Windows 11 is the latest and most advanced version of the Windows operating system. One of the new features in Windows 11 is the Chat app, which allows you to communicate with your friends and family using text, voice, and video chat.
While this app is an excellent addition to Windows 11, some users may find it inconvenient to have it take up space on their taskbar.
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In this blog post, we will show you how to remove Chat from your taskbar and make it disappear!
Why Did Microsoft Add a Chat Icon to Taskbar?
The chat icon was added to the taskbar in Windows 11 to encourage more people to use Microsoft Teams. Microsoft has worked to improve Teams’ adaptability for both corporate and individual users. Users can now more readily access the Teams application thanks to the addition of the Chat icon. When enabled, Microsoft Teams makes it simple to place calls and send texts from the Chat icon in Windows 11.
How to Remove Chat From Taskbar in Windows 11
Fortunately, removing the chat icon from your taskbar is a relatively easy process. Here are different ways to do it.
Remove Chat Icon Directly From the Taskbar
The easiest way to remove the Chat icon from your taskbar is to right-click the icon and select Unpin from Taskbar. This will remove the chat icon from your taskbar but will not uninstall Microsoft Teams.
Remove Chat Icon From Taskbar Through Windows 11 Settings
If you want to remove the Chat icon but keep Microsoft Teams installed on your computer, you can do so through the Windows 11 settings.
Here are the steps for that:
- Open the Windows 11 Settings app by clicking on the Start button.
- Switch to the Personalization tab on the left pane, then select Taskbar in the right-hand menu.
- Under the taskbar settings, toggle the button next to the Chat option, below Taskbar items, to turn it off.
- This will remove the Chat icon from the taskbar.
Remember that this will only disable the Chat icon from the taskbar and not uninstall the Microsoft Teams app from the system.
Remove Chat Icon From Taskbar Through Registry Editor
Alternatively, you can also make use of the Windows Registry Editor to remove the Chat icon from your taskbar.
Note: Editing the Windows Registry is a risky process, so make sure you have a backup of all your important data before attempting it.
Here are the steps for that:
- Open the Run window by pressing Win + R on your keyboard.
- Type in “Regedit” and press Shift+Enter to open the registry editor with administrator rights.
- Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- On the right side, look for the “TaskbarMn” registry DWORD and double-click on it to modify it.
- In the value data field, set its value to 0 and click OK.
- Restart your computer, and the Chat icon will be removed from the taskbar.
Remove Chat Icon Using Group Policy Editor
Another way to remove the Chat icon from the taskbar is to make use of the Group Policy Editor.
Note: The Group Policy Editor is only available in Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise editions, so if you are using a different version of Windows, this option will not be available for you.
Here are the steps for that:
- Open the Run window by pressing Win + R on your keyboard.
- Type in “gpedit.msc” and press Shift+Enter to open the Group Policy Editor with administrator rights.
- Navigate to: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Chat
- On the right side, look for the “Configures the Chat icon on the taskbar” policy.
- Double-click on it and select “Disabled” in the next window. Click Apply and OK.
- This will remove the Chat icon from your taskbar.
Summing Up
Chat is a great feature for those who use Microsoft Teams, but if you don’t need or want it cluttering up your taskbar, then the steps above will help you remove it. Whether you want to remove the Chat icon directly from the taskbar, through Windows settings or by using the Group Policy Editor, this guide should help you do so quickly and easily.
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the section below.
There are several ways to remove the Chat icon from your taskbar, depending on the version of Windows you are running. You can right-click on it and select Unpin from Taskbar to remove it directly, through the Windows 11 Settings app or by using the Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor (if you have Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise).
No, it will not. If you remove the icon directly from your taskbar, then it will only be removed from the taskbar and not uninstalled from your system. You will still be able to launch Microsoft Teams from its shortcut in the Start Menu or by searching for it in the search bar.
Yes, you can easily re-enable the Chat icon on your taskbar. All you have to do is follow the same steps outlined in this guide but ensure that the value data for the “TaskbarMn” registry DWORD or the “Configures the Chat icon on the taskbar” policy is set to 1 instead of 0. Once you save your changes, restart your computer, and the Chat icon will be back on your taskbar.
Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.
