Windows 7 - System Icons - Turn On or Off

**Brink**

How to Turn System Icons On or Off in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to turn a system icon on the taskbar on or off. The default system icons for Windows 7 is the Clock, Volume, Network, Power, and Action Center icon.

Note

The Power icon will be grayed out and off unless your computer is running with battery power. For example, a laptop with it's battery pack connected or a desktop computer on a UPS backup battery.

Tip

If a system icon you want to turn on or off is grayed out, then see: How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Notification System Icons

Warning

Turning off a system icon will remove the icon from the taskbar and turns off notifications for the icon.

EXAMPLE: System Icons on the Taskbar

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (All Items View).
A) Click on the System Icons icon.

B) Go to steps 3, 4, or 5 below.

OR

2. Right click on the taskbar and click on Properties.
A) Click on the Customize button. (See screenshot below)

B) Click on Cancel to close the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window.

C) Click on the Turn system icons on or off link at the bottom. (See screenshot below)

3. To Turn a System Icon On
A) Click on the Behaviors drop down menu to the left of the system icon you want to turn on. (See screenshot below step 6)

B) Click on ON to select it.

C) Go to step 6.

4. To Turn a System Icon Off
A) Click on the Behaviors drop down menu to the left of the system icon you want to turn off. (See screenshot below step 6)

B) Click on OFF to select it.

C) Go to step 6.

5. To Restore the Default System Icons Behaviors
A) Click on the Restore default icon behaviors link below. (See screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 2C)
NOTE: You will not see this if you had opened the System Icons window from the Control Panel above.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**niceguy75** · 06-29-2011

How to enable any system icon if it is disabled in the system icon like the power icon is disabled in your last screenshot?

**Brink** · 06-29-2011

Hello Niceguy,

The tutorial below may be able to allow you to do so.

System Icons - Enable or Disable

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**niceguy75** · 06-29-2011

Not working mate, I have even tried as Administrator.

**Brink** · 06-29-2011

Which ones are you trying to enable?

Could you post a screenshot of this to see if anything may stand out?

**niceguy75** · 06-29-2011

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Which ones are you trying to enable?

Could you post a screenshot of this to see if anything may stand out?

I was trying to enable Network, battery and Action Center Icon. Actually I have changed the dlls to change the icons in the tray and after changing the dll those icons were disabled, I tried your method but didn't work so finally I have restored my OS and everything is fine now but the icons are default only.

BTW, thanks for your help but I am now unable to post screenshot as I have already restored my OS.

**Brink** · 06-29-2011

I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted. Yep, the tutorial will not help with modified .dll files.

**grinreaper13** · 09-01-2011

i tried your direction but came up short it wont let me restore my default behavior at all my volume system icon wont appear on my tray i use firefox and i have a gateway nv53 windows 7

**Brink** · 09-01-2011

Hello Grinreaper13, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If your Volume icon is grayed out, then you might see if you may be able to enable the Volume icon using the tutorial below instead.

System Icons - Enable or Disable

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**Raargh** · 10-03-2011

Here's an odd one. In Control Panel, all my icons are there except "System Icons". But, if I go to "Notification Area" from TaskBar Properties, select Customize, there is a little hotlink to "Turn system icons On or Off", where I see the normal stuff and can turn the icons on and off.

System Icons - Turn On or Off-untitled.jpg

Any idea what would make just that one icon disappear from Control Panel?

Steve

Windows 7 - System Icons - Turn On or Off

System Icons - Turn On or Off

System Icons - Turn On or Off problems?