How to Remove Icons From the Windows 7 Task Bar

By Editorial Team

Updated July 21, 2017

Windows 7 preferences vary widely by computer users. Even when you take your PC out of the box and do the initial startup, you may notice icons in the task bar that you don't want in that location, especially icons of software you know you'll never use. But you can personalize your computer by removing unwanted icons from the task bar. You can remove unwanted application icons, which appear on the left side of the task bar. In addition, you can remove unwanted icons from the Notification Area (System Tray), which appears on the right side of the task bar.

Remove Application Icons From the Task Bar

Locate the Windows 7 task bar in the lower left-hand corner and hover your mouse over the applications to view their titles. Some titles may refer to applications that you already have open while others are obvious like Internet Explorer and other Web browsers.

Right-click on each application icon that you wish to remove from the task bar and select "Unpin this program from task bar." The icon will be removed. If you do not see this menu and only an "Exit" option appears, you will need to navigate to the "Start" menu, select the "Control Panel," "Programs" and "Uninstall or change a program" to uninstall the program. Select the program that you want to uninstall and click the "Uninstall" button. After the program has uninstalled, its icon will no longer appear in the task bar.

Repeat this process for each of the Windows 7 icons you wish to remove. If you accidentally remove an application, right-click and pin it to the task bar or the "Start" menu, as you wish.

Remove Icons From the Notification Area

Navigate to the "Start" menu and select the "Control Panel," "Appearance and Personalization," "Taskbar" and "Start" menu. The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog will appear.

Select the "Notification Area" tab. To remove system icons, navigate to the System Icons section and uncheck the boxes next to the icons you want to remove. To remove other icons, click "Customize." Then click the icon you want to remove and select "Hide" from the drop-down menu. Click "OK."

Click "Apply" and then click "OK."

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