System tray sometimes dissappears when News and Interests is disabled and 7+ is active (Windows 10)

Having the same problem here. Sometimes reenabling and disabling it would turn things to normal, but the other times, I wouldn't be that lucky.

Oddly the newest release of 7+TT didn't fix it at all.

This problem was reported by another user, who came to the conclusion that it's not caused by the tweaker:

https://rammichael.com/7-taskbar-tweaker/comment-page-50#comment-12593

If you think 7+ Taskbar Tweaker causes your issue, please check the following and report back:

Does the issue happen only when 7+ Taskbar Tweaker is running? Does it happen when all of the tweaker’s options are disabled, or does a specific option cause the problem? Do you have any other programs that might conflict with the tweaker?

After some more tests, I can say that it is indeed caused by the new update, rather than 7+TT itself.

I disabled everything that modified the taskbar in some way (Open-Shell and 7+TT) and had news and interests disabled. Under these conditions, I restarted Windows Explorer, and lo and behold, the system tray was glitchy. Readding news and interests and removing it again fixed the glitch but as soon as I opened 7+TT again, the glitch came back. Same happened when I quit the program while there weren't any glitches.

I also tried Open-Shell by itself, and it didn't seem to cause any glitches, regardless of whether I opened it or quit it. After some more tests, I realized that any program that adds itself to the system tray triggers the glitch, when you open them or close them.

Since the MS update I've found Explorer blinking with Windows Explorers closing when 7+TT is running. The problem goes away when 7+TT is closed, reoccurs when it is reopened. 

I looked at the other thread but I am not using that software. I run a very light setup and have made no other software or configuration changes. 

- Nik 

Just came here to say the same thing is happening after that brand new windows update that added news? It will turn the taskbar back to the default then switch back to my custom settings from 7+TT

heres and example of whats happening this is a video without audio https://streamable.com/pczg69

The problem that can be seen on your video is different than the one described in this post. Please make sure that you have the latest version of the tweaker installed.

I just received Windows Cumulative Update for Windows 10 20H2 (KB5003637) and immediately began experiencing the same thing as shown in the video above; Explorer.exe crashing over and over and over.  I thought it was the stupid News & Interests Widget that had been added to the Tray but after turning it off, the issue continued.

I rebooted but the issue still continued.

I checked the Reliability Monitor and saw Faulting module path: C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Roaming\7+ Taskbar Tweaker\inject.dll in the details for all of the Explorer.exe crashes listed.

That led me to the 7+TT webpage, then the FAQs which pointed to the UserEcho page and, ultimately, to here.

I updated 7+TT from 5.10.0 to 5.11.2 and the issue is resolved.

I'm not sure why I did not yet have the newest version as I have "Check for updates" ticked, but I got the problem resolved, so I'm satisfied.  Since there is not yet a separate post for it, I just wanted to reply in case anyone else having the same problem makes it to this page.

Same issue I have and is caused by 7+ taskbar tweaker

Yep, latest version fixed it. I feel foolish now. Thanks man! 

- Nik 

I can confirm that the Notification Area disappears on Windows 20H2 with latest updates and News and Interests = Disabled.

I cannot confirm 7+ "causes" the issue but I can confirm it "fixes" the issue.

1) Leave 7+ running in a Window

2) To make the Notification Area disappear, load & exit a program that apparently affects the Notification Area such as Task Manager

3) To restore the Notification Area, switch to 7+ and click/unclick "Hide the Show Desktop button" OR "Display Seconds"

4) The Notification Area will be "garbled". Just "wave" the mouse pointer over the area and it's restored.

Problem reduced from "uh oh" to "annoying". If it's a Microsoft screw up (yuh think?), start counting in years : )

Same problem. I checked my version and it was v5.11.2. Then I check the last version number- the same v5.11.2. Any way I downloaded the last version and reinstalled and now it's working.

I'm having the stupid taskbar notification icon glitch myself. After some investigating and even uninstalling the KB5003214 and KB5003637, the issue remains the same.

The only solution I found so far is to reduce the screen scaling of the primary monitor from the default 125% to 100%. Immediatelly the icons came back and stayed as we are used to it for years until now. (just a little smaller now, thou..)

During that testings, 7+TT was not running or started on reboot at all. So I assume 7+TT might have slight side effects when running while having the glitch but it's not the root cause.

-Seba

hmmm...I installed as portable. Wonder if that has something to do with it?

It should make no difference, both versions apply the same changes in the same way.

Well I have 21H1 on deck so I'll delay as much as possible and then update this thread and let you know if that fixes it or blows it up altogether : )

I'll put up with the small inconvenience because I do NOT want to give up 7+TT...

Thanks for the reply.

Installing the afaik optional KB5003690 update solved the issue on my end.

I'm the poster from 2 weeks prior. The last response started with "Well I have 21H1 on deck..."

I waited to update to next 7+ which I felt was safer. I got 5.11.3 - exact same behavior.

Any "change/update" to the System Tray causes the whole area to go blank.

Just clicking the "Hide the Show desktop" toggle restores the area but overlayed with "junk" which, to me, looks like icons/info from another area of memory?

Just "waving" the mouse pointer over the area leaves all the correct icon images displayed. Weird.

To the last poster who recommended KB5003690...

That fix specifically does not list my current Windows build 20H2 (OS Build 19042.1052).

Do you (or anyone) know if it's safe for me to apply that fix?

Also, thanks to all for replies!

Cumulative update KB5004945 seems to have fixed this for me

my file explorer crashes constantly (twice in a minute, each one would last for about 10 seconds) after a recently windows update. my weather widgets in the taskbar disappers, too.

today, i finnally learned to check windows application log. 

the explorer hasn't crashed since i uninstalled 7tt 20 minutes ago, i think 7tt is the problem.

i'll update if anything changes.

You're not using the latest version of the tweaerk - according to the screenshot, you're using v5.10. Please update to the latest version.

ok, i'll give it try

the newest version seemed to work properly on my device, i haven't met a crash since then

To all: 7+ is now working properly (maybe better said Windows is working properly?),

I never installed KB5003690 and I was running Windows build 20H2 (OS Build 19042.1052).

A Windows update came thru and now I am on Build 19042.1083.

I was on 7+ 5.11.3 before this last update - System Tray still disappearing. After update - all good.

Thanks to all and to Michael for being a shining light among devs!

Gary