Unable to remove NordVPN from taskbar due to no "unpin from taskbar" in context menu

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need to know more on your system.

1. Windows 10 or 11? Also need its full version and OS Build number.
2. Start11 full version number.

I installed NordVPN to my Windows 11 v23H2 (OS Build 22631.4602), pinned it to the taskbar and I see there is unpin from taskbar on it. Refer screenshot below. I don't have NordVPN account to fully test it and I don't wish to own one. But it should be the same logged in or not, no?. Maybe something else is causing the unpin from taskbar item not showing up in your system.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Thanks for your note and I'm sorry I didn't supply this information to begin with. I am running: 

Windows 11 Pro, version 23H2, build 22631.4602

Start 11, version 2.11

May I know, how did you get to pin NordVPN to your Taskbar?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I'm not sure I recall. It was either pinning it from the taskbar itself while the NordVPN user interface was running or else from the start menu by typing in "nordvpn", hitting right click and then selecting "pin to start menu (Start 11)".

It occurs to me that I have not mentioned what is different about the NordVPN icon on the taskbar. 

I'm not sure I recall. It was either pinning it from the taskbar itself while the NordVPN user interface was running or else from the start menu by typing in "nordvpn", hitting right click and then selecting "pin to start menu (Start 11)".

Something weird just happened. I got rid of the NordVPN item on the taskbar. I think it happened after I tried to restore from an earlier backup, which did nothing. I did this because I keep having a recurring problem with a couple other icons pointing to the wrong app. When that happens I have to remove those icons and then recreate them. After I did so the NordVPN icon finally had an "unpin" item, which when clicked, got rid of the NordVPN icon. 

That might mean that the issue is fixed but I think there's a deeper underlying issue with the taskbar constantly getting corrupted such that I have to unpin and repin different apps on it.

How often this happen in your system? Any specific time interval? Or something happen in your system that causing it to happen. Need more information on this to see the issue more clearly.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Thanks for your reply. Here are specific answers to the questions you pose:

It happens quite frequently that the task bar becomes corrupted and I have to restore it from backup or else rebuild it by hand when backup fails to fix it. I would say it happens on average a couple times a week, thought I make pretty extensive use of my laptop daily.

There is no specific time interval which I can ascertain.

I don't know of anything that's happening on my system to trigger this corruption of the task bar. I am not adding new apps to the task bar for making any other changes to it. (Except after the corruption occurs.) I've been trying to ascertain such an event as might trigger the corruption  but cannot do so. I suppose I could access the Event Manager and see if there's something which relates to it, but I'm at a loss for what manner of event to look for.

Thank you for an interest in revolving this problem because it is kind of a drag having to deal with it so often. I will be glad to try anything or provide any data which you think might be useful. As a former software developer myself, I'm pretty adept at debugging system issues. I can handle a high level of technical detail from you, if that helps resolve the situation at all.

First, try these steps, just to make sure Start11 is installed properly. Uninstall Start11, reboot immediately right after uninstall is done (important). Re-download the latest version available from your account. Install it, reboot immediately again right after the installation is done. Retest it and see if anything change.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I note that there is a deactivate license option for stardock. Should I deactivate before uninstalling as you instructed?

No, that is not necessary. The new install should recognize the license signature file and use it for activation state.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I will get back to you after I've done this and see how it works. Thank you for all the information!

I don't know if you fixed the problem already, but I had the same problem and the problem was solved after I searched for the application in the Start menu with Start11 disabled. Then after right clicking the icon in the Start menu (not on taskbar), I found the 'unpin from taskbar' option. 

THanks very much for this. I know it will come in handy!