How to Hide or Show Notification Area Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10
The notification area is located at the right end of the taskbar, and it contains app icons that provide status and notifications about things like incoming email, updates, and network connectivity. You can change which icons and notifications appear there.
This tutorial will show you how to select which icons appear on the taskbar notification area for your account, specific users, or all users in Windows 10.
If you choose to hide icons, you won't be notified about changes or updates for that app from the icon. To view hidden icons at any time, click the arrow next to the notification are on your taskbar.
Contents
- Option One: Hide or Show All Notification Icons while in Tablet Mode from Taskbar
- Option Two: Hide or Show All Notification Icons while in Tablet Mode using a BAT file
- Option Three: Hide or Show Icons in the Notification Area from Settings
- Option Four: Turn On or Off "Always show all icons in the notification area" using a BAT file
- Option Five: Enable or Disable "Always show all icons in the notification area" in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Six: Enable or Disable "Always show all icons in the notification area" for All Users using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Notification Area Icons on Taskbar
1 While you have tablet mode turned on, right click or press and hold on the taskbar, and click/tap on Show all notification icons to check (show) or uncheck (hide) it for what you want. (see screenshot below)
The downloadable .bat files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
UseTabletModeNotificationIcons DWORD
0 = On
1 = Off
1 Do step 2 or step 3 below for what you would like to do.
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_Off_Show_all_notifcation_icons_in_Tablet_Mode.bat
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_On_Show_all_notifcation_icons_in_Tablet_Mode.bat
Download
4 Save the .bat file to your desktop, and unblock the .bat file.
5 Double click/tap on the .bat file to run it.
6 You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted.
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Personalization icon.
2 Click/tap on Taskbar on the left side, and click/tap on the Select which icons appear on the taskbar link under the Notification area section on the right. (see screenshots below)
3 Do step 4 (all on) or step 5 (select) below for what you would like to do.
A) Turn on Always show all icons in the notification area at the top, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Turn off Always show all icons in the notification area at the top. (see screenshot below)
B) Turn On (show) or Off (hide) each icon listed for how you want them to appear on the taskbar notification area, and go to step 6 below when finished.
6 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.
The downloadable .bat files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
EnableAutoTray DWORD
0 = On
1 = Off
1 Do step 2 or step 3 below for what you would like to do.
This is the default setting.
When turned off, each notification area icon will hide or show based on what you have set in step 5 of option three above.A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_Off_Always_show_all_taskbar_icons_and_notifcations.bat
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Turn_On_Always_show_all_taskbar_icons_and_notifcations.bat
Download
4 Save the .bat file to your desktop, and unblock the .bat file.
5 Double click/tap on the .bat file to run it.
6 You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Six for this same policy.
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)
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Turn off notification area cleanup policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
This option will override Option Three and Option Four.
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
This is the default setting. This option allows users to use Option Three and Option Four.
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.
7 When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
8 Restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
You must be signed in as an administrator to do this option.
The downloadable .reg 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
NoAutoTrayNotify DWORD
(delete) = Disable
1 = Enable
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
This option will override Option Three and Option Four.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_Always_show_all_notification_area_icons_for_all_users.reg
Download
This is the default setting. This option allows users to use Option Three and Option Four.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_Always_show_all_notification_area_icons_for_all_users.reg
Download
4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7 Restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
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