This tutorial describes how to disable individual system icons in notification area in Windows 10. The notification area of the Windows taskbar, popularly known as the System Tray, is one of the most well known elements of the Windows desktop. Having been present in all Windows versions, including the latest and greatest Windows 10, the notification area consists of standard system status icons such as clock, volume, network status etc.
In one of my recent articles, I explained how you can have all the icons and notifications displayed in the system tray. But what if it’s the other way around, and you want some of those items to not show up in the system tray?
Fret not, my friends, as making one or more system icons disappear from the notification area isn’t really that hard. Wanna know more? Let’s see how you can disable individual system icons in notification area in Windows 10.
How To Disable Individual System Icons In Notification Area In Windows 10?
Turning off individual system icons (notification center, network, volume etc.) in Windows 10 is extremely easy. Read through the following illustrative walkthrough, and things will get even simpler:
Step 1: Go to the Windows Control Panel, and click on the Notification Area Icons item.
Step 2: The settings related to the notification area and its elements should now come up. Move down, and click on the text that says Turn system icons on or off.
Step 3: Almost done! A listing of all the default system icons (Clock, Volume, Network, Power, Security and Maintenance, Input Indicator, and Notification Center) will be displayed, with individual options to turn them on/off displayed in a separate column titled Behaviors. To disable a system icon from showing in the system tray, simply turn its corresponding option to Off. Check out the screenshot below:
And we’re done! As soon as you turn the option corresponding to a system icon to Off, it’ll instantly vanish from the notification area of the taskbar. To have it displayed again, simply toggle it back to On. Can’t get any simpler, don’t you think?
Also See: Choose Apps That Can Be Used For Sharing In Windows 10
Conclusion
The notification area (system tray) is an important component of the Windows desktop, that’s obviously there for a reason. The same is true for all the system icons, that provide quick information about the various aspects of your computer. But just in case you’d like to have on or more of them go away, the method detailed in this write-up is your friend. So go ahead, take it for a spin, and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
