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 tucks away less-used programs until you need them.
You can turn this menu off to keep all 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
Windows 11 hidden icons can be managed directly through the main settings app so you can choose which apps stay visible. Look for the taskbar settings and turn the switch for the hidden icon menu on or off depending on whether you want to see the small upward arrow in your system tray.
- 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 advanced way to control windows 11 hidden icons if the main settings app does not work for you. Always back up your registry before you start, because making a mistake in these system files can cause serious problems on your computer.
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
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
Managing windows 11 hidden icons through the registry requires you to open a specific folder path in the sidebar. Paste HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor to jump straight to the correct location.
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
SystemTrayChevronVisibility is the specific entry you need to edit to turn windows 11 hidden icons on or off. Double-click this setting in the right pane and change the value data to 1 if you want to show the arrow, or 0 if you want to hide it completely.
- 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
Restarting Windows Explorer applies your registry changes so your windows 11 hidden icons update right away. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, find Windows Explorer in the list of running processes, and click the restart button to refresh your taskbar.
- 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
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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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