How to remove Stupid Microphone icon on System Tray

Question

Husband's laptop has a blue microphone Icon on the system tray that doesn't seem to do anything.

And when you hover on the icon, it says to press Win + Alt + K to toggle mute but that does nothing.

The keyboard already has a key that toggles microphone on and off that works.

To remove it, Google says to go into Privacy and Security but nothing we do there removes it.

I managed to remove it on my laptop months ago but can't remember how I did it!

Windows 11

Any ideas on how to remove it?

Answer 1

Hello! Windows 11 includes a microphone indicator in the system tray to promote privacy by showing when it's active. While intended for transparency, the icon can feel quite distracting and doesn’t offer any real functionality. Unfortunately, there’s no official way to hide it without disabling the mic. I've tested registry tweaks that worked on Windows 10, but none seem reliable on Windows 11.

I completely respect your decision to avoid third-party software, it's reasonable to expect a built-in solution from Microsoft. While there’s currently no official way to remove the icon without disabling the microphone, the method I previously shared has received positive feedback from other users and appears to be both effective and safe. For reference, here's a Reddit comment from users who found success with the same method:
https://www.reddit.com/r/VoiceMeeter/comments/1462o7r/can_you_get_rid_of_the_damned_microphone_privacy/

For your other question, yes, Microsoft has moved community support for Windows and other products to the new Microsoft Q&A platform. The legacy Answers site is being phased out, which is why it’s no longer active or accepting new posts. For reference:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/support/answers-migration

If you'd like Microsoft to consider adding an option to hide the microphone icon, submitting a suggestion through the built-in Feedback Hub is the best way to bring it to their attention. Here’s a quick guide to walk you through it:

1. Press Win + F to open Feedback Hub with a screenshot, or search Feedback Hub in the Start menu.
2. Fill out the feedback form with title, details, and category.
3. Click Submit to send it to Microsoft.

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Note: The Reddit link points to a non-Microsoft website that appears to provide accurate and safe information. However, please be cautious of ads on the page (if there are any), as they may promote software often classified as potentially unwanted products (PUPs). Always research thoroughly before downloading or installing anything from such sources.

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Answer 2

Do we not get any support on this new forum from Microsoft? What was wrong with the 'https://answers.microsoft.com/ensite??

I really can't understand why there is a microphone in the system tray that is big and distracting when it doesn't do anything. There must be a way of getting rid of it.

Answer 3

Hello, to remove the system tray from your Windows 11 taskbar, kindly follow these steps using a third-party tool called Windhawk. I've personally used this method before, and it works perfectly.

1. Download Windhawk. https://windhawk.net/
2. Once the download is complete, open Windhawk.
3. Click Browse for Mods.
4. Search for Windows 11 Taskbar Styler and click Details.
5. Click the Install button to download and apply the mod.
6. Go to the Settings tab (located between Details and Source Code).
7. Under Control Styles, locate the Target field and enter: SystemTray.Stack#MainStack In the Styles field, type: Visibility=Collapsed
8. Click Save Settings in the top-left corner.

After completing the steps, check if the microphone icon has been successfully removed from the taskbar.

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Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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Answer 4

It would be really helpful if I get a list of background apps

Answer 5

Hi, just checking if the Windhawk method worked for hiding the system tray icon. Please let me know if you encounter any issues or need further assistance.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.