Users of computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system (Windows) are so accustomed to the convenience of controlling the sound volume through the system tray icon (lower right corner, next to the clock), if the volume icon disappears, this equates to a disaster.
In fact, there is no need to panic, because little will change. Slow and thoughtful implementation of the recommendations below will certainly help to solve this problem. Moreover, not the first person is already faced with the fact that the sound icon has disappeared. Actually, on the forum of the developer of the Windows system, Microsoft, there is a whole thread dedicated to this topic.
Before you begin to understand in detail why the volume icon disappeared, we note that the views on the instability of Windows that are found on the Internet are only partially true. If the work all the time completes correctly (the Start menu - Shutdown menu), the Reset button on the system unit is rarely used, unexpected reboots due to power problems are absent, then Windows can work steadily for years, and the question “why did the volume icon disappear?” »Is interesting only theoretically.
Consider the Windows 7 system, and let the once popular Win XP let us rest on our laurels.
It’s worth starting the solution to the problem with the simplest thing - checking the display parameters. Sometimes, for one reason or another, the icon is deactivated and stops showing in the tray. To call the settings, you must right-click on the clock and open the properties. As a result, the window for displaying system icons appears. We search for “Volume” and make sure that it is set to “On” for it. If nothing has changed, then restart the computer.
But what if the volume icon disappears again, and the proposed solution does not help? Having opened the same settings window, click "Restore default icon behavior." For complacency, you can follow the link “Settings for icons” here, find in the “Volume” list and enable the display of both notifications and the icon. It will not be superfluous to perform a reboot. By the way, by checking the box “Always display all icons”, you can make working with the system more convenient, because you don’t have to worry that the symbol of the desired application will be hidden by default.
The next way to recover the missing icon is to restart the explorer. By pressing the combination of Ctrl, Shift and Esc, you need to open the tab "Processes" and complete explorer.exe. Next, in the “File - Run” menu, enter explorer and launch.
Important: with such a restart, user applications will be closed, so first save the results. By the way, on the sites of the global network you can find a small file that eliminates the need to press buttons once again - everything is automated, just start it.
Sometimes regular methods fail to restore the display of the volume control icon. However, some users recommend reinstalling the entire operating system. This method is effective, but hardly optimal.
If the volume icon disappears, and you can’t restore it in any way, then the best solution is to use third-party programs that offer similar capabilities. One of the most famous is LouderIT. Its disadvantage is that the stable second version is designed for Win XP, and Win 7 users will have to be content with the third PreAlpha version.
However, you can not reinvent the wheel, but use the wonderful analogue of the volume control - Toxic Soft ReLoudIT. The main feature is full support for Windows 7 while maintaining the basic functions of LouderIT. We can state with full confidence that such a replacement for the missing icon will serve a good service and the user will not only return the volume control, but will also be able to use the new features.