The spacing is also larger than previously, which is undesirable. Furthermore, and perhaps unrelated, whenever the location icon displays, the entire task bar jiggles across to the left, and then back to the right, which is very distracting.I've moved the start menu position to the left instead of centre to resolve that. Stop making this a tablet OS! We do not all use tablets. I use a keyboard and mouse! Keep the operating system so it is usable for these people. You should make a separate OS for tablets if there is such a need for all of these changes.

System tray icon issues on Windows 11 Insider Build 22581.1 in Beta Channel

46 Replies

Teohc
Copper Contributor
Apr 10, 2022
Same issue here plus watermark on desktop
- Little_Joe
  Bronze Contributor
  Apr 11, 2022
  Teohc
  Hello,
  Pls refer to below WIP official announcement regarding the watermarks:
Roflnomish
Copper Contributor
Apr 06, 2022
while i understand it's to "unify the pc and tablet experience" i don't see why being able to drag the icons was a bad thing on a tablet anyway? or why they'r alienating most if not all of their pc user base for the much much smaller percentage of users who use windows on a tablet? like, afaik most tablet users use either ipads or android tablets, its only business or the odd personal users who use surface tablets that "benefit" from this change, and even then it's hardly a benefit. as others have said, I hope they rethink it. maybe adding it in like how windows 10 had a tablet mode? if that's turned on then no icon movement, but when in pc mode it works how it always has.
- Dogfart
  Copper Contributor
  May 02, 2022
  RoflnomishHa, my tray just vanished! When I unhide the apps they just appear on my toolbar. Awesome! lol
rvicars
Copper Contributor
Mar 31, 2022
knight117 I'm unable to open windows... windows button on my task menu also doesn't work... nor does it work on my keyboard. All apps on my taskbar (bottom) work, but windows button does not... so cannot lock or anything...
Gary Benjamin
Copper Contributor
Mar 27, 2022
knight117
Found a solution to moving the order of the icons. If you go to Settins/Personlization/Taskbar/Other System Tray Icons, then turn off all the icons that are not hidden, at that point turn each back on, but turn them on in the order you want them to display and they will stay in that order. Haven't tried restarting yet, though, to see if it holds. Maybe later today.
- DrBobNZ
  Copper Contributor
  Mar 28, 2022
  Great tip! (although I had to turn them back on in reverse order, so the last one I turn on is the most right-aligned icon... mental gymnastics), If you could re-order the icons on the settings page by dragging the bars that would be an alternative. I'll try a restart now. Thanks!
  - r0ses
    Copper Contributor
    Apr 17, 2022
    this doesnt works properly since if you restart the application of the icon, it goes most right-aligned (making everything a disorder!)
eltonregs
Copper Contributor
Mar 27, 2022
Same here. Can't view hidden icons on the system tray, can't drag them after updating to this version.
erbanku
Copper Contributor
Mar 25, 2022
Same here It is very annoying
- DrBobNZ
  Copper Contributor
  Mar 25, 2022
  erbanku
  Apparently you can't move icons by design (including dragging to the hidden icons area):
  
  https://aka.ms/AAga4lh (feedback hub link)
  
  We'll be continuing to monitor this feedback, but with the updates we made for the new tablet-optimized taskbar in Build 22563, we're no longer supporting dragging icons between the system tray and the show hidden icons flyout. Instead, you should use the Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > System tray section to manage these icons.
  - StLa1
    Copper Contributor
    Apr 11, 2022
    I wonder where Microsoft hire their UX and Product designers
    They probably don't even hire any

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System tray icon issues on Windows 11 Insider Build 22581.1 in Beta Channel

46 Replies

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