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What is the Windows task tray?

Author

Jessica Burns

Published Mar 11, 2026

What is the Windows task tray?

Introduced with Windows 95, the system tray is located in the Windows Taskbar (usually at the bottom next to the clock) and contains miniature icons for easy access to system functions such as fax, printer, modem, volume, and more. Double click or right click on an icon to view and access the details and controls.

In this regard, what is task tray?

The system tray (or "systray") is a section of the taskbars in the Microsoft Windows desktop user interface that is used to display the clock and the icons of certain programs so that a user is continually reminded that they are there and can easily click one of them.

Similarly, how do I access system tray in Windows 10? In Windows 10On Windows 10, you can access more detailed setting by right-clicking the taskbar and selecting “Settings”. This takes you straight to the Settings > Personalization > Taskbar screen. Scroll down to the “Notification Area” section and click the “Select which icons appear on the taskbar” link.

Likewise, how do I open my system tray?

Low and behold, there is an easy shortcut to access your system tray from the keyboard. Here it is: Simply press Win + B on your keyboard (the Windows key and B at the same time) to select your system tray.

How do I customize my Windows 10 system tray?

Previously, you could click the “Customize” button at the bottom of the system tray popup. In Windows 10, you have to right-click on the Taskbar, choose Properties, and then click the Customize button.

Where is the system tray?

Introduced with Windows 95, the system tray is located in the Windows Taskbar (usually at the bottom next to the clock) and contains miniature icons for easy access to system functions such as fax, printer, modem, volume, and more.

What does minimize to tray mean?

Minimize to Tray button to any window's title bar so that you can send any window to the system tray in a single mouse click!

What is the 9 icon in my system tray?

The Icon that you are referring to is actually a application "Quick set" that works for the shortcuts of the keyboard. You can disable it by using msconfig, and turning off the Dell Quickset in the startup tab. However, if you turn it off you can't use quickset.

How do I close system tray programs?

Right-click the program's icon in the system tray (next to the clock), and choose Close, Exit, or Disable. Solution 2: Temporarily disable background programs on Windows from Task Manager. The Windows Task Manager can close programs that the system tray cannot.

How do I manage my system tray?

Manage and display System Tray Icons in Windows 10
  1. Right-click on a blank space on the Windows 10 taskbar and select Taskbar Settings.
  2. The link "Select which icons appear on the taskbar" gives you options to enable or disable icons on the taskbar.
  3. You may toggle icons so that only those icons that you want displayed are visible while all other icons are hidden.

How do I see all system tray icons in Windows 10?

To always show all tray icons in Windows 10, do the following.
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Personalization - Taskbar.
  3. On the right, click on the link "Select which icons appear on the taskbar" under Notification area.
  4. On the next page, enable the option "Always show all icons in the notification area".

What can be shown on the status bar?

A status bar is a graphical control element which poses an information area typically found at the window's bottom. It can be divided into sections to group information. Its job is primarily to display information about the current state of its window, although some status bars have extra functionality.

Where is Windows 7 system tray?

Click a system tray icon, hold down the left mouse button, and drag it to the arrow next to the system tray. Drop it into the little window that appears and it will be hidden from your taskbar. System tray icons you put here continue to run in the background, but they don't take up any space on your taskbar.

How do I restore my system tray icons?

Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and select Start Task Manager. Select the Processes tab, choose explorer.exe, and click End Process. Choose the Applications tab, click New Task, enter explorer.exe in the text box, and press Enter. Your icons should reappear.

Where is my notification tray?

The Notification Panel is a place to quickly access alerts, notifications and shortcuts. The Notification Panel is at the top of your mobile device's screen. It is hidden in the screen but can be accessed by swiping your finger from the top of the screen to the bottom. It is accessible from any menu or application.

How do I create a system tray icon?

Here are the steps to follow to complete this tutorial.
  1. Create a windows form application.
  2. Add a NotifyIcon to the main form.
  3. Add an icon to the NotifyIcon.
  4. Add the code below to the Form Load event.
  5. Run the application.
  6. Now let add a Double Click event on the NotifyIcon.
  7. Double Click on the icon in the system tray.

How do I remove the system tray icon in Windows 10?

Show or Hide System Icons In Tray in Windows 10
  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Personalization - Taskbar.
  3. On the right, click on the link "Turn system icons on or off" under Notification area.
  4. On the next page, enable or disable the system icons you need to show or hide.

How do I minimize the system tray in Windows 10?

From the following menu, make sure that the "Always show icons in the notification area" option is turned off. After that, scroll through the list, and turn off the toggle switch next to any user-installed app to hide its system tray icon.

How do I expand my system tray in Windows 10?

Click start menu and click on setting. Click on System and select notifications & actions. Click on “Select which icons appear on the task bar” and select the desire icon you want to see on the system tray. Click on “Turn system icons on or off” and select which icons you want to see on system tray.

What is System Tray in Android?

The system tray is a notification area on the operating system taskbar. It contains icons that provide users with easy access to system functions such as email, printer, network connections and volume control.

How do I show hidden icons?

If you want to add a hidden icon to the notification area, tap or click the Show hidden icons arrow next to the notification area, and then drag the icon you want back to the notification area. You can drag as many hidden icons as you want.

How do I make the system tray icons bigger?

To change the size of the Taskbar icons, you just need to do the following:
  1. Run StartIsBack++.
  2. Go to the Appearance tab from the left pane. In the right pane, check Use larger taskbar option.
  3. Click Apply and OK and you're good to go.

How can I speedup my computer?

Here are some tips to help you optimize Windows 7 for faster performance.
  1. Try the Performance troubleshooter.
  2. Delete programs you never use.
  3. Limit how many programs run at startup.
  4. Clean up your hard disk.
  5. Run fewer programs at the same time.
  6. Turn off visual effects.
  7. Restart regularly.
  8. Change the size of virtual memory.

How do I stop programs running at startup?

How To Disable Startup Programs In Windows 7 and Vista
  1. Click the Start Menu Orb then in the search box Type MSConfig and Press Enter or Click the msconfig.exe program link.
  2. From within the System Configuration tool, Click Startup tab and then Uncheck the program boxes that you would like to prevent from starting when Windows starts.

How do I get the system tray on both monitors Windows 10?

Right-click on your taskbar and select Settings (If you have an older build of Windows 10, it may be called Properties). Scroll-down a little bit until you find the title Multiple displays. Turn on Show taskbar on all displays.

How do I get Windows Defender icon in system tray?

To display the Windows Defender icon in Windows notification area (system tray), go to Tools and select Options under the Settings section. Scroll down the Options page, at the section of “Real-time protection options”, there is an option “Choose when the Windows Defender icon appears in notification area“.