windows is showing blue icon in task bar tray

Question

why is windows showing a blue icon over the windows update icon in my task bar tray when i specifically opted out of windows 11 as i dont want it

Answer 1

Hi, This is Ramesh.

To turn off the Windows 11 upgrade notification in the taskbar as well as Windows Update settings, you can enable a registry-based policy using a freeware app.

Download InControl, portable freeware app from GRC - https://www.grc.com/incontrol.htm

Run the app.

Type 10 in the target version text box.

Type 22H2 in the "release" text box.

Click "Take Control".

Restart Windows.

(The InControl app need not be running. You may delete it.)

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Note: The above method enables the following group policies.

• Target release version for feature updates
• Target product version for feature updates.

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(In future, if you wish to undo the changes, click on the Release Control button in that app.)

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Answer 2

The blue indicator on the Windows Update icon in the taskbar tray indicates that Windows has an important update or notification pending, such as a feature update offer (including Windows 11) or other update-related status.

On Windows 10 and Windows 11, the system tray is designed to surface update and system notifications visually. Even if a Windows 11 upgrade was declined previously, Windows Update can still:

• Offer other feature updates for Windows 10.
• Show lifecycle or security-related notifications (for example, that the current Windows 10 version is out of service or approaching end of support), which can trigger a visual badge or highlight on the update icon.

The icon behavior itself is by design: the system tray area shows status and alerts for background system components, including Windows Update, and cannot be fully disabled. It can be hidden from view, but not prevented from indicating status when visible.

To reduce its visibility without affecting update behavior:

1. Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
2. Under the system tray/notification area settings, choose which icons appear on the taskbar and move the Windows Update icon into the hidden/overflow area if available.

This only changes visibility in the tray, not the underlying update or upgrade offers.

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References:

• Customize the Taskbar in Windows
• Windows 10 notification: "You're not receiving security updates"