How to Remove the Empty DesktopWindowXamlSource Window on the Windows Taskbar
Did you ever notice a strange empty window on your Windows taskbar labeled “DesktopWindowXamlSource”? If so, this may leave you wondering what it is and how to remove it. This window mysteriously appears on the taskbar and causes confusion.
The thing isn’t malicious and won’t slow down your computer, but it messes up your screen. So, let’s check out what DesktopWindowXamlSource is and how to remove it safely from your taskbar.

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. 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.

DesktopWindowXamlSource can also appear if certain Windows services and processes malfunction or some third-party programs are actively running.
1. Update or Reset OneDrive
If you have the OneDrive app installed on your computer, the empty window is due to a OneDrive issue. To fix this, try updating OneDrive to the latest version and see if it solves the problem. Here’s how to do it:
If you’ve already updated OneDrive and the DesktopWindowXamlSource window still appears, you can try resetting OneDrive. To do this, proceed as follows:

This will reset the OneDrive app. The oneDrive icon will disappear from the taskbar and then appear again.
2. Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive
If resetting OneDrive doesn’t work, you can uninstall and reinstall the app to fix the issue. Here’s how to do it:
After uninstalling, open the Microsoft Store and download the latest OneDrive version.

3. Setting Up Multitasking
If you continue to experience DesktopWindowXamlSource issues on your computer, try setting up the Multi-tasking menu. Here’s how to do it:
After making the changes, close the Settings window and check if the issue is resolved.

$. Perform Some Generic Fixes
There are also some generic fixes you could try to fix DesktopWindowXamlSource issues. This includesrunning the SFC commandto scan for missing or corrupted files and the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool torepair any corrupt system image. You can also tryuninstalling the recent Windows updateand see if it helps.
If all the above solutions fail, you canuse System Restoreto undo any changes to your system and fix any corrupted or missing files.
Getting Rid of DesktopWindowXamlSource Empty Window
DesktopWindowXamlSource issues can occur due to OneDrive or certain Windows services and processes. But with the fixes we listed above, we hope you’ve removed that ghost window and restored everything to normal.
Sometimes this error message pops up due to organization rules, but what if it appears seemingly out of nowhere?
Not Linux, not Windows. Something better.
My foolproof plan is to use Windows 10 until 2030, with the latest security updates.
This small feature makes a massive difference.
Your iPhone forgets what you copy, but this shortcut makes it remember everything.
I gripped my chair the entire time—and then kept thinking about it when the screen turned off.