About this tag
The notification area, also known as the system tray, is a section of the Windows taskbar that displays icons for system features and running applications. Common topics include customizing which icons appear, troubleshooting tooltips that fail to show when hovering, and managing icons for Bluetooth, OneDrive, and other services. Users also discuss issues like the notification area snapping shut, icon spacing and sizing, and removing unwanted icons such as a question mark. These discussions cover Windows 10 and Windows 11, with tips for improving workflow and resolving display or behavior problems in the notification area.
  1. WindowsForum AI

    Customize Your Windows 10/11 Taskbar Notification Area for Efficiency

    Whether you're a seasoned Windows 10/11 user or someone just stepping into the Microsoft ecosystem, knowing how to customize the taskbar notification area can save you time, make your desktop cleaner, and enhance workflow efficiency. The humble taskbar may seem like a minimal feature of your...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • customization notification area productivity taskbar windows 10 windows 11
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  2. enaielei

    VIDEO Windows 11 Taskbar Notification Area/Bubble Tooltips don't overlay when hovered unless focused first

    Current Behavior Launch any app/window and maximize it. Hover over to the Taskbar's Notification Area (Bottom-Right Part). The Tooltips (e.g. Audio Volume, Wifi Status, Datetime, etc.) don't show. Click on the Taskbar to focus on it. Repeat Step #2. The Tooltips now show. Expected Behavior...
  3. mjw72652

    Windows 10 System Font Change not applying properly

    I have two Ethernet networked HP laptops running side by side, both of which were upgraded simultaneously to 20H2 with all updates via in-place installs from an ISO created with the Media Creation Tool, copied to both desktops, then mounted and used to do the upgrade. After that was finished...
    • mjw72652
    • Thread
    • desktop font file explorer font issues font substitutes font update gadgets hp laptop iso installation microsoft newsbar networked pcs notification area registry system fonts tech support troubleshooting update 20h2 user interface windows 10 windows update
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  4. mjw72652

    Windows 10 Problems after installing 20H2

    I just installed 20H2 with an in-place upgrade plus the latest updates on 2 HP laptops (different models). I have had no problems with the 15bs234wm, but I have several on the 15da0053wm. It has a 1 TB WD PCIe/NVMe which I installed just after completing the upgrade/updates, which I cloned from...
    • mjw72652
    • Thread
    • 20h2 bios settings gadgets hp laptop notification area optane memory ssd troubleshooting upgrade windows 10
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  5. Hermitkrab

    Windows 10 Can't Enable Bluetooth

    Hello, all. I recently purchased a Canon printer, which has wireless capabilities. However, I can't find any button in the notification area of my PC that says Bluetooth. I know one is supposed to be there, but don't remember if it ever was. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. Toshiba satellite...
    • Hermitkrab
    • Thread
    • bluetooth canon configuration connectivity devices hardware l55-a5226 laptop notification area pc configuration printer satellite tech support toshiba troubleshooting update user query windows 10 wireless wireless printing
    • Replies: 12
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  6. D

    Windows 10 I have 2 questions about Notification area ?

    How to remove OneDrive in Desktop trees folder while I'm turning it on or show all folders ? Even though I have deleted several times and make don't appear it into notification area too while I'm assigning as a toolbar of desktop. And how to create a shortcut of Quick Access with sub items menu...
    • Deby Ferdian
    • Thread
    • customization desktop english file management folders help notification area onedrive pc configuration quick access recycle bin shortcuts sub items tech support toolbar ui issues user questions windows 10 windows features
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  7. P

    Windows 8 How to remove question mark icon from Systray?

    Have a look at the attached snapshot. As you can see there is a question mark icon in Systray. How do I remove it? Peter
    • pstein
    • Thread
    • customization desktop help icon removal notification area question mark systray tech support user guide windows
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  8. IcyStorm

    Windows 10 System tray/notification area icon width?

    Anyone have an idea on how to reduce the system tray icon sizes? I don't mean the icon image but the click/touch targets. The spacing between systray icons are larger than in previous versions of Windows. However, in nearly everyone else's W10 screenshots, I see everyone's systray icons much...
    • IcyStorm
    • Thread
    • accessibility cortana customization dpi icon size icons notification area settings slim taskbar spacing system tray tablet mode task view taskbar touch targets user interface vertical taskbar windows 10 windows 7
    • Replies: 17
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  9. T

    Windows 10 Get Windows 10 app still doesn't show

    Operating system: Windows 7 SP1 Problem: The Get Windows 10 app is not shown in the notification area after accomplishing all the conditions. Description: I've read the Windows 10 Q&A page and I've read the possibilities why the app could not show up. I used to have the automatic updates...
    • tomasbat
    • Thread
    • automatic updates genuine windows get windows 10 app notification area q&a service pack troubleshooting update issues windows 10 windows 7
    • Replies: 21
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  10. Lee Michau

    Windows 8 No Network Icon in 8.1 Notification Area or in Settings

    I was running 8.1 Enterprise and decided to try out Windows 10 Technical Preview, I think it was called. Didn't make recovery media. Didn't like it so I downloaded an .iso of 8.1 Pro onto a bootable USB drive using Rufus. The install worked fine except I cant connect wirelessly to the internet...
    • Lee Michau
    • Thread
    • bootable usb connectivity driver issues ethernet installation issues iso installation network issues network settings notification area pro version recovery media rufus sharing center technical preview troubleshooting user support windows 8.1 wireless wireless icon
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows Networking
  11. S

    Windows 7 Cant remove icons from notification area icons

    hi at windows 7 ultimate from Control panel - Notification area icons how can i remove icons which are already has removed entrly from the windows and the hard drive such as utorrent for example i have already uninstalled it and removed from regedit and there are still program icons showed there...
    • skeptic
    • Thread
    • control panel icons notification area registry removal system settings uninstall utorrent windows 7
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  12. Josephur

    Windows 8 Fuzzy Text/Icons after upgrading to Windows 8.1? Solution here.

    I had issues with fuzzy text in certain applications and fuzzy icons in notification area immediately after updating to 8.1. I found this was due to 8.1's new "improved" DPI Scaling options and affects many people. I can't help but think that millions of users will possibly be affected by this...
    • Josephur
    • Thread
    • display issues display scaling dpi fuzzy text icons notification area resolution text clarity user solutions windows 8.1
    • Replies: 9
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  13. seekermeister

    Windows XP Hiding A System Tray Icon

    A problem I've not run into before on XP...I'm using a wireless adapter to connect to my router, therefore I don't need a hard-wired connection at this time. Therefore I have the ethernet network disabled in the Device Manager, and the Notification Icons set to always hide the one for LAN, but...
    • seekermeister
    • Thread
    • device manager ethernet icons network adapter notification area reboot settings system tray windows xp wireless
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  14. J

    Windows 7 Custom Notification Area Program?

    As a curiosity of mine I've messed around with several types of shell replacements for the standard Windows7 Explorer.exe. However, I've found that most of them do not have any form of "Notification Area". So I was curious if anyone knew of a program that had a notification area or how I would...
    • Jack Griffin
    • Thread
    • community help custom software customization explorer notification area shell replacement software development taskbar user interface windows 7
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Desktop Customization
  15. G

    Windows 7 Taskbar icons missing

    Hi, Today, all the icons on my taskbar are gone. No pinned programs, even when I open programs, there are no icons on the taskbar, only the start button, and the notification area are in the taskbar. I have tried rebuilt IconCache.db. And I also tried booting into safe mode, but there are no...
    • gundamz2001
    • Thread
    • icon cache icons missing notification area pinned programs safe mode taskbar troubleshooting user interface windows
    • Replies: 15
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  16. P

    Windows 7 How to clean up "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Notification Area Icons" settings ? Backup?

    When I go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Notification Area Icons dialog then there are a lot of programs which are already uninstalled. How can I cleanup/delete all these useless entries? How can I delete ONE single entry manually? Second question: Assume I want to hide icons and...
    • pstein
    • Thread
    • backup cleanup configuration control panel customization desktop hidden icons icons manual entry multiple entries notification area registry settings system taskbar tech support uninstall windows
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  17. P

    Windows 7 How to show "arrow icon" for "Notification Area Icons" setup in TaskBar beside Systray?

    On one of my Win7 machines I have a arrow icon shortcut close to the system which (when clicked) opens the "Notification Area Icons" setup dialog (= the window which opens when I go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Notification Area Icons) On another Win7 machine this arrow icon...
    • pstein
    • Thread
    • arrow icon control panel customization icons notification area settings system tray taskbar user interface windows 7
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  18. K

    Windows 7 Notification Area Icons window pops up automatically following boot

    I have this very weird problem in which the 'Notification Area Icons' Window automatically pops up right after Windows Boots. Usually it shows after a minute or so after windows boots. Even if i keep my computer idle it shows up automatically (but only following a boot). This is irritating me...
    • Kartik
    • Thread
    • boot issues ibm icons notification area software bugs tech support thinkpad user interface windows 7 windows pro
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  19. Z

    Windows 7 Notification Area behaving abruptly

    No matter what and where I search, I found no solution to my problem. My notification area is behaving strangely : By default if one clicks the clock, the network icon or that small triangle arrow that shows the list of hidden icons, the clock or the list should remain on screen so further...
    • zmint
    • Thread
    • calendar display issues hidden icons icons mouse network icon notification area settings user interface windows issues
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  20. J

    Windows 7 RE: network icon

    hi all, sorted out my guest account logon prob. now when any guest logs on, no network icon appears in system tray/notification area? the guest can access the net and browse. would be very grateful for any ideas/solutions. the icon does not even appear in the customize icons display window...
    • johnny quid
    • Thread
    • access display settings icons network notification area system tray troubleshooting windows
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support