How to Manage Windows 11 Hidden Icons in System Tray
The taskbar corner overflow menu in Windows 11 holds up to 15 background apps behind a small upward-pointing arrow so your screen stays clean. This hidden icon menu keeps less-used programs tucked away until you need them.
You can turn this menu off to keep all your active app icons visible on the taskbar , or leave it on to save space. Managing these icons takes just a few clicks in your Windows settings .
To show or hide the hidden icon menu on your Windows 11 taskbar, open Settings , go to Personalization Taskbar, and toggle “Other system tray icons” on or off. This action directly controls the visibility of the upward-pointing arrow in your system tray.
Option 1Change Settings (The Easy Way)
This method uses the Windows Settings app.
Step 1Open Settings
Press Win+I to open the Settings app.
Step 2Go to Taskbar Settings
Within Settings, select Personalization from the left-hand menu. On the right side, scroll down and choose Taskbar.
Step 3Find “Other system tray icons”
In the Taskbar settings, locate the section named Other system tray icons (this is the area that manages the hidden icons). Click on it to reveal the available options.
Step 4Control the Hidden Icon Menu
You can control the hidden icon menu directly within Windows 11 settings. Look for an option like "Show hidden icons in the taskbar" and turn the switch On to display the menu with its arrow, or Off to hide it.
- Tip: When this setting is On, you'll see the upward-pointing arrow (the chevron) in the system tray. Clicking it shows icons for apps not currently displayed directly on the taskbar.
- Warning: If you turn this setting Off, the arrow will vanish. Icons that were hidden will likely appear directly on your taskbar, which might make it look more crowded.
Step 5Close Settings
You can now close the Settings window. Your taskbar will update immediately.
Option 2Using Registry Editor (For Advanced Users)
The Registry Editor offers an alternative way to control the hidden icon menu. Back up your registry before proceeding, as mistakes here can cause system instability.
Important Warning: Incorrect modifications within the Windows Registry can cause significant problems. It's advisable to back up your registry before making any changes. To do this, open the Registry Editor, navigate to File Export, and save a copy of your registry.
Step 1Open Registry Editor
Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This opens the Run dialog box. Type regedit and press Enter or click OK. A User Account Control (UAC) prompt might appear, asking for permission. Click Yes.
Step 2Go to the Correct Registry Key
To manage the hidden icon menu using the Registry Editor, you need to find a specific location. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify in the left pane, or paste it into the address bar.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotifyAlternatively, you can copy and paste this path directly into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor window and press Enter. Ensure all backslashes are included.
Step 3Change the "SystemTrayChevronVisibility" Value
In Windows 11, after you locate the TrayNotify key within the Windows Registry editor, find SystemTrayChevronVisibility in the right pane. To show the hidden icon menu, change its value to 1; to hide the hidden icon menu, change its value to 0. Ensure the Base is set to Hexadecimal.
- To Turn ON the Hidden Icon Menu (Show the Arrow): In the "Value data" box, type
1. Make sure "Base" is set to Hexadecimal. Click OK. - To Turn OFF the Hidden Icon Menu (Hide the Arrow): In the "Value data" box, type
0. Make sure "Base" is set to Hexadecimal. Click OK.
Using the number 1 instructs Windows to show the hidden icon menu, while 0 tells it to hide the menu.
Step 4Restart Windows Explorer
After changing the registry setting for the hidden icon menu, you need to restart Windows Explorer for the changes to show. You can do this by opening Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), finding Windows Explorer, and choosing 'Restart'.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Go to the Processes tab.
- Scroll down and find Windows Explorer.
- Right-click on Windows Explorer and choose Restart.
Your taskbar and desktop will briefly vanish and then reload. The setting for your hidden icon menu should now be active.
Step 5Close Registry Editor
You can now close the Registry Editor window. Your taskbar behavior will be updated accordingly.
Summary
You can turn the hidden icon menu on or off in Windows 11 through the Settings app under Personalization Taskbar Other system tray icons For more control, the Registry Editor can be used by changing the SystemTrayChevronVisibility value at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersi
Why are the icons not showing in system tray 🪟 Windows 11?
When system tray icons vanish, first restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager to refresh the taskbar. Check if 'Hide system icons' is enabled in Taskbar settings. Corrupted icon cache can cause this; rebuild it by deleting the IconCache. db file in the user profile folder and rebooting.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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