Hiding the Battery Icon in Windows 11: Here’s the Lowdown
Want to hide that battery icon in Windows 11? It’s a quick tweak that can make your taskbar look a whole lot tidier. If clutter’s not your thing, this is the way to go. But fair dinkum, finding where to do it is a bit of a treasure hunt — it’s tucked away in the settings, not sitting pretty on the surface. Typical, right?
Getting There
First up, open the Settings. The easiest way is to click the Start button and find ‘Settings’, or just press Windows + I — quicker and smarter. Once you’re in, the layout can be a bit confusing, but look for that big gear icon on the left. Or, if you’re feeling extra savvy, type ms-settings:taskbarcornericons into the Run box (Windows + R) and you’ll land straight on the spot.
Personalization is Key
Next, head over to “Personalization” — the spot with all your themes, wallpapers, and the like. It’s where you can really jazz up your Windows setup. Sometimes it’s easy to overlook in a hurry, but it’s pretty important. If you want to skip the hassle, right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
Digging into the Taskbar Settings
In the Personalization menu, find “Taskbar”. Scroll down if you can’t see it right away — it can be a bit of a cluttered crawl. When you click on it, you’ll see options for what icons show up on your taskbar. This is where the magic happens. Tip: you can also jump straight there by focusing on Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. Or, for the swift of foot, search “Taskbar” using Windows + S.
Time to Hide the Icon
Look for “Taskbar corner icons”. Seriously, who names these things? Anyway, you’ll see all sorts of icons that sit in the corner — clock, Wi-Fi, and yes, the battery icon you want gone. Sometimes these options are hidden or buried under a sub-menu, so keep a keen eye out. If it’s not showing up at all, you might need to get into the registry or PowerShell — Windows does love a bit of drama!
Once you find the toggle for the battery icon, flick it off — and boom! The icon disappears. If it’s being stubborn, you can run a PowerShell command like this:
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TravelMode" -Name "BatteryIcon" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Set-ItemProperty -Name "BatteryIcon" -Value 0. Just be careful with registry edits — they’re powerful stuff.
After you switch it off, close the Settings window, and the icon should vanish as if by magic. If you decide you want it back later on, just head back into these settings and flip the switch again. You can also access the notification area quickly or show hidden icons from the system tray — plenty of ways to manage it.
Extra Tips
If you’re tidying up your desktop, Windows 11 lets you hide more icons too. Personalization is all about making it your own, right? So, why not hide the Wi-Fi icon or others? You can change the visibility settings via Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Other system tray icons. For a shortcut, try ms-settings:privacy-appDiagnostics.
Pro tip: if you’re making lots of changes, set up a system restore point first. Windows can sometimes be a bit finicky — it pays to be prepared.
Common Questions
Can I hide other icons besides the battery icon?
Yes, you can! Whether it’s Wi-Fi, volume, or other icons, toggle them on or off right from the Taskbar settings.
Will hiding the battery icon slow my laptop down?
No worries — it’s just a visual thing. Your battery basics and performance stay the same.
What if I want the battery icon back?
Just follow the same steps and flick the switch back on. Or, if you prefer, run a PowerShell command like this:
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer" -Name "HideBatteryStatus" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Set-ItemProperty -Name "HideBatteryStatus" -Value 0. A heads up: Windows sometimes resets these settings, so keep an eye out.
Can I customise the battery icon?
Sorry mate, not at the moment. Windows 11 keeps it pretty locked down, so you’re stuck with the default look unless an update comes along with some extra options.
Is there a shortcut for taskbar settings?
Not a one-click wonder, unfortunately. But right-clicking the taskbar quickly gets you into Taskbar settings. Or just hit Windows + I to open Settings and find it under Personalization.
At the end of the day, hiding the battery icon is a ripper of a quick fix — just dive into settings, flip the switch, and enjoy a tidier desktop. It’s the easiest way to clear out some visual clutter and keep your workspace looking sharp. Good luck, and happy tidying!