Windows 7: Notifications - Enable or Disable Message Balloons

   Information

The notification area is located at the far right side of the taskbar. A notification informs users of events that are unrelated to the current user activity, by briefly displaying a balloon from an icon in the notification area. The notification could result from a user action or significant system event, or could offer potentially useful information from Windows or an application.

For more information about balloon notifications, see: Notifications


This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable displaying all balloon notifications in the taskbar notification area for all or specific users in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

   Note

This can be handy since the only options available in the customize Notification Area Icon settings are Show icon and notifications, Hide icon and notifications, or Only show notifications, and no Only show icons option. When Notifications is disabled, it will let you show all notification icons without showing any balloon notifications for any of the icons.

OPTION ONE

To Enable or Disable Balloon Notifications using a REG File

1. To Enable Balloon Notifications for All Users
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.

Enable_Notifications.reg

2. To Disable Balloon Notifications for All users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.

Disable_Notifications.reg

3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

5. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

8. If enabled, don't forget to set your Notification Area Icons customize settings how you like.

OPTION TWO

To Enable or Disable Balloon Notifications Using Group Policy

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click/tap on the arrow to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, then click/tap on Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar, double click/tap on Turn off all balloon notifications to edit it. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Balloon Notifications

A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 6 below. (See screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.

5. To Disable Balloon Notifications

A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (See screenshot below step 6)

6. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.

8. If enabled, don't forget to set your Notification Area Icons customize settings how you like.