Start11 v2 - Microsoft Team Status Overlays not updating correctly

from Stardock Forums

I've noticed that the status overlays applied to the Microsoft Teams icon will stop rendering correctly from time to time.  The overlays for MS Teams serve two purposes.  First, a circle is overlayed to indicate the user's status such as Away, Available, Busy and so forth.  The second is an optional numeral to indicate a number of unread messages awaiting the user that is rendered atop the status circle.

What I have noticed is that the status overlay will only render correctly if there is an unread message.  Meaning that both overlays are applied.  If there are no unread messages, the circle is replaced with a black square.  When I click and hold the icon on the Taskbar, the square is replaced with the appropriate status circle until I release the mouse.  I am only able to reproduce this issue if the "Let Start11 enhance the taskbar" feature is enabled.  Restarting explorer, using the same named button in the Taskbar settings of Start11, will cause the Teams icon to display without the overlay or black square until the status changes, a new unread message arrives or the Teams windows is minimize and then restored.  At that point the icon will briefly show the status circle and then switch to the black square.  I have performed multiple reboots with no change.  Only disabling the "enhance the taskbar" feature restored the overlays fully.

Here are screenshots of what I am seeing.

With "enhance the taskbar" enabled:

Feature Enabled

With "enhance the taskbar" disabled:

Feature Disabled

System Details:

OS: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (24H2) 10.0.26100 Build 26100

MS Teams: 25060.205.3499.6849

Start11: 2.52.3 Business Edition

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Moved to Start Menu Products by moderator.

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5,408 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Apologies.  I had Start Menu Products selected for the post, but upon posting it moved up one level and I don't see a way to move it.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Does it update correctly in the System Tray? Do you have Teams pinned to the taskbar?

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes.  The Teams status icon appears correctly in the System Tray in both configurations.  Either as a part of the expandable list of hidden icons or when added to the visible panel of System Tray icons.  Though I must point out that the behavior of the status indicator in the System Tray is slightly different from the expected Taskbar behavior.  In the System Tray, the numerals are not expected to be shown and the icon appears to be completely replaced whenever the status changes.

As hidden icon:

As hidden

As visible icon:

As Visible

Regarding whether or not the Teams icon is pinned to the taskbar, I have tried both options.  The black square issue occurs regardless of whether it is pinned.  I have also tested all four of the "Taskbar button combining" options and it persists there as well.

I have also tried resetting Start11 settings back to default.

I may have just stumbled on a contributing factor though.  I noticed that rather than black, the square's color more closely matched the taskbar color.  I slid a brightly colored image behind the taskbar and noticed that the square's color changed slight.  As a lark I tried switching my system wide mode from Dark to Light (Windows Settings > Personalization > Colors > Choose your mode).  The icon overlay for Teams displays correctly for Light mode.  Switching back to Dark mode causes the issue to return.  Toggle the "Transparency effect" option from the same system's settings page had no effect on the issue.

Light Mode

It would appear that this issue is caused by the combination of using the native Windows 11 Dark Mode with the "Let Start11 enhance the taskbar" setting enabled.  

Thank you

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Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

This is good information. Thanks

I am unable to test this issue as I am not running 24H2 yet, but hopefully Basj will be along and can test this further. I will bring this thread to his attention.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I don't have Team to test on my VM 24H2 system. However, I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

WORKAROUND:

This is a bug in the New Microsoft Teams for Windows. It does not affect all users.
Here is a workaround so you can see New Microsoft Teams Missed Chat notifications in the Tray icon:

On the start menu, search for Microsoft Teams. Right click on it and select "Pin To Taskbar".

Now, that icon will show chat notification overlays - showing the number of missed chat messages.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

The workaround doesn't work for me, same as the original poster when I switch to light mode it works fine.  In dark mode I get a hollow square instead of the status badge, when I click on it the depressed version of the toolbar entry shows the status badge fine, but when I release it returns to a hollow box.

I've turned off enhanced taskbar and it shows normally under the dark scheme.