Windows 11 taskbar and file icons missing for system apps only

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Hi Ivan,

Thank you for the detailed description and for outlining the troubleshooting steps you’ve already tried.

Based on your findings, the key detail here is that the issue only occurs in one user profile and affects built-in Windows apps, while third-party apps display their icons correctly. This strongly suggests that the problem is related to a profile-level configuration or app registration issue, rather than a system-wide problem.

A good next step would be to perform a clean boot to rule out any third-party services or background applications that might be interfering with how icons are displayed. You can do this by pressing Windows + R, typing msconfig and pressing Enter. In the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, then choose Disable all. After that, go to the Startup tab, open Task Manager, and disable all startup items. Restart your PC and check if the issue persists. If the icons return in this state, it would indicate that a background application is contributing to the issue.

*Disclaimer: A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem. 

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by-step so that it will help you get back on track. 

If the problem continues even after a clean boot, the next recommended step is to perform an in-place upgrade (repair install) of Windows 11. This process reinstalls the core Windows components and refreshes app registrations while keeping your personal files, installed applications, and settings intact. You can download the installer from the official Microsoft site at Download Windows 11. Once downloaded, run setup.exe, choose the option to keep personal files and apps, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair.

*Disclaimer: Let’s try performing an in-place install or in-place upgrade which will refresh your Windows files and operating system without removing files or applications. That being said, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up before making large system changes. If you want to back up your data first, please do so. Once you are done backing up, you can follow the steps in the following guides: How to run In-place upgrade in Windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A 

This step is recommended because, when an issue is isolated to a single user profile but affects multiple system components such as the taskbar and File Explorer, it often indicates deeper inconsistencies that are not fully resolved by standard troubleshooting. A repair install is the most reliable non-destructive way to address this.

I hope this helps point you in the right direction. If you notice any changes after trying these steps, feel free to share the results. I’d be glad to continue assisting.

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