One of the elements that we use the most in Windows is its toolbar, thanks to the fact that it can be customizable, which allows it to be useful. In it we can see the icons of both the applications that we have anchored as a direct access, as well as those that we currently have open. And it is that just clicking on the icon will open the application for which it is configured.
However, it is possible that on some occasion we can find an icon on the taskbar that is blank, or that we are not able to recognize which application it belongs to or simply that we do not remember if we have set or opened it. If this is our case, we must not despair since it is possible to solve this problem.
Causes why we cannot identify an icon
As we have mentioned before, the taskbar is an element where we can view both the icons of the applications that we have anchored and those belonging to the applications that we are using at a certain moment. That is why the aforementioned task bar is an element that greatly facilitates accessibility to the applications that we have installed on the system.
In general, when we find an icon that is completely blank or that we cannot identify and are completely unknown to us, it is that they are corrupt. This may be because the application to which it belongs has not been uninstalled correctly or when trying to make a backup and restore the design of the taskbar it has hung there. It is quite likely that these icons are shortcut residues that have been pinned and no longer exist. In this case, Windows 10 does not know what to do with them and they remain visible on the taskbar.
If this is our case, we offer you different ways to check which application it corresponds to and to be able to identify it even if it cannot be opened.
Identify the taskbar icons
If we’re having trouble identifying the app associated with a taskbar icon, there are a few ways to find out. Either scrolling and right-clicking, checking open processes on command line, or viewing shortcuts from the taskbar.
Using the right mouse button
The first solution that we propose is in case when pressing the icon it is not able to open any application and it does not respond. If we are in this case we can do the following to identify it.
We move the mouse pointer to put it over the icon and wait a few seconds until a sign appears that will show which application the icon belongs to.
In the event that the aforementioned information about the application belonging to the icon does not appear, we can choose to do the following. We right-click on the icon and this will bring up the context menu where we can see the name of the application to which said icon corresponds.
Check for open processes in Command Prompt
In the event that the previous method does not result and the information about which tool an icon on the taskbar corresponds to does not appear and the context menu appears empty, we can use the Windows 10 Command Prompt. The reason may be be due to the fact that we have a batch script running on our computer and that icon belongs to that process.
The first thing we are going to do is look for any process that is running or that may be running with the System Symbol . To know this we must click with the right button on the taskbar. A menu will appear and we choose the “Task Manager”. Here we go to the “Processes” tab. Later we must avoid the “Windows Processes”, but we must observe everything else and check if any are running with the command prompt. In the event that we find it, we must click on “End task” at the bottom of the screen. In this way we identify the process that keeps the unknown icon on the taskbar and eliminates it.
Check the shortcuts on the taskbar
If it is the case that we do not find in the Task Manager any process that is running under the Command Prompt, we can try to do the following.
In the event that the application is not anchored to the taskbar, we must right-click to bring up the context menu and select the option “Anchor to the taskbar”.
Then we open the File Explorer and in the location bar we paste the following text:
%AppData%MicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchUser PinnedTaskBar
This will make it appear in the File Explorer window with all the elements that we have anchored in the taskbar. In this way we only have to check which icon is not visible on the taskbar , but instead if it appears in the folder. By elimination we will be able to know which application the unknown icon corresponds to.
Remove the unknown icon by restarting Explorer
If you have come this far and it has not been possible to recognize which application the unknown icon on the taskbar belongs to, it is likely that the application to which it belongs no longer exists . That is why this icon no longer has any use, so it may be best to proceed with its elimination . For this we can choose to restart Windows Explorer so that it reloads and thus restore the system tray by eliminating any residual icon that is in it.
To do this, we right-click on the taskbar. This will make the context menu appear where we must choose the option “Task Manager”. Within the “Details” tab, select explorer.exe and click on the “End task” button.
Subsequently, we click on the “Application history” tab. Next, we click on the “File” tab and select “Run new task”. A message box will appear where we must write “explorer.exe” and click on “OK”.
In this way, Windows Explorer will reload and restart the icons that appear in the system tray. This must cause the icon that had been hanging there and we did not know which application it belonged to has disappeared.