Personalization Enable or Disable Notification Center in Windows 11


Notifications_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to open the Notification Center for all or specific users in Windows 11.

Windows 11 puts notifications in the Notification Center (Win+N) on the taskbar corner where you can get to them instantly from the flyout.

You will also see the calendar flyout under the Notification Center flyout.

Starting with Windows 11 build 22610, you can disable opening the Notification Center and calendar flyouts via group policy.

Disabling the Notification Center will also remove the notification bell icon on the taskbar right corner. Clicking on the Time and Date (clock) icon on the taskbar will no longer open the Notification Center and Calendar flyout.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the Notification Center and calendar flyout.



Contents

  • Option One: Enable or Disable Notification Center for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
  • Option Two: Enable or Disable Notification Center for All Users using REG file


EXAMPLE: Notification Center, icon, and calendar flyout

Notification_Center_and Calendar_flyout.png





Option One

Enable or Disable Notification Center for All or Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor


The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two to configure the 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 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)

(All users)​
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

OR​

(Specific user or group)​
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

Notification_Center_and Calendar_flyout_gpedit-1.png

3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Remove Notifications and Action Center policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.

5 Enable Notification Center

This is the default setting.


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

Notification_Center_and Calendar_flyout_gpedit-2.png

6 Disable Notification Center

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

Notification_Center_and Calendar_flyout_gpedit-3.png

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

8 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.




Option Two

Enable or Disable Notification Center for All Users using REG file


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

2 Enable Notification Center 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_Center_for_all_users.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableNotificationCenter"=-

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableNotificationCenter"=-

3 Disable Notification Center for All Users

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

Disable_Notification_Center_for_all_users.reg


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableNotificationCenter"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableNotificationCenter"=dword:00000001

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

8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

Last edited:
I have tried EVERYTHING!! It doesn't seem to matter what I try. I've tried just restarting explorer.exe, rebooting, powering down and powering on... it seems like nothing I try works.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home build
    CPU
    Intel i9-9900K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG STRIX Z390H
    Memory
    128gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12gb
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z SE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG ULTRAGEAR
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440
    Hard Drives
    5
    PSU
    750W
    Case
    Black Base Pro 901
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i Elite CAPELLIX XT
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech M-500
    Internet Speed
    U-Verse (100mb/25mb)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I have tried EVERYTHING!! It doesn't seem to matter what I try. I've tried just restarting explorer.exe, rebooting, powering down and powering on... it seems like nothing I try works.
This policy is not configured by default, so unless it was, it wouldn't be responsible for why your Notification Center will not open.

Just to confirm, have you tried the other options below to see if one may open the Notification Center?


Do you have any 3rd party tweaking/customization apps installed that could have a setting causing this?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender

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