Fix Sound Icon on Taskbar not working in Windows 10 / 11

Many users have posted a problem about volume / sound icon not working in Windows 10 and 11 operating system, when clicking on it. It becomes quite irritating , when you are trying to open volume control for lowering the volume and it simply does not work. If you are also victim of this bug, here is a working solution to sort this problem out.

Fix 1 – Restart File explorer

Sometimes restarting the file explorer fixes the issue within seconds. Restarting file explorer is equivalent to rebooting your PC, and it works very fast and with accuracy most of the time. Many windows 11 and windows 10 users stated that restarting Windows explorer in task manager quickly solved the Volume control issue.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

2. Now, Locate Windows explorer, Right click on it and choose Restart

Now, try again to open the volume control in your taskbar.

Fix 2 – Restart Windows Audio service

1. Search services in windows 10 search box.

2. Click on services from the search result.

 

3. Locate windows audio service.

4. Right click on it and choose properties.

 

 

5. Now, change startup type to Automatic.

6. Click on Stop to stop the service.

7. Click on start to start the service again.

 

Fix 3 – Using Powershell command

1 -Search Powershell in Windows 10 search box

2 -Right click on Powershell icon and then select Run as Administrator

 

3 – Now, Copy paste the code Given below in windows of powershell and press Enter key from your keyboard to run the command and Reinstall ShellExperienceHost.

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

After the completion of command (Execution of code), Close the window of powershell and then Try again.

Fix 3 – Reinstall Realtek driver

1. Search Device manager in Windows 10 search box.

2. Now, click on device manager.

3. Locate, Sound video & game controllers / Sound & Audio.

4. Double click on it to expand it.

5. Right click on Realtek audio and click on uninstall.

 

 

6. Make sure you check the option , delete the driver software.

 

 

7. Restart our computer.

Fix 4 – Creating a New Registry key

1 – Search registry editor in Windows search box and click on the registry editor icon.

2 – Now, go to the following location in the editor by copying and pasting the path in address bar of Registry editor

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

3 -Now, Right click on CurrentVersion and then choose New and then click on Key

 

4 – In the right side of Registry editor , Right click and Select New > Dword (32 bit value) and name it EnableMtcUvc

5 – Double click on EnableMtcUvc and change the value data to 0.

 

 

6 – Restart the computer

Fix 5 – Install  Volume control app from Microsoft Store

If all else fails , you can also install Ear Trumpet , Free and Popular Volume control app from Microsoft Store

Fix 6 – Troubleshoot Audio

1. Press Windows key + R jointly to Open the run command box.

2 -Copy and paste the path given below to open audio troubleshooter

msdt.exe -id AudioPlaybackDiagnostic -skip yes -ep SndVolTrayMenu -elevated yes

3 – Follow the On screen instrcutions to identify and rectify audio issue

Fix 7 – Add new user

1. Press Windows key + I together to Open settings.

2. Click on Accounts.

3. Click on Family & Other users from left menu.

4. Click on Add someone else to this PC

 

5. Log out.

6. Log in with newly created user account