How to Manage Windows 11 Hidden Icons in System Tray

Option 1Change Settings (The Easy Way)

This method uses the Windows Settings ⚙️ app. It needs no special permissions, and you can undo any change by flipping the same switch back. The exact wording of the options can differ slightly between Windows 11 builds, and older builds may not show a hidden icon menu switch at all. If yours doesn’t, use the registry method further down.

Step 1Open Settings

1. Press Win+I on your keyboard.

The Settings ⚙️ app opens. You can also right-click the Start button ⊞ and choose Settings.

Step 2Go to Taskbar Settings

1. In the left-hand menu of Settings, select Personalization.
2. On the right side, scroll down and select Taskbar.

You should now see the Taskbar 🖥️ page, with groups of options such as taskbar items, system tray 🔔 icons and taskbar behaviors.

Step 3Find “Other system tray icons”

1. On the Taskbar 🖥️ page, find the section named Other system tray 🔔 icons. This is the area that manages the hidden icons.
2. Click it to expand the section.

The section opens and shows its switches. Depending on your build, you may see a Hidden icon menu switch at the top, followed by a list of individual apps, each with its own On/Off switch.

Step 4Control the Hidden Icon Menu

Hidden icons can be managed directly in the Settings app, so you choose which apps stay visible. The steps below turn the hidden icon menu on or off, depending on whether you want the small upward arrow in your system tray.

1. Under Other system tray icons, find the Hidden icon menu switch.
2. Click the switch to turn it On or Off.
3. Look at the right end of the taskbar to check the result. The arrow should appear or disappear straight away.

The individual app switches in the same list decide where each app's icon lives. An app set to On shows its icon directly in the taskbar corner. An app set to Off goes into the overflow menu while the hidden icon menu is on. Go through them one by one if you only want a few icons visible.

• 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 updates immediately, and you don't need to restart Windows. To undo the change, come back to the same page and flip the switch the other way.

Option 2Using Registry Editor (For Advanced Users)

The Registry Editor is an advanced way to control the hidden icon menu if the Settings app doesn't offer the switch or doesn't work for you. Try the Settings method first, because the registry has no safety net.

Important Warning: Incorrect modifications within the Windows Registry can cause significant problems. Back up your registry before making any changes. To do this, open the Registry Editor, go to File › Export, choose All as the export range, and save the file somewhere you can find it. If something goes wrong, you can restore it with File › Import

Step 1Open Registry Editor

1. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter or click OK.
3. If a User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears and asks for permission, click Yes.

The Registry Editor opens, with a folder tree on the left and values on the right. You need an administrator account, or the administrator password, to get past the UAC prompt.

Step 2Go to the Correct Registry Key

To change the hidden icon setting, you need to open a specific key. You can click through the folder tree in the sidebar, but the address bar is faster.

1. Click the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor, under the menu bar.
2. Paste this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify
3. Press Enter.

The editor jumps to the TrayNotify key, and its values appear in the right pane.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify

If you prefer, copy and paste the path directly into the address bar of the Registry Editor window and press Enter. Make sure every backslash is included, because a missing one sends you to the wrong place or gives you an error.

Step 3Change the "SystemTrayChevronVisibility" Value

SystemTrayChevronVisibility is the entry you edit to turn the hidden icon menu on or off. A value of 1 shows the arrow, and 0 hides it completely.

1. In the right pane, find SystemTrayChevronVisibility.
2. Double-click it to open the edit box.
3. Enter the value data from the list below.
4. Click OK.

If you can't find the entry on your build, don't create it blindly. Use the Settings method instead.

• 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. To undo your change, reopen the entry and enter the other value.

Step 4Restart Windows Explorer

Registry changes don't always show up on the taskbar right away. Restarting Windows Explorer applies them without a full reboot.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. Scroll down and find Windows Explorer.
4. Right-click Windows Explorer and choose Restart.

Your taskbar and desktop will briefly vanish and then reload. This takes a few seconds. The setting for your hidden icon menu should now be active. If nothing changes, sign out and back in, or restart the PC.

Step 5Close Registry Editor

You can now close the Registry Editor window. Your taskbar behavior will be updated accordingly, and the exported backup file stays on your drive in case you need it.

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 This is the safer method, and it takes effect immediately.

For more control, or if the switch is missing on your build, use the Registry Editor and change the SystemTrayChevronVisibility value in the key shown in the registry steps above. Back up the registry first, then restart Windows Explorer to apply the change.