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Windows 7

Show or Hide the Taskbar Clock, plus Volume, Network, Power, and Action Center Icons

SUMMARY: Configure whether or not the clock or system icons should appear on the Windows 7 Taskbar.

If you find the Windows 7 Taskbar too cluttered, you can prevent the clock as well as the volume control, network notification, power level, and/or action center icons from appearing. If you often do not need these notifications or functionality this may be desired.

1. Near the right side of the Taskbar you should see an upward-pointing arrow. Hover over it and "Show hidden icons" should appear.

2. Click the button and choose "Customize".

3. The "Notification Area Icons" Control Panel window should appear. Near the bottom of the window click "Turn system icons on or off".

4. The window will change to "Turn system icons on or off". Click a pull-down next to a system icon such as "Clock", "Volume", "Network", "Power", and "Action Center" to turn it "On" or "Off".

Configuring which System Icons should appear on the Windows 7 Taskbar

Preventing the Action Center icon from appearing may prevent you from seeing important notifications about your computer such as your antivirus definitions being out of date, or if somehow your on-demand antivirus or malware scanner has been disabled.

5. When done, click "OK" to close the dialog box.

This tip was written for Windows 7 RC. Screenshots and information are subject to change between this and the official release of Windows 7.

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1. Boris (10/04/2009 12:08:55)

if I disable the network icon (by the mothod shown above), after a reset, I have no network access at all. All network programs hangs up waiting including Windows 7 Network & Sharing Center.
This is odd like Windows doesn't start the network services

2. Jeremy (11/30/2009 04:00:20)

@Boris: I can't replicate that problem. Everything seemed to work out fine for me. Are you using wireless or wired connection?