If you are unable to see the Marketplace icon in Windows 11, there are a few potential causes and solutions to try. The Marketplace is Microsoft’s app store that provides access to first and third-party apps, so not being able to access it can be frustrating.
Check if Marketplace is Hidden
The most common reason the Marketplace icon may not be visible is because it got accidentally hidden. Here are some things you can try to unhide it:
- Open the Start Menu and click “All apps” at the bottom. Browse through the list of apps – if Marketplace is there but just not pinned to Start, right click it and select “Pin to Start” to add it back.
- Open the Taskbar Settings by right clicking the Windows taskbar and choosing “Taskbar settings.” Go to the “Taskbar items” section and make sure “Show app list in Start menu” is enabled. This will ensure all apps are shown in the Start menu.
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Themes and make sure your selected theme includes the Marketplace icon. Some third party themes may hide it.
- Right click the Start button, choose “Task Manager” and go to the Startup tab. Make sure that nothing related to the Marketplace is disabled.
Toggling these settings back should restore the Marketplace shortcut icon in most cases if it just got accidentally removed from the Start menu.
Update Windows
Another possibility is that you may be missing some important Windows Updates that add features like the Marketplace. Try checking for updates by going to Settings > Windows Update and install all available updates. Reboot your PC and check if that brings back the Marketplace app.
Reinstall Marketplace
If updates did not restore the Marketplace app, you may need to reinstall it. Here is how:
- Open PowerShell as Administrator
- Run the command:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} - Reboot your PC
This will reinstall and register the built-in apps like Microsoft Store. After your PC restarts, check if the Store icon is now visible.
Reset Microsoft Store Cache
Resetting the Microsoft Store cache can also help restore missing icons and functions. Here are the steps:
- Press Windows + R to open the Run box
- Enter
wsreset.exeand click OK - Wait for the command prompt window to close
- Restart your PC
This clears the Microsoft Store cache and resets the app. The Marketplace icon should now be visible after restarting.
Create New User Account
If the above troubleshooting did not resolve the issue, try creating a new user account and checking if the icon shows up there. This will indicate if the problem is limited to just your user profile.
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & Other Users
- Click “Add someone else to this PC”
- Click “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” > “Add a user without a Microsoft account”
- Create a new local user account
- Switch to the new account and check if the Marketplace icon is visible
If the icon shows up for the new account, the issue is isolated to your main profile. You can either continue using the new profile or try resetting your original user account as a further troubleshooting step.
Run SFC and DISM
System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools can help repair missing or corrupted Windows files that may be causing the issue. Here are the steps to run them:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Run
sfc /scannowand wait for scan to complete - Then run:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth - Restart your PC
SFC will scan for corrupted files and DISM will restore them from a cache. This may help resolve the icon not showing up.
Reset Start Menu Layout
If your Start menu got corrupted, resetting the layout may help. To do this:
- Right click Start menu and choose “Settings”
- Go to “Personalization” > “Start”
- Click the “Choose which folders appear on Start” link
- Toggle the “Show app list in Start menu” switch Off and apply
- Turn the switch back On to reset Start menu
This will reset the Start layout and menu to defaults, which should restore the Marketplace app icon.
Conclusion
In summary, here are some troubleshooting tips if the Marketplace icon is missing in Windows 11:
- Unhide the icon if hidden
- Install latest Windows updates
- Reinstall the Marketplace via Powershell
- Reset the Microsoft Store cache
- Test with new user account
- Run SFC and DISM scans
- Reset the Start menu layout
In most cases, one of these solutions should successfully restore the missing Marketplace icon and app access on your system. If not, there may be a deeper system file corruption that requires advanced troubleshooting or contacting Microsoft Support.
| Method | How To |
|---|---|
| Unhide Icon | Check Start menu > Taskbar Settings > Themes |
| Update Windows | Settings > Windows Update |
| Reinstall App | Powershell command |
| Reset Cache | wsreset.exe |
| New Account | Settings > Accounts > Family & Users |
| SFC Scan | sfc /scannow in Admin CMD |
| DISM Scan | DISM restore in Admin CMD |
| Reset Start | Right click Start > Settings > Personalization |
This table summarizes the key troubleshooting steps and how to perform them in case the Marketplace app icon is not visible in Windows 11. The most common fixes involve unhiding the icon, resetting the Start menu, or reinstalling the Marketplace app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Marketplace icon disappear in Windows 11?
Common reasons the Marketplace icon may disappear include the app being hidden, corrupted Windows files, issues with updates, or your Start menu layout becoming corrupted. Resetting settings to defaults often resolves this.
How do I get the Marketplace icon back?
Try unhiding the app from Start menu Settings, reinstalling the Marketplace via Powershell, resetting the Microsoft Store cache using wsreset, or resetting the Start menu layout. This will restore the icon in most cases.
What if resetting Start menu does not fix the missing icon?
If resetting the Start layout does not restore the icon, try creating a new Windows user profile to test if the issue is isolated to your main account. You can also run SFC and DISM scans to check for corrupted system files.
Should I reinstall Windows 11 if the icon is still missing?
Reinstalling Windows is not necessary in most cases. The icon can usually be restored through the troubleshooting steps like resetting Start menu, reinstalling the Marketplace app, or creating a new profile. Try these solutions before considering a full reinstall.
Is there a way to repair the Start menu if it is corrupted?
Yes, you can repair a corrupted Start menu by running System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) scans from an Admin Command Prompt. These will replace damaged files which often fixes Start menu issues.
In summary, there are several effective troubleshooting tips to restore the missing Marketplace icon in Windows 11. The most common solutions involve unhiding the app, resetting Start menu layout, reinstalling the Marketplace, or scanning for corrupted files. Following these steps should resolve the issue in most cases without needing a full reinstall.