Hide Notification Area Icons Broken in Windows 11

[Scorpio]

Hi Guys

 

Seems this GPO below doesn't work anymore or is broken at least in Windows 11 23H2, i've even tried a new build and adding the key and the tray icons just stay there and don't hide:

 

Users > Start Menu and Taskbar > Hide the notification area

 

Registry Hive HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Registry Path Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Value Name NoTrayItemsDisplay

Value Type REG_DWORD

Enabled Value 1

Disabled Value 0

 

Anyone else come across this or have a work around ?

 

Thanks

 

S

Edited April 16, 2024 by Scorpio

[NeoNebula]

I have the same problem on Windows 11 23H2. It appears that this GPO is not currently working as expected. I tried using the new build and adding the key as you described, but the tray icons remain visible. So far I haven't found any working workaround for this problem. If anyone knows the solution, I would be grateful for the advice.

[DavR]

I prefer to have that setting the other way round, with all notification area icons shown at all times. Each to their own eh.

 

But yeah. I've also not been able to get that working with Windows 11 23H2. Would appreciate any ideas others have!

[themightymrp]

Don't suppose anyone ever got around this? We are deploying 24H2 and can't get the policy to hide the icons

[themightymrp]

Never mind, no sooner as I post this than I've fixed it. Not a proper GPO policy but a deployed reg key.

 

For anyone interested, a new GPP registry item to create the following (I've only set it for students):

 

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify

 

New DWORD called SystemTrayChevronVisibility with a value of zero hides all icons EXCEPT the volume control and network icon. Great for me! A value of 1 brings them back

[GeneralGrievous]

On 30/07/2025 at 15:35, themightymrp said:

Never mind, no sooner as I post this than I've fixed it. Not a proper GPO policy but a deployed reg key.

 

For anyone interested, a new GPP registry item to create the following (I've only set it for students):

 

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\TrayNotify

 

New DWORD called SystemTrayChevronVisibility with a value of zero hides all icons EXCEPT the volume control and network icon. Great for me! A value of 1 brings them back

GPO is still not working on 25H2, however the registy item sorted it for us.