Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10  

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    Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10

    Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10

    How to Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10
    Published by Category: General Tips
    25 Nov 2019
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10


    The Clock, Volume, Network, Power, and Action Center system icons are located on the taskbar notification area (aka: system tray) by default in Windows. When you hover over these icons, you can see their status. You can right click on these icons to access specific options or settings for them.

    By default, each user can choose to turn on or off systems icons showing on their taskbars.

    This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable system icons on the taskbar notification area for all or specific users in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable a system icon.

    If a system icon is enabled, users will be able to turn on or off the system icon for their account.

    If a system icon is disabled, the icon will be removed from the taskbar notification area for all users, and users will not be able to turn on or off the system icon since its setting will be grayed out.



    Contents

    • Option One: To Enable System Icons on Taskbar for All Users using a BAT file
    • Option Two: To Disable System Icons on Taskbar for All Users using a BAT file
    • Option Three: To Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor



    EXAMPLE: System icons on taskbar notification area
    Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10-system_icons.png


    EXAMPLE: System icons enabled and disabled (grayed out)
    Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10-system_icons_enabled.png Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10-system_icons_disabled.png






    OPTION ONE

    To Enable System Icons on Taskbar for All Users using a BAT file


    This is the default setting.


    1 Do step 2 (Clock), step 3 (Volume), step 4 (Network), step 5 (Power), or step 6 (Action Center) below for which system icon you want to enable for all users.


     2. To Enable Clock System Icon on Taskbar

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Enable_Clock_system_icon.bat

    Download


     3. To Enable Volume System Icon on Taskbar

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Enable_Volume_system_icon.bat

    Download


     4. To Enable Network System Icon on Taskbar

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Enable_Network_system_icon.bat

    Download


     5. To Enable Power System Icon on Taskbar

    The Power system icon will only be available if the PC has a battery or connected UPS.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Enable_Power_system_icon.bat

    Download


     6. To Enable Action Center System Icon on Taskbar

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Enable_Action-Center_system_icon.bat

    Download

    7 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    8 Unblock the .bat file.

    9 Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

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

    11 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    To Disable System Icons on Taskbar for All Users using a BAT file


    1 Do step 2 (Clock), step 3 (Volume), step 4 (Network), step 5 (Power), or step 6 (Action Center) below for which system icon you want to disable for all users.


     2. To Disable Clock System Icon on Taskbar

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Disable_Clock_system_icon.bat

    Download


     3. To Disable Volume System Icon on Taskbar

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Disable_Volume_system_icon.bat

    Download


     4. To Disable Network System Icon on Taskbar

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Disable_Network_system_icon.bat

    Download


     5. To Disable Power System Icon on Taskbar

    The Power system icon will only be available if the PC has a battery or connected UPS.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Disable_Power_system_icon.bat

    Download


     6. To Disable Action Center System Icon on Taskbar

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 7 below.

    Disable_Action-Center_system_icon.bat

    Download

    7 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    8 Unblock the .bat file.

    9 Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator.

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

    11 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like.






    OPTION THREE

    To Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor


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

    All editions can use Option One and Option Two


    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 Navigate to the policy folder below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

    User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

    Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10-system_icons_group_policies-1.png

    3 Do step 4 (Clock), step 5 (Volume), step 6 (Network), step 7 (Power), or step 8 (Action Center) below for which system icon you want to enable or disable.


     4. To Enable or Disable Clock System Icon on Taskbar

    A) In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Remove Clock from the system notification area policy to edit it, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below step 2)


     5. To Enable or Disable Volume System Icon on Taskbar

    A) In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Remove the volume control icon policy to edit it, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below step 2)


     6. To Enable or Disable Network System Icon on Taskbar

    A) In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Remove the networking icon policy to edit it, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below step 2)


     7. To Enable or Disable Power System Icon on Taskbar

    A) In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Remove the battery meter policy to edit it, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below step 2)


     8. To Enable or Disable Action Center System Icon on Taskbar

    A) In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on the Remove Notifications and Action Center policy to edit it, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below step 2)

    9 Perform the action below depending on if you want to enable or disable the system icon: (see screenshot below)

    A) To enable system icon, select Not Configured (default) or Disabled, and click/tap on OK.

    OR

    B) To disable system icon, select Enabled, and click/tap on OK.

    Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10-system_icons_group_policies-2.png

    10 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor.

    11 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 3
    W10 Pro 1903
       #1

    How Remove [Not Hide] Network Icon From TaskBar


    Hello ,

    Thanks Shawn for your tutorial.
    This is only to hide (ex netwotk icon) Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10-hide-network-icon.jpg

    What about if I want to remove Network Icon completly?
    I don't want that students on educational computers modify anything into network?

    Thanks for your help
    Steph
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,657
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Steph @gregstephen, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    Using the .bat file in step 4 option 2 should completely remove the Network icon like below. Be sure to use "Run as administrator" on the .bat file.

    However, it won't prevent users from using other methods to access network settings.

    Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 10-network_icon.png
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 3
    W10 Pro 1903
       #3

    Thanks Brink...
    It's done !
    Bye
    Steph
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,657
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    You're most welcome Steph.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 3
    W10 Pro 1903
       #5

    One thing:
    is it possible to remove network icon only on "user" not on machine?
    Thanks
    Steph
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,657
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    gregstephen said:
    One thing:
    is it possible to remove network icon only on "user" not on machine?
    Thanks
    Steph

    I'm not aware of a way, but you could create a Network & Internet settings shortcut to use instead as a workaround if you didn't want to enable this again when wanted and disable afterwards.

    Create Network Connections Shortcut in Windows 10
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 1
    Windows 10 pro 1903
       #7

    Thanks Shawn!
    I'm looking to make a similar .bat file for input indicator and location.
    How do you find out what DWORD to add to the registry? For clock it's just "HideClock" and for power, "HideSCAPower" but what will it be for input indicator and location?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,657
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    RubenVE said:
    Thanks Shawn!
    I'm looking to make a similar .bat file for input indicator and location.
    How do you find out what DWORD to add to the registry? For clock it's just "HideClock" and for power, "HideSCAPower" but what will it be for input indicator and location?

    Hello Ruben, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    The DWORD values were determined by a GPO in this case.

    I haven't seen a group policy for the Input Indicator and Location system icons, but you might see if the tutorials below may help to turn off or disable the feature if wanted.

    Turn On or Off Language Bar and Input Indicator in Windows 10

    Turn On or Off Location Services in Windows 10
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #9

    Shawn is there not a simpler way to show hide icons in the notification area - say the speaker icon? I could have sworn this could be done in the settings without need of a bat file. Am I missing something. Trying to help out a novice.

    Never mind, found what I'm looking for.

    Thanks
      My Computers


 

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