How to Hide Windows Terminal in Notification Area
Hiding Windows Terminal in the notification area (the system tray, next to the clock) keeps your taskbar clean. Windows Terminal puts Command Prompt, PowerShell and Linux shells in one tabbed window. It comes preinstalled on Windows 11 22H2 and later, and on earlier builds you can install it from the Microsoft Store.
The setting takes less than a minute to turn on. Once it’s on, minimizing the Terminal window removes it from the taskbar . The app keeps running, so any scripts or sessions you have open carry on quietly in the background.
Open Windows Terminal, go to Settings, then Appearance. Toggle on “Hide Terminal in the notification area when it is minimized.” This keeps Terminal running in the background and out of sight on your taskbar .
Why Hide Terminal in the Notification Area?
Hiding the Terminal in the notification area keeps the taskbar tidy. A minimized window no longer takes up a taskbar button, but it is still running and one click away. This suits anyone who keeps a Terminal session open all day and wants the screen clear.
The setting lives in the Terminal’s own settings. It is per user, so it doesn’t change anything else in Windows. It also doesn’t need admin rights or a restart.
When you enable this feature: the Terminal window disappears from the taskbar when you minimize it, and it keeps running in the background. An icon for it appears in the notification area instead. If the icon isn’t visible, click the Show hidden icons arrow (^) next to the clock, because Windows often tucks new tray icons into that overflow.
This is handy if you use Terminal often and want it open but out of the way.
When you disable this feature: the Terminal window stays on the taskbar when you minimize it, like any other app. This is the default behavior. It's easier if you switch to Terminal many times a day and want a taskbar button to click.
How to Hide Terminal in the Notification Area When Minimized
The steps below take you through the Terminal settings. You don't need to be signed in as an administrator.
- Open the Windows Terminal app. Click the Start menu and search for "Terminal". Under "Best match", select Windows Terminal. The Terminal window opens with a PowerShell or Command Prompt tab, depending on your default profile.
Open the Windows Terminal app - Open Settings. Click the down arrow button on the top bar, next to the plus (+) tab button. Then select Settings. You can also press Ctrl + , (comma) to open it directly. A Settings tab opens inside the Terminal window, with a list of options on the left.
Open the Windows Terminal Settings - Go to the Appearance tab. In the list on the left side of the Settings window, click Appearance. The theme, window and tab options appear on the right.
- Toggle the hide feature on. Scroll down to the option "Hide Terminal in the notification area when it is minimized". Click the switch to move it to On. Once it's on, the Terminal disappears from the taskbar the moment you minimize the window.
If you can't find the option, your Terminal is probably out of date, since older versions don't have it. Open the Microsoft Store, go to Library, and update Windows Terminal. The wording of this setting can also differ slightly between Terminal versions, so look for the one that mentions the notification area.
hide Terminal in the notification area when it is minimized - Save your changes. Click the Save button at the bottom of the Settings window. Then close the Settings tab. Now minimize the Terminal window to test it. The taskbar button should disappear, and the Terminal icon should show in the notification area.
That's all you need to do!
To undo it, repeat the same steps, move the switch back to Off, and click Save. Minimized Terminal windows then go back to the taskbar. If a Terminal is hidden when you want to turn the setting off, click its icon in the notification area to bring the window back first.
Summary
Hiding the Windows Terminal icon when it is minimized is a single toggle under Appearance in the Terminal settings. It saves taskbar space, keeps your sessions running, and you can switch it off again at any time.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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