How to hide or remove Chat icon from Taskbar on Windows 11
If you do not use Microsoft Teams on your computer, you can hide or remove the Chat icon from Taskbar on Windows 11. Here are five different guides that you can use to remove or disable the Microsoft Teams Chat icon on the Taskbar.
Microsoft included a new Chat icon representing Microsoft Team to help you connect with your friends, family, and team members within moments. However, if you do not use Microsoft Teams due to any reason, you may remove this icon from the Taskbar. Here are five different guides and you can follow any one of them according to your requirements.
How to hide or remove Chat icon from Taskbar on Windows 11
To hide or remove the Chat icon from Taskbar on Windows 11, follow these steps:
- Use right-click menu option
- Using Windows Settings
- Using Registry Editor
- Using Group Policy
- Uninstall Microsoft Teams
To learn more about these steps in detail, continue reading.
1] Use right-click menu option
It is probably the easiest way to hide the Chat icon from the Taskbar on Windows 11 computer. It is the same way you can use to hide the Widgets icon from the Taskbar. In other words, you can right-click on the Chat icon visible on the Taskbar and select the Hide from taskbar option.
Now you cannot find the Chat icon on your Taskbar.
2] Using Windows Settings
This method is useful when you have followed the first method to hide the Chat icon and want to get it back. That said, it is possible to hide or show the Chat icon using Windows Settings. For that, follow these steps:
- Press Win+I to open the Windows Settings on your computer.
- Go to the Personalization tab and click on the Taskbar menu.
- Alternatively, you can right-click on the Taskbar and select the Taskbar settings option.
- Toggle the Chat icon in the Windows Settings panel.
For your information, if it is hidden and you want to get it back, you can do so by following the same guide as mentioned above.
3] Using Registry Editor
It is possible to use the Registry Editor to hide or remove the Chat icon from the Taskbar on Windows 11. However, before following this method, it is recommended to create a System Restore point. Next, do the following:
- Press Win+R to open the Run prompt.
- Type regedit, and press the Enter button.
- Click on the Yes option to open Registry Editor.
- Navigate to this path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced
- Double-click on the TaskbarMn REG_DWORD value.
- Set the Value data as 0.
- Click the OK button to save the change.
- Open Task Manager and restart Windows Explorer.
However, if you cannot find the TaskbarMn DWORD value, you have to create it manually. For that, right-click on the Advanced key, and go to New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Then, name it as TaskbarMn.
If you want to get back the Chat icon on the Taskbar, you can revisit the same path, open the TaskbarMn DWORD value, and set the Value data as 1. As usual, you have to restart your computer or Windows Explorer to get the change.
4] Using Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor comes with an option to show or hide the Chat icon on Windows 11 Taskbar. It lets you enable or disable this icon and functionality. You can use the same to get your job done. To remove the Chat icon from the Taskbar using GPEDIT, follow these steps:
- Press Win+R to show the Run dialog.
- Type gpedit.msc and hit the Enter button.
- Go to this path:
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Chat
- Double-click on the Configures the Chat icon on the taskbar setting.
- Choose the Enabled option.
- Select Hide from the State drop-down box.
- Click the OK button to save the change.
- Restart your computer.
After restarting, you cannot find the Chat icon on the Taskbar anymore. To get it back, you need to visit the same place, select the Not Configured option, and restart your computer.
5] Uninstall Microsoft Teams
If you don’t have any plan to use Microsoft Teams on your Windows 11 computer, you can uninstall this pre-installed app. As the Chat icon represents Microsoft Teams, the uninstallation will remove it alongside the app. For that, you can follow these steps:
- Press Win+I to open Windows Settings.
- Go to the Apps section.
- Click on the Apps & features menu.
- Click the three-dotted icon of Microsoft Teams (Preview).
- Select the Uninstall button and confirm it.
- Restart your computer.
It will remove the Microsoft Teams app and the Chat icon from your computer.
How do I remove icons from the Taskbar in Windows 11/10?
To unpin or remove icons from Taskbar, you can right-click on the app that you want to remove and select the Unpin from taskbar option. It will remove your selected icon from the Taskbar on Windows 11 and 10.
If you want to temporarily hide or remove the Chat icon, you can follow any of the first four methods. However, the last method is for those who no longer want to use Microsoft Teams app on their computers.
Hope it helps!
Read: How to reset Taskbar Corner Overflow Icons in Windows 11.
