DisplayFusion RSS: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/RSS/?TopicID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f DisplayFusion RSS: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:49:59 GMT en hourly 1 https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/RSS/?TopicID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#12 Wed, 21 Nov 2018 19:16:06 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#12 DisplayFusion We do something similar like that already, except we check for certain Windows messages with the hooks. The reason it's taking so long is because your machine keeps doing some monitor config stuff and generating those messages (some systems do this for whatever reason). So unfortunately no, it's not possible to add them back quicker :( ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#11 Wed, 21 Nov 2018 00:00:22 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#11 DisplayFusion So based on your response I guess there is nothing that can be done to make them appear quicker than that?

As in add them back on a timer while checking for existence, then retry on a exponential back-off of some sort - ie 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 seconds? ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#10 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 17:34:29 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#10 DisplayFusion Ok, that's working as expected then. On some systems, the Windows taskbar won't fully reload for 5-10 seconds because there's a bunch of monitor config stuff happening in the background. If DF tries to re-add the taskbar buttons to the Windows taskbar before that's done, they won't show up, but there's no fail returned, so we just have to wait longer and retry adding the buttons again.

Glad to hear that's fixed it up for you :) ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#9 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 06:43:58 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#9 DisplayFusion Hi,

Installed beta 4.

It doesn't reappear on the taskbar instantly, but seems to eventually appear after about 10 seconds. ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#8 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 19:12:47 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#8 DisplayFusion Ok, could you try 9.4 Beta 4 and let me know if it helps? We can't seem to reproduce this here but have made a couple of changes to hopefully fix this up. Please note, this beta has an issue where the wallpaper window doesn't recognize Monitor Splitting, so if you use Monitor Splits + Desktop Wallpaper, please wait for 9.4 Beta 5.

Thanks! ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#7 Wed, 10 Oct 2018 18:22:36 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#7 DisplayFusion It's a Windows thing that we have to workaround in DF :) ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#6 Mon, 08 Oct 2018 23:49:29 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#6 DisplayFusion
Quote:
We think we've found a fix for this and will include it in the next beta. I'll post a follow-up when it's available to try out.

Thanks!


Fantastic. Thanks for the quick response.

Did it end up being a windows thing or a df thing? ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#5 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 14:59:00 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#5 DisplayFusion We think we've found a fix for this and will include it in the next beta. I'll post a follow-up when it's available to try out.

Thanks! ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#4 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:56:50 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#4 DisplayFusion Thanks! I will pass the log on to our devs and keep you posted on what we find out. ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#3 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 04:23:36 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#3 DisplayFusion Hi,

Being a work PC, I sent through the log to your support email rather than attaching.

I was able to reproduce the issue instantly in about 20 seconds - so you shouldn't need a timestamp.

My process:

* Open outlook, notepad, notepad++ and firefox on screen 2.
* Start logging
* lock pc
* turn off both monitors
* turn on both monitors
* unlock pc

And the items were missing.

I alt-tabbed and clicked on one of them and the items returned.

Let me know if you need any further.

I believe this only occurs with certain types of monitor connections. In the past when I've used DVI/VGA I've never had this issue or had applications be moved to the first monitor when turning off - as I believe Windows keeps the monitor 2 connection alive while it's off - continuously sends signals down.

When using hdmi, turning off the monitor kills the data connection, so all apps are moved to monitor 1.

Hopefully it's simply an event to detect that the new monitor has been re-established and refreshing the DF taskbar to get them back. ]]> RE: BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#2 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 18:04:03 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f#2 DisplayFusion That definitely shouldn't be happening, it almost sounds like explorer.exe might be crashing or something. Could you attach a debug log? Here are the steps:

  • On the DisplayFusion Settings > Troubleshooting tab, change the Logging drop-down to "L1: Log Minimal" and click Apply
  • Reproduce the issue and note the time so we'll know where to check in the log file
  • Click the "Export Info to File" button on the Settings > Troubleshooting tab
  • Reply with the file attached
  • Disable debug logging after sending the log
]]> BUG - missing taskbar items when unlocking on dual monitors https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f Tue, 02 Oct 2018 02:15:19 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/bug-missing-taskbar-items-when-unlocking-on-dual-monitors/?ID=ada789ad-c78b-4585-8e28-5c48b811890f DisplayFusion This is a bit of a strange one, but what I think is happening is this:

  • I have a dual monitor setup.
  • I have DF set up to hide items on the main taskbar and show them on the 2nd screen that they are active on.

Depending on the type of monitor connection (DP/HDMI), when you lock windows and turn off the monitor, windows actually deletes the monitor from it's setup while it's off, causing the system to become temporarily a single monitor system.

What happens when you turn things back on is:

  • All apps open on second monitor get moved to the first.
  • Because they are showing on the first the second DF taskbar doesn't have any taskbar items on it.

However:

  • The main windows taskbar isn't refreshed and the taskbar items are hidden from that taskbar as well.
  • That means that any apps that were on the second monitor are missing from both taskbars.

To get them back I need to alt-tab to each app and the taskbar items re-appear as I switch to each app individually.

Possible solution:

  • Check windows event either for unlocking or adding/initialising second monitor.
  • Refresh all tasks bars when this happens.
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