Getting rid of the Teams chat icon from your taskbar in Windows 11 isn’t too tricky, but it can be a bit frustrating how sneaky some of these options are. Usually, it’s just a matter of digging into the Settings, but sometimes the toggle doesn’t stick or you miss it entirely. Here’s what’s worked for me, with a bit more detail than your usual instructions — Windows does love to keep things a bit cryptic.
How to Remove Teams Chat from the Taskbar in Windows 11
Follow these steps to turn off the chat icon on your taskbar. It’s pretty straightforward, but if you hit a snag, make sure the toggle really goes off — sometimes Windows sneaks things back on after updates or restarts.
Step 1: Open Settings
You can do this by clicking the Start menu and selecting the Settings gear, or just hit Windows + I for a quicker go. Seems simple enough, but on some builds, Settings can be a bit sluggish or quirky — patience helps.
Step 2: Head to Personalisation
Once Settings is open, click on Personalisation in the sidebar. It controls themes, backgrounds, and the icons on your taskbar. Sometimes, this section feels a bit tucked away, especially if Windows updates shift things around.
Step 3: Pick Taskbar
Inside Personalisation, select Taskbar. You’ll see options like taskbar alignment, icons, and corner overflow. This is where you can hide the chat. Just scroll to find the toggle labelled Chat — it might be set to On already.
Step 4: Turn Off the Chat Toggle
Switch the Chat toggle to Off. That should hide the Teams icon straight away. Be aware, Windows sometimes re-enables it after updates or reboots, so you might need to do this again later.
Heads up: Occasionally, this toggle doesn’t work on the first go or resets after a restart. If that’s the case, give your PC a quick reboot or sign out and back in — Windows can be a bit quirky like that.
Step 5: Exit Settings
Just close Settings once you’re done. Your taskbar should now be a lot clearer, without that chat bubble cluttering things up.
And don’t worry — this isn’t disabling Teams itself, just hiding the icon. If you still want Teams running in the background or to get notifications, that’s all good. The app stays untouched; you’re just tidy-ing up the desktop a bit.
Tips for Hiding Teams Chat from Your Taskbar on Windows 11
- If you want the icon back later, just toggle the Chat option on again.
- Keeping your taskbar tidy helps you focus — fewer distractions, fewer accidental clicks.
- Have a look at other system icons to turn off if you don’t need them cluttering the corner.
- On some machines, this toggle can be a bit flaky. Might need a restart or quick logoff to make sure your changes stick.
- Regularly check your taskbar settings to keep things streamlined and quick to use.
FAQs
How can I get the Teams chat icon back on my taskbar?
Just go to Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar and toggle the Chat switch back on. Easy as! Sometimes Windows makes it sound more complicated than it is.
Will hiding the icon turn off Microsoft Teams?
No worries — it just hides the icon. Teams can still run in the background or be opened from the Start menu, so your workflow won’t be affected by hiding the icon.
Can I remove other icons from the taskbar too?
Absolutely. In the same Taskbar settings, you can switch off other icons or move apps into the overflow area (that tiny arrow on the corner).
Does hiding the icon stop Teams from sending me notifications?
Not at all. Hiding the icon doesn’t stop the notifications if you’ve got Teams set up to send them. They’ll come through regardless unless you change the notification settings.
Can I completely uninstall Teams?
Sure thing. Head to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and find Microsoft Teams to uninstall. Just a heads up — some Windows updates reinstall Teams automatically, so it might be a continual battle.
Summary
- Open Settings
- Go to Personalisation
- Select Taskbar
- Toggle off Chat
- Close Settings
Hope this helps someone avoid that little constant popup. It’s a bit funny how hidden some of these options are, but once you get the hang of it, it’s quick as. Might save you a few hours or at least make your desktop a bit quieter.