XP: How to Always Hide or Show an Icon in the System Tray

Contributor Icon Contributed by MickeyMouse Date Icon December 3, 2005  
Tag Icon Tagged: Windows

Everything wants to run in the system tray. Here’s how to selectively hide or show icons in the system tray.


I think I run a light-ship, but I have 15 icons in my system tray right now. Windows automatically hides icons in the system tray; however, you can tell your system to never show a particular icon in the system tray.

Control an Icon’s hehavior in the System Tray:

    1. Right-Click on the Task Bar
    2. Select Properties
    3. Under the taskbar tab, click the Customize button
    4. Select the program you wish to hide
    5. Under the drop down box, select Always Hide, Always Show, or Hide when inactive.
    6. Click OK
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  • Phil
    This is a handy tip but I wonder if you know how to deal with problems arising from XP "forgetting" your settings? For example, I want my LAN to ALWAYS SHOW. However, while the vast majority of these settings are remembered, every time I reboot LAN always reverts to "Hide When Inactive". One or two other icons (ATI video display settings for example) always reappear after a reboot, after being told to Always Hide. I've read several help pages but nobody knows how to address this problem. You'd think with XP being as old as it is, somebody would have fixed this by now.
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