"Notification Area Icons" Settings - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable Changing "Notification Area Icons" Settings in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

The notification area is a part of the taskbar that provides a temporary source for notifications and status. It can also be used to display icons for system and program features that are not on the desktop.

This will show you how to enable or disable the ability of users to be able to change the taskbar Notification Area Icons settings in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: "Notification Area Icons" Disabled

OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable "Notification Area Icons" Settings using REG File

1. To Enable the Ability to Change "Notification Area Icons" 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_Notification_Area_Icons_Settings.reg

Download


2. To Disable the Ability to Change "Notification Area Icons" for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Disable_Notification_Area_Icons_Settings.reg


Download


3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

5. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve merging.

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

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

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable "Notification Area Icons" Settings in 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 to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, double click/tap on Turn off notification area cleanup to edit it. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable the Ability to Change "Notification Area Icons"
A) Select (dot) either 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 the Ability to Change "Notification Area Icons"
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 window.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Hide or Show System Icons and Notifications in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Turn System Icons On or Off in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change the Action Center Message Settings in Windows 7
• How to Change How Long Windows 7 Notifications Stay Open
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Balloon Notifications
• Reset and Clean Out Old Notification Area Icons in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Add or Remove the Notification Area from Taskbar in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Notification Area Icons" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Customize the Notification Area Icons in Windows 7
• Enable or Disable Automatic Promotion of Notification Area Icons to Taskbar in Windows 7 and 8

 

[brianzion]

great Tutorial as always brink

 

[Brink]

Thank you sir.

 

[DeployGuy]

Command-line utility to hide or make visible systray icons

https://hianz.wordpress.com/2013/09/03/new-windows-tray-notification-manager-is-here/
This fellow created a C Command-line utility with a companion dll, one for Windows 7 one for Windows 10.
It is simple and elegant, it hides or makes visible a single icon in the system tray notification area. Source code available there as well. I have tested it on both Windows 7 and Windows 10 and it worked as advertised.
It also helps you find what you need on the command-line. Brilliant!