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How to remove the chat icon from the Windows 11 taskbar

Don’t use Microsoft Teams and want to completely remove it from Windows 11 including the chat icon from the app tray? Here is the guide for you

The Windows 11 taskbar includes the Chat icon by default. Clicking the Chat icon brings up the Chat flyout, showing your recent individual and group conversations. Chat is provided by Microsoft Teams and is free.

If you are a Microsoft Teams user, you may find the new chat convenient as you can quickly start and view conversations with your friends and family. In addition to clicking the chat icon, you can always view the chat flyout using the Windows + C keyboard shortcut.

However, if you use something else to text your family and friends, you may want to get rid of the chat icon to free up space and reduce clutter. Removing the chat icon from the taskbar is not easy especially since Microsoft has changed the way to remove it by making it more difficult.

Remove Chat Icon From Taskbar In Windows 11
Remove Chat Icon From Taskbar In Windows 11

In early builds of Windows 11, we could right-click the Chat icon on the taskbar and then click the Hide from Taskbar option, but not anymore. The option no longer appears when you right-click the chat icon. This also applies to the other default icons such as search, task view, and widgets.

The chat icon can be removed from the system tray via the Settings app. In addition to removing the Chat app, you can also completely uninstall the Microsoft Teams app from Settings. It is not necessary to start PowerShell to complete the procedure. Here’s how to do it.

Remove the chat icon from the Windows 11 taskbar

Step 1 Open Settings. On the left side of the Settings window, click Personalization. And on the right side, click on Taskbar.

Windows 11 Personalization Settings
Windows 11 Personalization Settings

Step 2 Now, on the right side, in the section Elements of the bar of the applications, deactivate the option Chat to immediately remove the chat icon from the taskbar in Windows 11 applications.

Windows 11 Taskbar Settings
Windows 11 Taskbar Settings

Now that you’ve removed the chat icon from your system tray, it’s time to uninstall Microsoft Teams.

Remove Microsoft Teams from Windows 11 startup

By default, Microsoft Teams loads with Windows 11. If you’re not using it, you can remove it from startup to improve startup time. Note that you can skip this if you are uninstalling Microsoft Teams.

Step 1 Go to Settings -> Apps -> Startup.

Windows 11 Startup Apps
Windows 11 Startup Apps

Step 2 From the list of startup apps, turn off the Microsoft Teams option to prevent it from loading with Windows 11.

Windows 11 Microsoft Teams App Toggle
Windows 11 Microsoft Teams App Toggle

Uninstall Microsoft Teams from Windows 11

Uninstall Microsoft Teams from Settings

Step 1 Open the Settings using Search or by pressing the Windows + I hotkey.

Step 2 In the left pane of Settings, click Apps. On the right side, click Apps & Features to view all installed apps.

Windows 11 Apps & Features
Windows 11 Apps & Features

Step 3 Scroll down the list of installed apps until you find the Microsoft Teams entry. Click on the three vertical dots (refer to the image below) next to its entry and click on the Uninstall option.

Windows 11 Apps & Features 002
Windows 11 Apps & Features

Step 4 Click the Uninstall button when the following confirmation appears to uninstall and remove Microsoft Teams from Windows 11.

Remove Chat Icon From Taskbar
Remove Chat Icon From Taskbar

Note that the chat icon will continue to appear on the Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar page even after uninstalling the Microsoft Teams app. Currently, it is not possible to remove it from the Settings page.

Uninstall Microsoft Teams from the Start Menu

Step 1 In the Start menu search box, type Microsoft Teams to see its entry.

Step 2 On the right side, click the Uninstall option (refer to the image below) to remove Teams from your PC.

Uninstall Microsoft Teams
Uninstall Microsoft Teams
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About Author

Samuel Afolabi is a lazy tech-savvy that loves writing almost all tech-related kinds of stuff. He is the Editor-in-Chief of TechVaz. You can connect with him socially :)

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