There is no such user of the Windows operating system who at least once has not dealt with problems regarding sound and sound equipment. Most often, problems arise due to incorrectly installed sound card drivers or their conflict with various programs. Various failures in the operation of the operating system or infection with viruses can also be involved in breakdowns associated with sound.
One annoying problem may be the disappearance of the volume control icon from the system tray. With it, you can get instant access to various sound parameters, but perhaps the most important function for the user is quick access to adjust the volume level of speakers or headphones, as well as viewing applications that reproduce sound.
There are several ways to return the volume icon to the Windows 7 taskbar ; you can familiarize yourself with them below.
Method one: search in hidden icons
If you cannot find the volume icon in the system tray, check if it is in hidden icons. You will need to right-click on the clock in the lower right corner, and then left-click on the "Configure notification icons" item. A window opens with a list of all the icons that can be displayed in the taskbar, in which, opposite the “Volume” item, you need to click on the line “Show icon and notifications” in the drop-down menu. This method is the simplest, and the following will help you figure out how to return the volume icon to the taskbar in more detail.
Method Two: Restart Explorer
Most often, the disappearance of the volume control icon is associated with the commonplace glitch of the operating system, and in this case, a simple reboot of Windows can help. However, in this case, restarting the Explorer application may be sufficient. To do this, go to the task manager using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc or using the context menu called up by right-clicking on an empty area of the taskbar. In the manager window that opens, go to the "Processes" tab and shut down explorer.exe. Then, on the “Applications” tab, you need to start a new task by clicking on the appropriate button and manually entering the name of the process with the extension. Confirm the action by clicking on the "OK" button.
Method Three: Reset Icon Settings
Another answer to the question of how to return the volume icon to the taskbar can be resetting the icon settings in the notification panel. You must again, as in the first method, go to the properties of the system icons and now select "Restore default icon behavior." However, this method does not often help.
Method Four: Working with the Local Group Policy Editor
This method is associated with the local group policy editor. In the search field of the Start menu, you need to find and execute the gpedit.msc command, and then go to "User Configuration". Here, after choosing “Administrative Templates”, go to the “Start menu and task bar” item and find the “Hide volume control icon” element in it. Having opened the last item, you need to click the "Disable" radio button and apply the changes. To apply the changes, you will need to restart the operating system.
Method five: edit the Windows registry
It is based on editing a specific registry branch. The regedit.exe command typed in the search field will help launch the editor. Next, go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER branch and follow the path: Software \ Classes \ LocalSettings \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ TrayNotify. Opening the notification item in the system tray, we learn how to return the volume icon to the taskbar. You only need to delete two registry entries: IconStreams, PastIconsStream, and then restart the explorer process.
In the event that all the previous methods did not have the desired effect and the question of how to return the volume icon to the taskbar is still not resolved, it is recommended to use the Microsoft software application called Fix It. This solution helps to cope with many problems that arise during the operation of Windows, including those that may help with the above problem.
True, judging by the feedback from users, a positive effect from the use of this application can not always be achieved, but this method has the right to life. In addition, at least one of the previous methods should solve the problem. If not, then you can try reinstalling the sound hardware driver.