With default settings, network/wireless icon, volume icon, and battery icon (if PC comes with a battery) appear on taskbar in Windows 10. Like other icons, at times, the volume icon might go missing from the taskbar.

Of course, you can adjust the speaker volume even if the volume icon is missing by either using hotkeys on your keyboard or by opening volume mixer (type adjust system volume in search to get volume mixer).

But for many, the taskbar looks incomplete without the volume icon. If the volume icon is not showing up in the taskbar, you can easily restore it in a few minutes.

If the volume icon is not showing up in Windows 10 taskbar or system tray, follow the given below solutions to restore the missing volume icon to Windows 10 taskbar.

Method 1 of 5

Check if the volume icon is hidden

You can skip this method if you have already tried it before coming here.

Step 1: Click the small up arrow icon located on the taskbar to view all hidden icons.

Step 2: If the Volume icon is appearing here, simply drag and drop the icon back to the taskbar area.

Method 2 of 5

Restart the File Explorer

Step 1: Open Task Manager by right-clicking on an empty spot on the taskbar and then clicking Task Manager.

Step 2: If you see the limited version of the Task Manager, as shown below, click More details to view the full version.

Step 3: Under the Processes tab, look for Windows Explorer entry, right-click on it and then click Restart option to restart the File Explorer. Restarting File Explorer will also restart and refresh icons on the taskbar.

And if you can’t see Windows Explorer entry under processes, open up This PC or Quick Access to see Windows Explorer in Task Manager.

Check if the volume icon is showing up now.

Method 3 of 5

Turn on the volume icon in Settings

Step 1: Open Settings app by clicking its icon in the Start menu or using the Windows logo + I hotkey.

Step 2: Navigate to Personalization > Taskbar.

Step 3: Under the Notification area, you will see a link labeled Turn system icons on or off. Click on it to view the current status of system icons.

Step 4: Turn on the volume icon if it’s turned off. And if it’s turned on, please follow the directions in the next method.

If the volume icon is grayed out, follow directions in Method 4 or 5.

Method 4 of 5

Check if the volume icon is disabled in Group Policy

This method applies to only Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 10.

Step 1: Type Gpedit.msc in Start menu or taskbar search box and then press Enter key. Click Yes button if you see the User Account Control dialog to open Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2: In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start menu and Taskbar.

Step 3: On the right-side, look for the policy named Remove the volume control icon and double-click on it to open its properties.

Step 4: Finally, choose the Disabled option and then click the Apply button. That’s it!

Method 5 of 5

Use Registry to enable missing volume icon

Step 1: Type Regedit in taskbar or Start menu search box and then hit Enter key. If you see the User Account Prompt, click the Yes button to launch the Registry Editor.

Step 2: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Step 3: On the right-side, look for HideSCAVolume entry, double-click on it, change value date to 0, and then click OK.

Click Yes button when you see the following warning dialog to restore the volume button.