To remove a pinned app from the Windows taskbar, right-click its icon and choose Unpin from taskbar. This removes the shortcut, not the installed app. If the app is still running, its icon can stay visible until you close its windows.
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Which kind of icon are you trying to remove?
| Icon | What to do |
|---|---|
| Pinned app shortcut | Right-click > Unpin from taskbar. |
| Open app | Close its windows if you no longer want its running-app button. |
| Small notification-area icon near the clock | Change notification-area or system-tray visibility. |
| Search, widgets or another taskbar feature | Use that feature’s taskbar controls. |
These areas look similar but have different settings. Hiding a tray icon does not necessarily stop the program from running.
How to add an app to the taskbar
- Open Start or Search and find the app.
- Right-click the result and choose Pin to taskbar. Some Start menus put the command under More.
- Alternatively, open the app, right-click its running taskbar icon and choose Pin to taskbar.
- Drag the pinned icon along the taskbar to put it in the order you want.
Microsoft‘s taskbar guide covers the controls in both Windows 10 and 11. A document file and an application shortcut are not always pinned in the same way; a file may belong in the app’s jump list instead.
How to remove an app icon
Right-click it and select Unpin from taskbar. Close the app if you also want its running button to disappear. You do not need to uninstall the program just to tidy the taskbar.
If one button represents several open windows, hover over it to check the group. Our multiple-windows guide explains the difference between another window and another copy of a program.
Hide notification-area and system-tray icons
Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and open Taskbar settings.
- Windows 10: look under Notification area for Select which icons appear on the taskbar and Turn system icons on or off.
- Windows 11: look for System tray icons and Other system tray icons. Some core controls, such as the combined network and volume area, are not ordinary app shortcuts.
Choose only the controls your version offers. For an app that starts unnecessarily at sign-in, review its startup setting separately; moving its tray icon into the hidden area is not the same change.
Why does an icon return?
Check whether the app is opening again, whether you changed the correct profile’s taskbar, and whether a work or school policy controls pinned apps. Try closing and reopening the app or restarting Windows before reaching for repair tools.
A batch file that deletes taskbar registry data is excessive for one unwanted shortcut and can remove other pins. Start with the normal controls. If your keyboard lacks a Windows key for opening Start or Search, our Windows-key alternatives can help.