Anyone who has a Windows 10 PC will probably be familiar with OneDrive – whether they like it or not. This service is integrated into Windows 10 with a basic level of storage and offers a seamless way of syncing your files to the cloud, especially from a Microsoft device.
In Windows 10 the OneDrive icon will usually be displayed in the taskbar. This icon is the gateway to your OneDrive cloud storage, though it is known to go missing and disappear from time to time.
There are various reasons for the missing OneDrive icon in the taskbar. Here we cover various fixes.
Also read: How to Perform a Clean Install of Windows Using Media Creation Tool
Enable Icon in System Tray
The following method will work for any icon missing on your taskbar.
1. Right-click on your taskbar and select the “Taskbar settings” option.
2. In the taskbar settings window, scroll down to the “Notifications area.” Click the “select which icon appears on taskbar” option.
3. Check the toggle switch beside the Microsoft OneDrive. If it is off, make sure to change it to On.
Also read: How to Fix an Unresponsive Windows 11 Taskbar
Completely Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive
It’s one thing to reinstall the OneDrive app through the usual method of going to your “Apps and Features” list, but to truly have a fresh install of OneDrive that won’t carry over any hitches or bugs from the previous install, you’re better off going through the registry.
1. Press Ctrl + R and enter “regedit” into the box.
2. Navigate to the following registry directory:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive
3. Here, right-click the registry entry “DisableFileSyncNGSC,” click Modify, then enter “0” into the Value data box.
4. Click OK and leave the registry editor.
5. Next, open Command Prompt as an administrator and enter the following commands on separate lines:
%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /install
Your OneDrive should now be reinstalled, which should fix the missing icon problem.
Also read: How to Troubleshoot OneDrive Sync Issues
Unhide the OneDrive Icon
The problem could often be just a hidden OneDrive icon. This is common in Windows 10, especially when there are too many icons on the taskbar. To check whether this is the case with the OneDrive icon on your system, click on the show hidden icons icon on the taskbar. This is the upward arrow-like icon to the left of the taskbar. Doing this reveals all hidden icons. If your OneDrive was hidden, it will be displayed in the small pop-up. In my case, as indicated in the image below, OneDrive is not hidden.
Reset OneDrive
If the above solutions did not work for you, there is a third step to try. Resetting OneDrive will fix the issue if it is caused by a broken OneDrive cache. Follow these steps to reset your OneDrive.
1. Press Win + R to open the Run window. Copy and paste the text below and click OK.
%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
2. Wait for about two minutes to see if the OneDrive icon appears. If it does not, repeat the process using the path below this time.
%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe
This fix should display the OneDrive icon again.
Also read: Mapping OneDrive as Network Drive in Windows 10
Check Policy Settings
If resetting did not work, one last step is to check the policy settings. It could sometimes be a problem caused by third-party applications or anti-tracking programs. These often have the effect of making modifications to the OS and may disable the OneDrive icon. Checking your policy settings becomes necessary if this is the case.
To check the Windows 10 Group Policy Editor and find and resolve any modifications caused by third-party programs on OneDrive, follow these steps.
1. Type gpedit.msc in your Run window.
2. Navigate to “Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components.” Double-click on the OneDrive option in the right pane.
3. Right-click “Prevent the Usage of OneDrive for File Storage” and click Edit.
4. Make sure either “Not Configured” or “Disabled” is chosen for the policy setting. Click Apply and OK.
5. Restart your PC, and the issue should be resolved.
While the missing OneDrive icon could be a frustration to many, it can be resolved easily with any of the methods above. If you’re looking for a new way to navigate Windows, see our list of the best Windows Explorer alternatives. You may also experience missing icons and other problems through a bad Windows update, so head over to our list of the latest Windows 10 update problems for more help. If you’d like your Windows 10 Taskbar icons to be centered like Windows 11, follow this guide.
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