Unknown Skype icon in taskbar

[goodfella2071]

I am running a Netbook with Windows 7 Starter edition.  Since the recent Skype update (5.3) the Skype icon in the taskbar (to the right of the Start button) has changed to an 'unknown icon' and does not show the Skype icon.  I have followed some advice to attempt to fix this such as recreate the icons cache but to no avail.  Although this is purely a cosmetic request it would be good to get the original icon back again.

I look forward to your responses.

Kind Regards

[TheUberOverLord · Accepted solution]

Be sure that Compatibility Mode is not enabled (right-click on Skype shortcut icon/launcher and select Properties >> Compatibility) - for Windows 7 users only.

If you have the normal Skype version installed, please install the beta version, if you have the beta version installed please install the normal version from Skype.com, please do NOT remove the current Skype installation, install over it.

You can install the current release or the Current beta release by doing this from the top of this page:

Get Skype -> Windows -> Choose the normal or beta release, please do NOT remove what you already have installed, simply, install over.

These instructions have worked for many and is the quickest thing to try to resolve issues such as this.

Also, what operating system are you on and do you have all Windows updates and updates to any hardware devices by the manufactures?

[goodfella2071]

I have now booted my netbook this morning. I downloaded 'yet another' Windows update yesterday but didn't boot it immediately. However, after booting this morning it looks like the problem has been fixed in that the icon has now properly appeared. Many thanks for your response.

[TheUberOverLord]

You are very welcome, Glad to help.

[sdinco]

After trying all the fixes, with no luck, this worked: Right click Skype icon on desktop and chose Pin to Taskbar. Icon replaced unknown icon.

[dgriffiths1227]

I've tried all the above options with no luck... Skype doesn't give me the option to pin to taskbar, compatibility mode is off, I'm using the beta right now because the stable version kept crashing on me, so I can't really switch back... Any other thoughts?

[Rasmusch]

yep.. pin and then remove pin works for me also, but lets see if it stays there

[dgriffiths1227]

I'm having the same issue... installing beta worked last time, but it just forced me to install stable, and there's no beta! What else can I try?

[aldracurau]

Pin to Taskbar and then unpin...this is the only thing that worked for me. So right now I have again the skype icon Let's see for how long...

[aldracurau]

Update: unfortunately it seems this is fixing the problem only during the current session of staying logged in to windows; if I restart the computer and start Skype again, the beautiful "unknown" skype icon appears in taskbar withou any shame.

So, no stable fix until now...