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To show or hide Windows 11 app icons in the system tray, open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, then expand Other system tray icons. You can also move an individual icon between the visible tray and the hidden icon menu by dragging it. Windows calls the hidden area the hidden icon menu or overflow area; it is at the right end of the taskbar.

Show or hide app icons in Taskbar settings

  1. Open Taskbar settings by right-clicking an empty area of the taskbar and selecting Taskbar settings. Alternatively, press Windows key+I, then go to Personalization > Taskbar.

  2. Expand Other system tray icons. Use the available controls to choose which app icons can appear in the system tray and whether the hidden icon menu is enabled.

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  3. Change the setting for the app icon you want to show or hide. Microsoft lists Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Outlook, and Windows Explorer as examples of app icons managed in this section.

The menu itself and an individual app’s placement are separate controls: the menu can be enabled or disabled, while app icons can be selected in Settings or moved between the overflow area and the visible tray.

Use the right setting for Windows features

Not every tray item is managed in the same subsection. For built-in items such as the Pen menu, Touch keyboard, or Virtual touchpad, expand System tray icons on the Taskbar settings page. Use Other system tray icons for app icons and the hidden icon menu.

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Move an icon between the overflow area and visible tray

To change an individual icon’s placement directly, select Show hidden icons in the system tray to open the overflow area. Drag the icon you want into the visible tray to show it there. To hide an icon in the overflow area, drag it from the visible tray back into the menu. You can also drag icons to rearrange their order.

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Open hidden icons with the keyboard

Press Windows key+B to reach Show hidden icons. Use the left and right arrow keys to move across tray elements.

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For a keyboard-and-screen-reader route to app placement settings, press Windows key+I, open Personalization > Taskbar, and expand Taskbar corner overflow to adjust app icon placement.

Troubleshoot icons that do not move as expected

  • The setting does not seem to control the item: check whether it is a built-in Windows feature under System tray icons or an app under Other system tray icons.

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  • The icon is missing from the visible tray: open the hidden icon menu and check whether the icon is there. You can drag it into the visible tray or change its setting under Other system tray icons.

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  • You cannot remove an item: Windows distinguishes configurable app icons and certain system tray items from core taskbar elements. Microsoft says Quick Settings cannot be removed from the taskbar.

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  • The labels or choices differ: options can vary by Windows build. Microsoft’s August 27, 2026 preview notes describe taskbar changes delivered through gradual rollout and say availability varies by device. The Taskbar settings page on your PC is the practical guide to the controls available there.

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