Can't remove icon on taskbar

Question

_{Saturday, March 9, 2019 11:48 PM}

I installed a program and pinned it's icon to the taskbar, however when I uninstalled this program I forgot to unpin the icon from the taskbar, and now I have the icon stuck on my taskbar with no way to remove it. I have tried everything. 

All replies (13)

_{Saturday, March 9, 2019 11:52 PM | 2 votes}

Hi,

You can find the pinned items on your task bar from here:

%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

See if you find it there and simply delete it :-)

Once you have deleted it, try clicking on it on the task bar, it should tell you that it can't open this item, just click Yes to remove it.

Best regards,
Leon

Blog: https://thesystemcenterblog.com LinkedIn:

_{Sunday, March 10, 2019 12:20 AM}

I tried that and it's not listed.

_{Sunday, March 10, 2019 9:14 AM}

Try running the script below in a Command Prompt (Admin), it will clear all icons from the task bar though:

REG DELETE HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband /F

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

start explorer.exe

Blog: https://thesystemcenterblog.com LinkedIn:

_{Monday, March 11, 2019 3:12 AM | 2 votes}

Hello fl0978,

You can also try this method. The same idea, different methods.

Use the Windows+R key combination to open the run window, type "regedit", and press Enter to open the registry.

Open: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify

Right click on the [IconStreams] registry item on the right and select Delete.

Right-click the start icon in the lower left corner, click Task Manager, or Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open the Task Manager, select the details bar, select [explorer.exe] on the page, and right-click to select End Task.

After finishing the task, select the File menu bar on the Task Manager page and click Run New Task. In the New Task window, type explorer and click OK.

Best regards,

HK.Leon

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_{Thursday, March 14, 2019 6:32 AM | 1 vote}

Hi,

Just checking in to see if the information provided was helpful. 
Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Best Regards,
HK.Leon

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

_{Tuesday, March 19, 2019 7:00 AM}

Hi,

Was your issue resolved?

If you resolved it using our solution, please "mark it as answer" to help other community members find the helpful reply quickly.

If you resolve it using your own solution, please share your experience and solution here. It will be very beneficial for other community members who have similar questions.

If no, please reply and tell us the current situation in order to provide further help.

Best Regards,

Leon

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
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_{Monday, June 17, 2019 11:07 PM}

Excellent instructions, thank you.  Sadly Mailspring is still on the taskbar. :(

_{Wednesday, August 28, 2019 9:44 PM}

Hi, I have no idea if it worked for OP but it did work for me. Tyvm!

_{Sunday, October 27, 2019 9:18 PM}

Check the Tombstones Folder.

_{Sunday, October 27, 2019 9:19 PM}

Check The Tombstones Folder!

_{Wednesday, January 8, 2020 9:10 AM}

I had the same issue and your instructions worked. Got rid of the unwanted icons.

Thanks a lot

_{Thursday, January 30, 2020 11:51 PM}

We're having an issue with the Internet Explorer shortcut repeatedly being moved to the %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Tombstones folder.  Do you know what may be triggering this or have any additional information on this folder?  We can't find relevant documentation anywhere!

_{Saturday, March 7, 2020 1:09 PM}

Hi,

EZ FIX:
1.) Create a shortcut to any file and name it the same as the problematic icon on the task bar.
2.) Move the created shortcut here: 
*%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
*3.) Right-click the problematic icon on the task bar and unpin it.
4.) Enjoy! :)

Best regards,
Libor