No doubt battery icon in the taskbar is one of the most crucial elements present on the screen of portable Windows 10 devices. It allows us to change system power plan and brightness on the go. It tells us how much battery power is left so that we can arrange the charging of device.
But sometimes this battery icon may be missing. This might be due to use of some third-party software which explicitly turn it Off or apply custom power settings. If your system has multiple users, it might possible that others have hide this icon. GPO setting applied on domain connected system may also contribute to this issue.
Whatever is the case, here’s how to fix this weird problem.
Page Contents
FIX: Windows 10 Taskbar Missing Battery Icon
FIX 1 – Via System Icons Settings
1. Right click on taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
2. In the next window, click Turn system icons on or Off link.
3. Then under Turn system icons on or Off, make sure Power option is turned On.
As soon as you turn On this option, missing battery icon should be restored with immediate effect. If it doesn’t, try FIX 2.
FIX 2 – Via Registry
Registry Disclaimer: The further steps will involve registry manipulation. Making mistakes while manipulating registry could affect your system adversely. So be careful while editing registry entries and create a System Restore point first.
1. Press + R and put regedit in Run dialog box to open Registry Editor (if you’re not familiar with Registry Editor, then click here). Click OK.
2. In left pane of Registry Editor window, navigate to following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
3. Right click Policies registry key, select New > Key. Name the newly created sub-key as Explorer. If Explorer registry key exists already, skip creation of new sub-key. Now in the right pane of Explorer registry key (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer), right click and select New > DWORD Value. Name the newly created registry DWORD (REG_DWORD) as HideSCAPower. Since you’ve just created this registry DWORD, hence its Data is already set to 0 which should enable battery icon in the taskbar. Close Registry Editor and reboot to make changes effective.
After restarting your system, taskbar battery icon should be restored.
Here’s the video to illustrate this method:
Hope this helps!
11 Comments
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Hi Kapil! Thanks for this very informative post and the video! This was a huge help! I have a Dell Inspiron 3567 laptop, and this problem was coming up. I happened to reach your post, and tried this and was successful. The battery icon cam back and stayed for a few days. However, today morning, I noticed that the icon had disappeared again. I checked on the settings as described in your post, and they were the same as I had left them. But still, the battery icon disappeared. I am repeating your steps, but can you think of how to get this done once and foor all? I appreciate your help! Thanks in advance!
^^ I recommend you to try registry method.
Hi Kapil, thanks for your solution to the battery icon problem. I have a Dell E5420 and was getting tired of removing and reinstalling ACPI Battery in Control Panel. Microsoft Support forums never seem to have the information – they just recommend obvious troubleshooting steps from their book of standard fixes which never do anything.
^^ Glad to help Bob!
Does not work… What is the fix for DESKTOPS. I want to be able to change power settings from taskbar instead of having power setting options open all the time.
Hi kapil! Thanks for found solution fixing missing battery icon,but I can’t fix it.i have micromax laptab.I have first fix step 1 your follow ,when I touch power on,it is not working.it has already off mode, and second step also not working and one things I have forgot about it,discharging power wheather i am plugin charger.please recommendation what I do.i have worried about it.
^^ Recommend you to perform repair upgrade: https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-repair-windows-10-using-in-place-upgrade.
I HAVE DELL LAPTOP. THE BATTERY ICON HAS DISAPPEARED .I TRIED YOUR SETTINGS BUT NOT WORKED.PLEASE HELP ME. PLEASE sEND ME REPLY ON *Email removed for privacy*
^^ Try FIX 2 as well.
As of the latest 2 or 4 updates, the icon is greyed out in Settings on a desktop, and not even adding the registry key beings it back.
^^ Which version you’re on and what updates you installed recently?