Windows Taskbar Icon

[myrddin55]

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Why can't I see the Github Icon on the Windows 11 taskbar. I found a fix by restarting the windows explorer using the Task manager but its only a temporary fix. A permanent solution is required. Any ideas please?

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[KaloudasDev]

Hey @myrddin55,

That’s a great question — the disappearing taskbar icon issue in Windows 11 can be frustrating, especially if restarting Windows Explorer is only a temporary fix.

This usually happens due to how Windows handles icon caching or how certain apps register their taskbar presence. Here are a few suggestions that might lead to a more permanent fix:

1. Clear and Rebuild the Icon Cache

Corrupted icon cache is often the culprit. Here’s how to reset it:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator

2. Run these commands one by one:

   taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
   DEL /A /Q "%localappdata%\IconCache.db"
   shutdown /r /f /t 00

3. This will force Windows to rebuild the icon cache after a reboot.

2. Unpin and Repin GitHub Desktop

If you're using GitHub Desktop:

• Unpin it from the taskbar
• Launch the app from Start Menu
• Once open, right-click the running icon > "Pin to taskbar" again

Sometimes the pinned shortcut gets "orphaned" when the app updates.

3. Check for Windows & GitHub Desktop Updates

Ensure you're running the latest versions of both:

• Windows 11 updates can fix taskbar behavior
• GitHub Desktop updates sometimes patch how the app registers its icon

4. Registry Tweak (Advanced)

Some users have reported success by editing this registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

Delete the value named FavoritesResolve, then restart Explorer.

(Backup your registry before making changes.)

If the issue persists, let me know your GitHub Desktop version and Windows build — happy to help dig deeper!

Hope this helps make the fix a little more permanent 😊

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