A problem may occur in Microsoft Windows 10 where the system icons such as the Speaker, Network, or Power icons are grayed out or missing from the Taskbar Notification Area (Systray). The options to enable them in the Taskbar Properties screen may also be grayed out. Try the following steps to try to bring the icons back to working as they should.
Fix 1 – Scan for Hardware Changes
- Open “Control Panel“.
- Choose “Hardware and Sound” > “Device Manager“.
- Expand the “Batteries” selection.
- Right-click on “Microsoft AC Adapter“, then click “Uninstall“.
- Click “OK” when you see the warning message to continue uninstalling the driver.
- Right-click any item listed, then choose “Scan for hardware changes“.
Check to see if the icons have returned.
Fix 2 – Registry Fix
- Hold down the Windows Key and press the “R” key the bring up the Run window.
- Type “regedit“, then select “OK“.
- Navigate through the registry to the following location:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER
- Software
- Classes
- Local Settings
- Software
- Microsoft
- Windows
- CurrentVersion
- TrayNotify
- Look for two values. One named “iconstreams” and “PastIconStream“. Right-click and select “Delete” each value to remove them from the registry.
- Close the registry editor and restart the computer. Hopefully, your System icons have reappeared in the Taskbar Notification Area (Systray).
shams says
Thanks a lot
it really helped
trick 2 worked fine
thanks again
Alec says
None worked. Still grayed out. Tried all these and all the obvious from half a dozen other sites. So the computer, hooked up to the internet, is depending on the weakest possible link in the human-computer-internet chain (namely me) to fix it? I never could understand this (meanwhile we have driverless cars on the road). When oh when will my laptop be able to resolve a missing battery icon problem all by iself? 3050? 4050AD?? Ever?
CNote says
Thank you all! Not seeing my battery icon was driving me mad(der). When trying to turn on the battery notification in the taskbar on my PC, like many of you, it was grayed out. I used the Device Manager in the Control Panel and disabled and re enabled it and the icon immediately showed back up in the taskbar. Yay technipages.com and the users as well.
Mjrica from Philippines. ? says
Disabling and enabling the ACIP-compliant method battery also worked for me. I only found the answer to my problem through this comment section. Thank you guys!!!
pranjal says
batteries option is not therein my desktop computer
Reed Spencer says
I don’t have a battery section in my settings – I have a desktop computer. Can’t toggle notifications on/off because it is grayed out.
Rizwan Khan says
Disabled the Microsoft APCI-Compliant Control Method Battery and re-enabled it. Worded for me
Sailesh R says
Thank-you so much, the explanation is clear which helps you solve the issue.
Tyshanta says
Method 1 did not work. I just disable the Microsoft APCI-Compliant Control Method Battery and enable it again and it works.
geetha says
i have windows 10. used Device Manager in the Control Panel ACPI compliant ….. disabled and enabled. worked — started to see the battery icon on the tray. thx guys.
Roarshadow says
Just disabling and enabling acpi compliant control method worked
ankit bajaj says
Fix2 worked fine.. .. I like the explanation though !!
Tim Ward says
I followed the link in the second fix and “Tray Notify” was not there. What can be done in that case?
Maggie says
Thanks so much. Used second fix on Windows 7 netbook. Very grateful for your help.
Aanchal says
yes, it works. Thanks
Peter Bunion says
The comments came through! I didn’t bother with the article’s suggestions and tried the method in the comments first. Disabled then re-enabled the ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery in device manager worked like a charm! Thanks
Emerald says
The suggestion of disabling and re-enabling ACPI compliance in device manager worked for me too. No need going through the first steps mentioned. Thanks to Anne and Chris
Anne says
I disabled/ re-enabled the ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery in Device Manager. It works :)
Chris says
Disabled then re-enabled the ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery worked for me. Thanks!! :)
Makii says
Sundeep says
January 20, 2019 at 9:05 am
Dint have much luck with both the steps mentioned in the article then tried the one mentioned in the comments which is ‘disable/enable Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery’ in Device Manager. Worked like charm!!
Thank you
_______________________
Worked for me as well. Thank you!
Sundeep says
Dint have much luck with both the steps mentioned in the article then tried the one mentioned in the comments which is ‘disable/enable Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery’ in Device Manager. Worked like charm!!
Thank you
Jeannie says
Disabled/ re-enabled AC Adapter and ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery as suggested. Worked like a charm.
Shanthan reddy.G says
disabling ACPI-Compliant control method battery and re-enabling it worked for me thank you very much.
Steve Lomax says
I disabled/ re-enabled the ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery in Device Manager. Worked a treat for me.
Karen says
Jenna, I was hesitant to try more things, because the first ones didn’t work and I don’t know zip about computers and I’m afraid of really screwing up something. But I followed your advice of disabling the ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery, crossed my fingers, enabled it back… and it worked, just like you said! Thank you! You have no idea how much time I’ve wasted trying to get my power icon back on my pc’s taskbar.
Paul C says
Renaming iconstreams worked for me. Thanks
jenna says
Uninstalling just the Microsoft AC Adapter did not work for me, but when i also disabled/ re-enabled the ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery, if popped back on. Thanks!
Darren says
The Device Manager solution worked a treat for me! Thank you loads! :-)
Rick Wingender says
Q:
Battery icon missing in Windows 10
For some reason, when I go to settings, “Turn system icons on or off” and then try to turn ‘power’ on so that I can see how much battery power I have left, it won’t let me change the setting. I am the admin on this computer and don’t know what else to do. I’m afraid that my computer will run out of power without warning and I’ll lose all of my work. Can anyone help me?
A:
I had the same issue today, I typed “Device” into Cortana’s search field, found device manager (You can also get to Device Manager by going into Control Panel), clicked the drop down for “batteries”, then disabled/ re-enabled AC Adapter and ACPI Compliant Control Method Battery. The battery icon appeared almost immediately after doing so and it is still there after restarting my computer. It is also no longer greyed out like it was before doing so.
Penelope says
The first fix was ineffective for me – didn’t change anything.
After going through the process of the 2nd fix, when I restarted Microsoft did an update, but my battery icon has been restored, thank you.
However, I hope it doesn’t disappear again on my next boot, as it did with you, John Marksman and I hope the fix won’t mess up anything else.
John Marksman says
Tried both fixes. Both work but until the second boot. No idea why it appears again and again. Please, suggest me a solution to get rid of this issue once and for all
Chris says
Thank you sir, Mine turned out to be several unknown devices in device manager. I just picked this up from my companies IT department.
Eric says
Thanks. Fix 2 worked to restore the power icon. I sure would like to know what caused it to disappear in the first place.
Ed D says
Hey thanks, Fix 2 worked on my Windows 8 as well. Many thanks.
Ab says
Thank you brother soso much.. “Fix 2” worked like a charm for more… GoD bless.. :)))
swetha says
The Fix 2 worked ! Thank you :)
Cesindo says
Thanks, Mitch, Registry Edit worked! you are superb
Paul Fuller says
Fix 2 worked for me, really clear instructions.
Cheers
Chris says
Opt 1 worked for me. Look under “Batteries” in Device Mgr. Easy fix. Thx
Jamie says
OK I tried way number 2 and I do not have Tray Notify as an option?
Mesfin says
Fantastic!! Option 2 saved me; I had two frustrating days with the lost battery notification icon.
Thank you so much!
david kennedy says
Another Thank You, Mitch. I am always nervous when editing the registry, but was out of options. The disappearance of the icons followed updating Windows 10, another thing I am always reluctant to do. This is what makes people just “love” Microsoft. Thank goodness for folks like you, Mitch.
Georges says
Thanks, Mitch, Registry Edit solution worked. Much obliged.
Noel Chivers says
Really helpful and simple instructions that worked. Thank you
Orlando says
Fix 2 worked for me. thank you for your assistance. what would happen to those items i have deleted?
Diana says
Thanks so much! Fix 2 worked out – only power management icon remained grey, but doesn’t matter :)
Ashtonio says
Another way that I found that worked for me it too go into the task manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and to end the task of what ever you needed in the Tray. Then just open the program and the icon should re-appear in the tray.
h says
It worked hahahhaa
Computer gurus
Tim says
Fix 2 worked like a charm. side note though; I only had the “icon streams” choice available.
Kelly says
Thank you! Fix 2 worked for me! :)
Sue says
Thank you!!! Fix 2 worked perfectly!! My power and volume icons are now in my task bar!!