System Icons - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable System Icons on Taskbar 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. The notification area was known historically as the system tray or status area.

By default, the only icons that will be visible in this area are some system icons. However, you can select which icons appear on the taskbar, and which icons hide in the overflow section.

This will show you how to enable or disable the Notification Area System Icons for all user accounts on the computer. These are the Clock, Volume, Network, Action Center, and Power (battery) icons in the bottom right corner of the taskbar.

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

   Note

When disabled, these icons are grayed out in System Icons and will no longer appear at the Notification Area.

When enabled, these icons can be turned on and off at will in System Icons and will appear in the Notification Area if turned on.

   Tip

• Check to make sure that the system icon is turned on.
• Check to make sure that the system icon is not hidden.
• Make sure that the drivers and devices that are for the system icons are installed and working properly. They will not work if the device or driver does not.
• Sometimes to simply log off and log on, or restart the computer, will enable the missing notification icons again. You should try this first.
• Sometimes resetting the Notification Icons will clear the problem.
• Sometimes on a laptop, you can shutdown the laptop and remove the battery pack, reconnect it, and power the laptop back up to get the Power (battery) icon back or ungrayed.

EXAMPLE: System Icons
NOTE: When disabled, the system icons will be grayed out and cannot be turned on and off by all users on the computer.

OPTION ONE

Through Local Group Policy Editor

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 an expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)

3. For the Clock Icon - In the right pane, double click/tap on Remove Clock from the system notification area to edit it. (See screenshot above)
A) To Disable the Clock Icon - Select (dot) Enabled and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)

B) To Enable the Clock Icon - Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)
4. For the Volume Icon - In the right pane, double click/tap on Remove the volume control icon to edit it. (See screenshot below step 2)
A) To Disable the Volume Icon - Select (dot) Enabled and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)

B) To Enable the Volume Icon - Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)
5. For the Network Icon - In the right pane, double click/tap on Remove the networking icon to edit it. (See screenshot below step 2)
NOTE: To make sure that this icon works properly you should also have the Network Connections, Network List Service, Network Location Awareness, and Network Store Interface Service Services set to Started and Automatic.
A) To Disable the Network Icon - Select (dot) Enabled and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)

B) To Enable the Netwok Icon - Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)
6. For the Power (battery) Icon - In the right pane, double click/tap on Remove the battery meter to edit it. (See screenshot below step 2)
NOTE: This will remain grayed out, even when enabled, unless your computer is a laptop or has a UPS battery backup connected to it.
A) To Disable the Power Icon - Select (dot) Enabled and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)

B) To Enable the Power Icon - Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)
7. For the Action Center Icon - In the right pane, double click/tap on Remove the Action Center icon to edit it. (See screenshot below step 2)
A) To Disable the Action Center Icon - Select (dot) Enabled and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)

B) To Enable the Action Center Icon - Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below step 8)
8. When done, close the Local Group Policy Editor.

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

OPTION TWO

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable the Action Center Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Action_Center_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


2. To Disable the Action Center Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Action_Center_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


3. To Enable the Clock Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Clock_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


4. To Disable the Clock Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Clock_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


5. To Enable the Network Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Network_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


6. To Disable the Network Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Network_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


7. To Enable the Power (battery) Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Power_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


8. To Disable the Power (battery) Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Clock_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


9. To Enable the Volume Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Volume_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


10. To Disable the Volume Icon
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Volume_Notification_Icon.reg

Download


11. Save the .reg file to your Desktop.

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

13. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.

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

15. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

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

 

[Brink]

Chunker,

If you haven't already, then you might run a sfc /scannow command to see if that may help. If not, then you might consider a repair install.

Personally since a virus was involved, I would recommend to format and do a clean install of Windows 7 to be safe.

 

[Chunker]

I believe I've already done your latest suggestion. I totally agree with the restore and I do have a system image saved on an external drive that was about 2 and a half months before the virus hit. If all else fails I can always do that. But right now I'm still looking for a quick fix. Since the virus I've done so many changes and improved my security I would hate to lose those and start all over again rebuilding. From Google searches on this subject I see where it is a widespread problem. I'm hoping somewhere someone had an answer.

 

[Chunker]

Something that I have given some thought on. Maybe you can tell me if it's a far out possibility or not? During the fix period I've been given a few registry entries to merge into registry. Let's just say the one you provide in this forum. I've done that one a couple of times. Now that I know how to find certain things within the registry I know how to search it for items. Well, another person gave me a couple of files that should have fixed my problem. It was two entries both containing the words "HideSCAHealth". I merged that some time ago. Now when I do a find within my registry that term is not found. However when I merged I got the message that it was merged successfully. The same with your reg fix, I got the answer back that it merged successfully. Could it be this virus has done something whereas I'm unable to add items to the registry? I used your file but don't know the word or phrase within it to do a find on it. Maybe it didn't merge either? Could this be possible?

 

[Brink]

Chunker,

By default the HideSCAHealth string value is not in the registry. It's only added with a data value of 1 when Action Center is disabled. Deleting HideSCAHealth, or changing it data value to 0 (zero) would normally enable Action Center again. The REG files and group policy do the same thing for this registry setting.

Since the find and find next didn't find any HideSCAHealth entries in your registry, I'm thinking that there's got to me some other unknown item affecting this than the normal group policy setting for this. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what else it may be yet.

 

[Chunker]

Then I might be on to something? I don't see those entries at all, at least they can't be found. I'm also pretty sure your icon fix reg file isn't in there either even though I've merged it 2 or 3 times. Thank you for your insight.

 

[Brink]

When my REG file is merged, it deletes the HideSCAHealth string value from the normal locations in the registry that group policy places it to usually enable Action Center after restarting the computer. That's why you do not see it in the registry.

 

[Chunker]

Ok, that makes a lot of sense. How can I verify that your entry has really been merged into my registry. What can I do a search for to see if it is indeed in there? Sorry to be so bothersome.

 

[Brink]

It's no problem mate. I think you are just misunderstanding the REG files a bit. That's all.

My REG file doesn't add anything to the registry. It deletes the HideSCAHealth string value from the two locations specified in the REG file from the registry if there.

If you right click on the REG file and click on Edit, you will see what it does to help.

 

[Chunker]

Thank your for your explanation. I've also read where that HideScaHealth has a value of 0 to turn it on, and a value of 1 to turn it off, so that is where I'm getting a little confused. I feel like I'm batting my head against a wall dealing with this issue. Guess I'm going to end up having to live with it as long as I live.

Guess I got my last post backwards, 1 to turn it off and 0 to turn it on.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, you have it right with that example then. You could delete it or have 0 for the value to enable it. I just preferred to delete it instead to keep the registry cleaner, and since that's what it does when done from within group policy. That's all.

 

[Keyoung59]

Still Missing

Shawn I have tried this post and this post http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/13102-notification-area-icons-reset.html and it's still not bring back the Action Center Flag.

Also did SFC/SCANNOW and nothing.

Still missing in the taskbar

and not able to turn it on.

Any help will do thanks again...

Kevin

 

[Brink]

Hello Kevin,

You might see if doing a system restore using a restore point (if available) dated before this happened may be able to undo and fix this for you.

 

[Keyoung59]

Already did a Repair Install everything is fixed now thanks Shawn

Kevin

 

[Brink]

That was quick, but great news.

 

[kabo0m]

I came to this thread because I am having an odd thing .. both my anti-virus and my Skype icons are no longer showing up and I did everything except system restore. I did run Malware Bytes and I have no malware (I have the valid Pro version I paid for and I updated it just before scanning even though I have it set to always update). Both the anti-virus and Skype are running. Take a look at the screenshot showing Skype and the Icons option.

 

[Brink]

Hello kabo0m,

This tutorial is for the default system icons instead, and wouldn't apply to your issue. You might see if resetting the notification area icons may help.

Otherwise, you might see if uninstalling and reinstalling the affected programs may fix this.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[kabo0m]

Thanks that seemed to help.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome kabo0m. I'm glad to hear you got it sorted.

 

[aakash]

my system notifications are grayed out in the customization menu of th

I HAVE TRIED ALL UR STEP BUT STILL BRINK MY SYSTEM ICONS ARE GRAYED OUT ..THE FOLLOWING ICONS R GRAYED OUT ACTION CENTRE ICON,NETWORK ICON,VOLUME ICON ,,,,,,I AM BADLY IN NEED OF THOSE ICON ....SO KINDLY COULD U PROVIDE ME WITH A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.......
I USE A LAPTOP WITH WINDOWS 7 ULTIMATE .64 BIT.SP 1....I TRIED TO RESET THE NOTIICATION ICON ,,THE CMD RESTORE THE DOWNLOAD REG FILES ...AND ALL THE STEPS GIV BUT STILL NO USE......
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM U SOON.....IF POSSIBLE WITH AN HOUR.......

 

[Brink]

Hello Aakash, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Please go ahead and post a screenshot showing all of your "System Icons" settings window to see if it may help reveal a cause.

Just to clarify, you did already try the "Enable" .reg files in OPTION TWO and restarted the computer afterwards?

Are you logged in to an administrator account?