Personalization Hide or Show Notification Icons on Taskbar System Tray in Windows 11

Brink · Jul 20, 2021

Tutorial updated to add options 1, 2, and 4.

Marek · Oct 5, 2021

Thanks for the option 4. They should bring this option back to the basic settings.

Krait · Oct 7, 2021

How to create shortcut from option four ?

Brink · Oct 7, 2021

Krait said:
How to create shortcut from option four ?

You could create a shortcut using:

explorer shell:::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}

memo09 · Oct 7, 2021

Brink said:
You could create a shortcut using: :)

explorer shell:::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}

Thanks! BTW I have to run this in a command prompt with Administrator privileges. Only then I am able to toggle the "Always show All icons" switch (otherwise the switch is stuck).

XP1 · Dec 13, 2021

Brink said:
You could create a shortcut using: :)

explorer shell:::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}

In order for this option 4 (old Control Panel) to work, the EnableAutoTray must be enabled.

Code:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
"EnableAutoTray"=dword:00000001

The problem is that Explorer resets it back to disabled every time you check the box, so we have to redo these steps every time Explorer restarts. It seems to be an Explorer bug.

idgat · Dec 13, 2021

Finding that Option 2 (click and drag overflow icons into the SysTray) works on all devices (about 11-12 so far), and has stayed as set.

PIA to have to do with every install, but it works, and more importantly, stays working.

rick99 · Mar 1, 2022

Fast forward to Mar '22... Has anyone found a way to do this with Group Policy yet?

hilfordjames · Feb 11, 2023

This is NOT the Taskbar Overflow menu - what you've described is the System Tray and System Tray overflow menu.

The Taskbar Overflow menu operates to the left and outside of the System Tray.

cheaterslick · Feb 11, 2023

Yeah, I've always known it as either the "System Tray" or the "Service Tray" using earlier versions of Windows. I find it invaluable letting me know what's running in the background like a program processing files or whether a VPN that's either been turned on or turned off.

I need to pin some of them to the taskbar (VPN) and I want others to appear in the ^ menu at all times, like the way it behaved in Windows 7, for example.

Brink · Feb 11, 2023

hilfordjames said:
This is NOT the Taskbar Overflow menu - what you've described is the System Tray and System Tray overflow menu.

The Taskbar Overflow menu operates to the left and outside of the System Tray.

Hello,

Please do note the difference between taskbar corner overflow menu and taskbar overflow menu.

Originally, this was called "taskbar corner overflow" in settings before it was renamed to "Other system tray icons".

It was most likely renamed since the "taskbar overflow menu" name is now used for the the actual taskbar icons instead of system tray icons (aka: notification icons) to avoid this type of confusion between them.

I've updated the wording in the tutorial to help.

Copy of old "taskbar corner" name used in settings:

Edwin · Feb 11, 2023

I haven't had an opportunity to experiment with the Taskbar Overflow Menu, but...,
... if you have Taskbar Alignment set to Centered, does the Start Orb and icons move dynamically to the left as the Taskbar fills up?

Brink · Feb 11, 2023

Edwin said:
I haven't had an opportunity to experiment with the Taskbar Overflow Menu, but...,
... if you have Taskbar Alignment set to Centered, does the Start Orb and icons move dynamically to the left as the Taskbar fills up?

Hello Edwin,

The taskbar icons when centered expand out on the taskbar while remaining centered until the taskbar fills up, then they expand into the "taskbar overflow menu".

Edwin · Feb 11, 2023

Brink said:
The taskbar icons when centered expand out on the taskbar while remaining centered until the taskbar fills up, then they expand into the "taskbar overflow menu".

Kinda makes me wonder though, why anyone would want the Taskbar Alignment set to Centered when it makes the Taskbar icons overflow all the more quickly!?!?!?

Brink · Feb 11, 2023

Edwin said:
Kinda makes me wonder though, why anyone would want the Taskbar Alignment set to Centered when it makes the Taskbar icons overflow all the more quickly!?!?!?

It should be about the same since it all depends on when the taskbar is full (left or center) before the icons expand into the "taskbar overflow menu".

atinfo · May 7, 2023

Why doesn't the setting persist after reboot (restart)? Is this a bug, or am I wrong? DnD (Drag & Drop) misses after restart (Dragging an icon to unhide it from the overflow arrow).

Brink · May 7, 2023

Hello @atinfo,

The Hidden icon menu setting only affects if the taskbar corner menu shows or not.

If Hidden icon menu is turned off, you can still turn on/off apps to show in it or not. If you turn off an app or drag and drop it above the taskbar, it will be hidden in this menu which is also hidden.

If Hidden icon menu is turned on, then you will be able to see and open this menu to see all the apps you have turned off to show in it only and not on the system tray.

atinfo · May 7, 2023

Hello Mr @Brink,
Thanks, but I didn't understand! What a complicated option for such a simple behaviour! I'll try to solve it. I realized that's MY wrong.
I've had this problem since M2 (moment) update and it's a headache because after every restart the icons go hidden, I mean are showing on the overflow tray arrow (If I minimize them to the tray).
Many thanks. :shawn:

Brink · May 7, 2023

atinfo said:
Hello Mr @Brink,
Thanks, but I didn't understand! What a complicated option for such a simple behaviour! I'll try to solve it. I realized that's MY wrong.
I've had this problem since M2 (moment) update and it's a headache because after every restart the icons go hidden, I mean are showing on the overflow tray arrow (If I minimize them to the tray).
Many thanks.

I'm not sure why NP++ gets turned off like that. You might check to see if NP++ may have its own setting overriding this.

Personalization Hide or Show Notification Icons on Taskbar System Tray in Windows 11

Hide System Tray Icons in Taskbar Corner Overflow Menu via Drag and Drop

Show System Tray Icons in Taskbar Corner Overflow Menu via Drag and Drop

Hide or Show System Tray Icons in Taskbar Corner Overflow Menu in Settings

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