VeraCryptSystemFavorites Does Not Start Even With Favorites in List

[Pasca Baker]

I've used Veracrypt for years on all my PCs and this is the first issue I've ever encountered.

I recently installed 1.26.24 on a Windows 11 23H2 Pro with no disc encrypted. Veracrypt does not start minimized in my system tray (as is the case with all my other PCs, which are encrypted) and the VeraCryptSystemFavorites service does not appear, even though I have listed Favorites.

I can manually start Veracrypt and all System Favorites mount/dismount correctly; but the VeraCryptSystemFavorites service does not appear in Services even with a Favorite mounted.

Using Task Manager, I can get Veracrypt to start at login, but it always starts full screen, then closes to minimized.

I've uninstalled the application, reinstalled two earlier versions, and am now back to 1.26.24. Uninstalling and reinstalling do not resolve these two issues.

With an unencrypted disc, is this normal behavior? My other Windows 11 Pros are all encrypted, so I have no reference on Veracrypt's behavior with no disc encryption.

Thanks for this great program.

[Enigma2Illusion]

@pasca1261

Creating and organizing System Favorite Volumes is only available after you encrypt the C partition with VeraCrypt and System Favorite Volumes is only to mount volumes in certain circumstances. See the documentation links below.

https://veracrypt.jp/en/System%20Favorite%20Volumes.html

https://veracrypt.jp/en/Favorite%20Volumes.html

Hence, you need to mount and create in the Favorite Volumes instead of System Favorite Volumes.

Please post a screenshot of the VeraCrypt Settings -> Preferences screen.

[Pasca Baker]

Thank you. That explains exactly why the service doesn't run. I can't take an image of the Preferences, since I always set up Veracrypt with screenshots prohibited. I'm assuming the reason Veracrypt doesn't start minimized is because the disc is not encrypted. I can deal with what I thought was an anomaly until I encrypt the SSD.

Thank you for your helpful response.

[Enigma2Illusion]

@pasca1261

You can temporarily disable the option preventing you from taking screenshots of the Preferences screen by:

Settings > Performance/Driver Configuration > uncheck the "Disable protection against screenshots and screen recording". Then reboot PC for the disable to take effect.

Once you have the screenshot of the Preferences screen, you can enable the Settings > Performance/Driver Configuration > check the "Disable protection against screenshots and screen recording". Then reboot PC for the option to take effect.

Be sure to enable VeraCrypt options in Preferences:

• "VeraCrypt Background Task"
• "Start VeraCrypt Backgound Task"

.
Also, I prefer to enable the options listed below in the Auto-Unmount section or Actions tab in the latest beta version in an attempt to have VeraCrypt unmount volumes if I forget to manually unmount before performing a PC reboot or shutdown.

• "User logs off"
• "Entering power saving mode" (this is when Window OS goes into sleep mode)
• "Force auto-unmount even if volume contains open files or directories"

[Pasca Baker]

Following your directions, I was able to get the screenshot of Preferences from the Windows 11 desktop.

I forgot I have an old unencrypted Windows 8.1 running with the same Preferences settings as the Windows 11. On the Windows 8.1, the Veracrypt application runs immediately minimized in the service tray, so I don't see why the Windows 11 Pro should be different. Maybe you do.

Thank you..

[Enigma2Illusion]

@pasca1261

Windows 10/11 by default minimizes certain icons in the System Tray into the up arrow, show hidden icon, on the lower right side of the screen.

Click on the up arrow in the System Tray to see the applications.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/customize-the-taskbar-in-windows-0657a50f-0cc7-dbfd-ae6b-05020b195b07#windowsversion=windows_11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nLfrbB_ZOI

[Pasca Baker]

Yes. I am aware of the hidden icons. The Veracrypt icon does not show up until I click on the shortcut in my Start Menu. I can live with it until I encrypt the 0 drive.

Thank you very much for your assistance. Learned something out of it.

[Enigma2Illusion]

@pasca1261

You do not have to encrypt the OS partition in order to have the VeraCrypt icon show-up in the System Tray's in the hidden area ^ since you have the two start VeraCrypt background options I posted enabled.

In Windows, go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions and check that the VeraCrypt is enabled.

Did you hover your cursor over each of the hidden icons to get the names? The VeraCrypt icon should look like the attachment file.

EDIT: Also after you boot your PC and give the OS a minute to start all background tasks, open Windows Task Manager and sort by name looking for VeraCrypt.

[Pasca Baker]

I realize I don't have to have an encrypted disk to see the Veracrypt icon--as I noted about my Windows 8.1, which is unencrypted and runs Veracrypt with the icon in the tray on login. I am familiar with how the hidden icons work. Veracrypt is in the Startup applications listing. Veracrypt is in the my very limited notifications listing.

As a system administrator, I love tracking down weird issues. My system is heavily locked down, so it could be one of my security settings. No matter. If I get too flummoxed, I'll revert to one of my earlier images.

Veracrypt works when needed.

Thanks for your help and suggestions, but I'm working on something else and don't have the time or inclination to pursue this anomaly right now.