Troubleshooting the DesktopWindowXamlSource Empty Window Issue

An In-Depth Look at Troubleshooting the DesktopWindowXamlSource Empty Window Issue on Windows 10

In recent months, Windows 10 users have been reporting an odd issue – namely, the appearance of a mysterious "DesktopWindowXamlSource" empty window on their taskbars. This strange window seems to serve no discernible purpose and disappears when closed, only to reappear upon restarting the computer.

Troubleshooting this peculiar problem requires a methodical approach. We will walk through several potential solutions step-by-step to resolve the DesktopWindowXamlSource window nuisance.

Run the System File Checker

As a first troubleshooting step, running the built-in System File Checker can sniff out corrupt system files responsible for the issue. SFC scans Windows system files against a known good backup and replaces corrupted and missing files, acting like an "MRI" for your operating system.

How do I fix a Windows Explorer problem with OneDrive?

After removing/disabling OneDrive, navigate to the OneDrive desktop folder that is giving you problems using windows explorer ( C:\Users\me\OneDrive\Desktop ). Right click on that folder and click properties. Navigate to the folders location tab and press restore default. This worked for me.

How do I fix desktopwindowxamlsource problems?

If you continue to experience DesktopWindowXamlSource issues on your computer, try setting up the Multi-tasking menu. Here’s how to do it: From the left side, select System > Multi-tasking. Expand Desktops in the right pane. Next to On the taskbar, show all the open windows, select Only on the desktop I’m using.

To run SFC:

1. Type "Command Prompt" into the Windows search bar.

2. Right-click on the Command Prompt app result and select "Run as administrator."

3. In the Command Prompt window, typesfc /scannowand hit Enter.

4. Wait patiently until the scan completes (this may take a while).

5. Restart your computer when finished.

Hopefully, SFC repaired the system file glitch causing that pesky window.

Reset OneDrive

If the empty window persists, Microsoft OneDrive could be the culprit. Resetting OneDrive essentially clears out and re-syncs OneDrive, wiping out any corrupted data.

Follow these steps to reset OneDrive:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.

2. Typeonedrive.exe /resetand press Enter.

3. Wait for OneDrive to reset fully and sync your files again.

With OneDrive reset, check if the window has disappeared.

Unlink OneDrive

If resetting OneDrive failed to fix the issue, unlinking your OneDrive account may do the trick. This severs the connection between OneDrive and Windows.

Why is there a blank XAML window on my taskbar?

If you see this empty window on your taskbar, it indicates there was an error while initializing or rendering the XAML content. Clicking on the window will open a blank virtual window, and closing it will terminate the OneDrive app.

How do I fix a ‘desktopwindowxamlsource’ empty window?

Another way to avoid the ‘DesktopWindowXamlSource’ empty window issue is to join the OneDrive preview program from the About tab. Doing this means that you will automatically re-version your Onedrive installation to a more recent build in which the problem has been fixed.

Here is how to unlink OneDrive:

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.

2. Click Settings > Account.

3. Select "Unlink OneDrive" and confirm.

4. Restart your computer.

Once unlinked, the problematic DesktopWindowXamlSource window should vanish upon restarting.

Update Graphics Drivers

Sometimes, the puzzling window manifests due to graphics driver problems rather than a system file or OneDrive issue. Keeping your drivers updated prevents rendering issues that can cause glitchy windows.

Here are the steps for updating graphics drivers:

1. Type "Device Manager" into the Windows search bar.

2. Expand the "Display adapters" section.

3. Right-click your graphics card and select "Update driver."

4. Choose "Search automatically…" and let Windows find and install the newest driver.

With updated graphics drivers installed, hopefully you can bid farewell to the pesky window.

Perform a Clean Boot

If all else fails, performing a clean boot can isolate whether third-party software triggers the issue. The clean boot cripples non-Microsoft startup programs and services, allowing Windows to boot in its purest form.

Is the desktopwindowxamlsource empty window related to OneDrive?

Stay in touch with the latest in the world of Windows! The DesktopWindowXamlSource empty window on the Windows 11/10 taskbar is related to OneDrive. Want to remove it? Here are the suggestions.

Why is desktopwindowxamlsource empty?

DesktopWindowXamlSource is a Windows application programming interface (API) that lets an app host XAML controls in a desktop window. If you see DesktopWindowXamlSource empty window, then it could be due to API being misused. The issue is linked with Microsoft OneDrive and got fixed in 2021.

What is desktopwindowxamlsource in taskbar?

Get rid of it The ‘DesktopWindowXamlSource’ empty window on the taskbar typically appears after a pending Windows update was installed on Windows 10 and Windows 11 and updated OneDrive. This problem is confirmed to occur with both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions of OneDrive.

Is the OneDrive folder a real folder?

Of course, the OneDrive folder isn’t a real folder on my harddrive, but rather a virtual folder that links to a Microsoft server, where my Desktop files are actually stored. This statement is incorrect. The onedrive folder is a real folder on your hard drive.

Follow these clean boot steps:

1. Press Windows + R and typemsconfigthen hit Enter.

2. Go to the Services tab and check "Hide all Microsoft services."

3. Click "Disable all" then go to the Startup tab.

4. Open Task Manager’s Startup tab and disable all items.

5. Restart your PC and observe if the window appears.

If the problematic window fails to load after clean booting, a third-party program is the likely cause. From there, you can methodically re-enable groups of startup items until finding the conflict.

When All Else Fails

If you exhausted all troubleshooting steps to no avail, further assistance may be required. Consider contacting Microsoft Support or consulting a professional technician to scrutinize your unique situation. With their expertise and diagnostics tools, they can better pinpoint stubborn DesktopWindowXamlSource issues.

How to fix desktopwindowxamlsource empty window Windows 10?

To fix this error, check for Windows update, update or reinstall OneDrive. DesktopWindowXamlSource is a Windows application programming interface (API) that lets an app host XAML controls in a desktop window. If you see DesktopWindowXamlSource empty window, then it could be due to API being misused.

What is the empty desktopwindowxamlsource window?

DesktopWindowXamlSource is basically a UWP component allowing developers to host XAML content within traditional Win32 desktop applications. If you see this empty window on your taskbar, it indicates there was an error while initializing or rendering the XAML content.

Why does desktopwindowxamlsource appear on the taskbar?

Clicking on the window will open a blank virtual window, and closing it will terminate the OneDrive app. The most common cause of DesktopWindowXamlSource appearing on the taskbar is when a user installs or runs an app that utilizes DesktopWindowXamlSource. When this happens, DesktopWindowXamlSource will appear as a separate window on the taskbar.

Stay vigilant and proactive when mysterious windows materialize in Windows 10. Following the strategies outlined here should help circumvent the DesktopWindowXamlSource window problem and restore normalcy to your PC. Did these troubleshooting techniques successfully banish the annoying window? Let us know in the comments!

References

1. https://www.thewindowsclub.com/desktopwindowxamlsource-empty-window-on-taskbar
2. https://windowsreport.com/desktopwindowxamlsource-empty-window/