Windows systems are so inadequate in their behavior that sometimes the language switch icon in the system tray disappears. With what it is connected, nobody knows for sure. Some experts are inclined to claim that these are short-term system failures, others say that the reason is user actions. Which of them is right is not the main issue now. It is better to consider practical recommendations to get rid of this problem. As the most acceptable solutions, you can offer several options for action that will work in almost all cases.
Why does the language switch icon disappear?
As for the reasons for the appearance of such a failure, they can be counted too much. In particular, this may concern banal short-term system errors, the impact of virus programs and executable codes, incorrect settings for displaying the language bar, disabling startup of the executable component responsible for changing languages and layouts, accidentally deleting a service file or interfering with the system registry.
Therefore, if the language switch icon is missing, we will take measures based on the root causes. There may be several options. But first, let's dwell on some completely simple solutions that any user should have a concept about, regardless of the level of training and knowledge of the basics of Windows.
What to do if the icon for switching input languages disappears in the first place?
Do not rush to apply drastic measures. It will not always help. First, make sure your system is up and running as usual.
First things first, at least use at least a reboot. If this does not work, restore the system through the appropriate start menu. If this does not work, boot the system in safe mode (F8 at startup) and do the same.
Language bar settings in Windows XP and higher
But it also happens that the situation when the language switch icon for XP versions of the system disappeared may be due to the panel being simply turned off.
To begin, open the PCM menu in the system tray and select the toolbar display item. It is possible that on the item of the language bar there is simply no selection. Check the box. Reboot the computer device and look at the result.
Standard options
But the solution above applies only to the version of the system up to the eighth. In fact, when the language switch icon disappears, they usually do otherwise. Call up the “Control Panel” section regarding language options and parameters, use additional settings, in the additional options window, on the keyboard tab, mark the language bar on the “Task Bar”.
If this option does not work, additionally check the boxes for displaying text labels and uncheck the box for activating transparency in an inactive state and an arbitrary location. In Windows XP, uncheck the activation line for additional text services.
Panel recovery through startup and registry
What to do if the language switch icon is gone, figured it out a bit. All these were rather primitive decisions that might not give a positive effect. Now we will pass to the most cardinal methods.
On systems below the tenth, call the Run menu and enter the msconfig command. In the configurator window that opens, select the startup tab and check whether the ctfmon service starts with the system. Additionally, go to the "Task Manager" and make sure that the process of the same name is active there.
If the effect is zero, and the language switch icon disappears again, use the registry editor (regedit) with the HKLM branch to the Run directory, which is located in the directory tree in the CurrentVersion folder. The value of the LanguageBar key parameter must exactly match the full path to the executable EXE file in the System32 directory or the value specified above. If the value is different, scrub it manually. If the key is missing, create a string parameter yourself, assign it the appropriate value, and then restart the computer system.
Additionally influencing factors
Sometimes, although infrequently, the language switch icon disappears only because a special application is installed in the system that coordinates automatic language changes and keyboard layouts like Punto Switcher.
She, too, can create her own icons for automatically switching languages, placing them in the system tray. In the sense of deactivating this application, first try to disable it in the tray. If this does not help, delete the applet through the programs and components section of the standard “Control Panel” or use uninstallation programs that will not leave any trash or traces in the system.
After completing all the steps, reboot the system. If you really need this utility, now you can install it, as they say, from scratch. It is activated again, but no one will give a guarantee of the operability of the language panel, since initially the application was designed solely to automatically change the language and layout when the user entered the text incorrectly.
Total
In general, the disappearance of the language change label is not a special problem. As for the methods of troubleshooting, you can use the standard Windows settings in the sense of working through graphical mode, and editing the registry if the installed parameters are not perceived by the system itself (which is much better). But in general, it is not necessary to intervene in the registry in most cases, since the above solutions work without it.