Trying to make an application in the system tray show up in the active window for all machines

gnynot · Nov 16, 2023

I'm using win11 23H2

I want to use GPO, Powershell or registry to move a application that is hidden in the system tray to the active area. I know I can do this by clicking that option there but I'm trying to do this for 1000 machines. Is it possble for me to do this in a massive deployment.

garlin · Nov 16, 2023

Unhiding notification icons is simple enough, but you have to search under "HKCU\Control Panel\NotifyIconSettings" as each subkey has a random GUID name. I wrote two versions of a script.

This version reverses the current hiding state, for every app matching the command line arguments. The app name is whatever ExecutablePath appears under NotifyIconSetttings registry.

Code:

powershell -f Toggle_NotifyIcon.ps1 OneDrive SecurityHealth

Toggle_NotifyIcon.ps1

Code:

$AppList = $args

foreach ($GUID in (Get-ChildItem -Path 'HKCU:\Control Panel\NotifyIconSettings' -Name)) {
    $ChildPath = "HKCU:\Control Panel\NotifyIconSettings\$($GUID)"
    $Exec = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $ChildPath -Name ExecutablePath -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).ExecutablePath

    foreach ($App in $AppList) {
        if ($Exec -match $App) {
            $Current_State = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $ChildPath -Name IsPromoted).IsPromoted
            Set-ItemProperty -Path $ChildPath -Name IsPromoted -Value ($Current_State -bxor 1)
        }
    }
}

This version forces each of the named apps as visible. You could remove the 2nd foreach, and replace it with a single if-statement.
Unhide_NotifyIcon.ps1

Code:

$AppList = $args

foreach ($GUID in (Get-ChildItem -Path 'HKCU:\Control Panel\NotifyIconSettings' -Name)) {
    $ChildPath = "HKCU:\Control Panel\NotifyIconSettings\$($GUID)"
    $Exec = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $ChildPath -Name ExecutablePath -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).ExecutablePath

    foreach ($App in $AppList) {
        if ($Exec -match $App) {
            Set-ItemProperty -Path $ChildPath -Name IsPromoted -Value 1
        }
    }
}

gnynot · Nov 17, 2023

This is perfect. Thank you so much garlin. I modified your script a little to only do one application.

gnynot · Nov 17, 2023

Hey garlin, Just curious do you happen to know if I can make a Windows10 version of this powershell script?

garlin · Nov 18, 2023

I searched the web, and found a W10 example in stevencohn's Set-NotifyIcon.ps1.

The code was really longer than needed, but I simplified and merged it with my script, and it works on both W10 & W11.

Now the script takes three optional arguments. The default is to flip (reverse) the current settings. App names are case-insensitive, and may require quotes when running on W10.

Code:

Set-TrayNotify.ps1 -Hide OneDrive "vm tools"
Set-TrayNotify.ps1 -Unhide OneDrive

Set-TrayNotify.ps1 -Flip OneDrive
Set-TrayNotify.ps1 OneDrive

gnynot · Nov 19, 2023

Garlin, This is amazing. I really appreciate it.

timjolly · Jan 14, 2024

Hi All. Does this work on windows 11 too? I have been attempting to utilize this script to no avail.

For some reason despite having unrestricted execution policy, PowerShell states that the Registry locations identified in the script don't exist.

garlin · Jan 15, 2024

This script works on W11 23H2 (tested it just now). Are you running as Administrator?
What's the exact error message?

timjolly · Jan 15, 2024

Admin mode enabled. Running the full script SetTrayNotify.ps1 with no changes

garlin · Jan 15, 2024

You must provide the script one or more arguments. Like the App(s) you're trying to Hide/Unhide.

If you don't know the App's "name", then open regedit. Search under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\NotifyIconSettings, and expand the GUID keys until you see the ExecutablePath.
The script performs a simple string match, so "OneDrive" is enough to specify OneDrive as the target app.

timjolly · Jan 15, 2024

I apologize, I am new to PowerShell. I have the executable location and name but where in the script would I insert it.

garlin · Jan 15, 2024

If you want, call any of the two functions directly.

1. Remove the last few lines of PS code below the end of the function blocks.
2. Replace with:

Code:

W11_TrayNotify -AppList @("App1") -Action Hide

W10_TrayNotify -AppList @("App1", "App2", "App3") -Action Unhide

timjolly · Jan 15, 2024

I just want a certain task to force unhide from the system tray. This is how I have the script setup. I removed the windows 10 function block as it's not needed in my instance. When replacing "App1" with the appropriate app, the script gives no errors but does not remove the application from hidden in the system tray.

Please see attached