Hidden system icons gone

[DrJimWPHD]

Before reporting your issue

• I have confirmed that this issue does not happen when ExplorerPatcher is not installed
• I do not have "register as shell extension" enabled
• I have tried my best to check existing issues

Repro ExplorerPatcher versions

After windows 11 update this morning the chevron for hidden system icons is gone and the quick launch toolbar appears on one of the secondary screens. True launch does the same thing.
If you unload ExplorerPatcher it goes back to normal.
Windows 11 version 24H2 (OS Build 26100.7462)
StartAllBack (not run at same time) still shows chevron on taskbar but has same problem thinking wrong screen is main.
Advice is appreciated.

Repro Windows Versions

Windows 11 version 24H2 (OS Build 26100.7462)

3rd party tweak software installed

OpenShell
Free LaunchBar

Describe the bug

See comment above

Expected outcome

Back to normal

Actual outcome

See comment above

Additional info

None, but feel free to ask questions. This is above my knowledge level.

Crash Dumps

No response

Media

No response

[pyrates999]

what is Free LaunchBar?

---

reinstall EP after doing a windows 11 upgrade from 23h2 to 24h2 and the widows 10 (explorepatcher) taskbar will be available.

As for the system tray, you can drag and drop the icon in the system tray to the popup menu that you don't want shown.

duplicate of: #1454

Please close this.

also it currently crashes and is already known about here: #3621

[DrJimWPHD]

Free lauch bar recreates the quick lanch toolbar.
I will retry the reinstall, but am pretty sure I did that.
The system tray is not available under explorer patcher, the chevron to open to hidden icons is not on the taskbar.
Thank you for your help!

[pyrates999]

Open up EP Properties application, go to taskbar, and set taskbar style to Windows 10 (ExplorerPatcher), not Windows 10. We no longer offer support on the stock Windows 10 taskbar.

Then you no longer need to install the free launch bar. You can manually create the quick launch bar by following these instructions: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4624-add-remove-quick-launch-toolbar-windows-10-a.html

[DrJimWPHD]

I understand about free launch bar. No problem there. There are many alternatives for that.

However I uninstalled EP, Free Launch Bar and Open Shell, then rebooted the machine. At that point the taskbar had the chevron to access hidden system icons. Installed EP, selected Windows (10) Explorer Patcher, and the chevron was gone. Rebooted to make sure installation was complete and still no chevron for hidden icons on the taskbar.

Thanks for your help!

[pyrates999]

Uninstall Free Launch Bar and see if this is still happening. Keep EP installed.

[DrJimWPHD]

Free Launch Bar and Open Shell are not installed. EP

is a fresh install after others were uninstalled and computer rebooted.
I don't think I am communicating the other problem correctly. When EP is installed I have no way to access the system tray where hidden system icons are stored. Consequently I can neither drag from or to it.

Sorry if I am not explaining it correctly. Included picture to better convey what I am trying to fix.

[pyrates999]

Try setting it to show all system tray icons.

You can find it by going into the EP Properties application and selecting Taskbar on the left side. And then clicking on Customize notification area icons.

[pyrates999]

same as this issue: #4779