Windows Update Status icon

Question

I understand that when the Windows Update Status icon with a small circle in the corner appears in my Notification Area, Windows is asking me to restart so it can install updates. Yet even though I have this icon "on" in the Settings screen, I usually can't see it on the taskbar. Is it not possible to see this icon (without the small circle) when there's no need to restart? Or will it then always be hidden?

Answer 1

Thanks again, Kernel-Panic. You've helped a lot but still I'm confused. My understanding has been that unless I specify otherwise, Win10 updates are automatic--in which case I should not have to hunt out an option to check for updates. More to the point, when I do hunt that out I see the exclamation point in a triangle and the message, "Updates are ready to download," even though my Windows Update Status icon is absent although I've turned it "on." Can you enlighten me?

Answer 2

Yes, you can check for updates by pressing the start button and typing in Updates and you will see Check for Updates as a result of the search in the start menu.

Alternatively you can press Start > Settings > Update & Security and it will take you to the same place. I've attached a screenshot to help you navigate.

Answer 3

Thanks, Kernel-Panic, for your interest.

I'm a bit perplexed by your reply, as the Control Panel option to check for Windows updates that I regularly used in Win7 seems to be gone from Win10. Is there any way in Win10 to check for updates aside from looking for the referenced icon?

Regarding other icons that don't appear even though expected, the only one is the Safely Remove Hardware icon, about which I have posted a previous inquiry here.

Answer 4

Hello Odin99,

Could you provide more information as to when this began to occur that you were no longer able to see the Windows Update system tray icon? Are there other system icons you are unable to see? Did you check to see if there is an update pending in Windows Update Settings?

Answer 5

Hi and thanks for your question. My name is Tim and I'm an independent Microsoft Adviser. Let's see if we can solve the problem together.

This can definitely happen in Windows 10 depending on if any registry tweaks have been made to the notification area. I would try enabling all system tray icons just to see if the Update icon appears.

Right-click an empty area on the taskbar, and then click Properties.

Under Notification area, click Customize.

Select the Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar check box, and then click OK.

Also, if you are unsure whether an update is truly ready to be installed, you can also check Windows Update status by going to Start > Check for updates and it should say if there is a Windows Update downloaded and ready to install or if a restart is required.

If you consider your problem solved it would be very good if you marked the answer which helped you so others can find and use this thread.

If this didn't solve your problem or you need further assistance please answer in this thread and i would be happy to help.

Thank you,

Tim