How to Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar in Windows 10


The notification area (aka: "system tray") is located at the far right end of the taskbar just to the left of the system clock and includes the icons for current notifications.

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the taskbar notification area including the notification icons for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the notification area.

If you remove the notification area from the taskbar, it will also disable the notification area icons and system icons settings like below.
Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar in Windows 10-notification_area_disabled_in_taskbar_settings.jpg



Contents

  • Option One: To Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar using Group Policy
  • Option Two: To Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar using a BAT file



EXAMPLE: Add and Remove notification area on taskbar
Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar in Windows 10-notification_area_enabled.png
Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar in Windows 10-notification_area_disabled.png






OPTION ONE

To Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar using Group Policy


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two below.


1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2 In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)

Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar in Windows 10-notification_area_gpedit-1.jpg

3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Hide the notification area policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (add) or step 6 (remove) below for what you would like to do.


5 To Add Notification Area to Taskbar

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.



6 To Remove Notification Area from Taskbar

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar in Windows 10-notification_area_gpedit-2.png


7 When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

8 Restart explorer, or sign out and sign in to apply.






OPTION TWO

To Add or Remove Notification Area on Taskbar using a BAT file


The downloadable .bat files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

NoTrayItemsDisplay DWORD

(delete) = Add
1 = Remove


1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Add Notification Area to Taskbar for All Users

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_notification_area_on_taskbar.bat

Download


3 To Remove Notification Area from Taskbar for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_notification_area_on_taskbar.bat

Download


4 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

5 Unblock the .bat file.

6 Run the .bat file.

7 When prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve the .bat file to run as administrator.

8 You will now notice your screen flicker and a command prompt quickly open and close as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.

9 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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