Windows 11’s taskbar groups the volume and network icons together in a single system tray area. With the rollout of the 24H2 update and other recent changes, Microsoft eliminated the built-in ability to remove or hide these icons using standard settings, Group Policy, or registry tweaks. This shift has frustrated users who want a cleaner or more customized taskbar, especially those who don’t need these controls visible at all times.

Third-party utilities now offer the most reliable way to remove or hide these icons. Some users also attempt workarounds with system modifications, but these are less consistent and may break with future updates. Below are the most effective methods, starting with solutions that work on the latest Windows 11 builds.

Hide Volume and Network Icons Using Windhawk Mod

Step 1: Download and install Windhawk from the official site at https://windhawk.net/. Windhawk is a free tool that lets you apply small tweaks (“mods”) to Windows’ behavior, including the taskbar.

Step 2: Launch Windhawk and navigate to the “Explore” section in the upper-right corner. In the search bar, type Taskbar tray system icon tweaks and select the mod by that name.

Step 3: Click “Install” on the mod page. Once installed, configure the mod’s settings to hide the volume, network, or other system tray icons as desired. The changes apply immediately, and the icons will disappear from your taskbar without affecting system functionality.

This approach works across all recent Windows 11 versions, including those where Microsoft has removed the option to edit or unpin quick settings icons directly. Windhawk’s mod is currently the most stable and straightforward solution for hiding system icons without deep system modifications.

Restore Classic Taskbar Functionality with ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack

Some users prefer to revert the taskbar to its Windows 10 style, which allows greater customization of system icons. Two popular tools for this are ExplorerPatcher (free, open-source) and StartAllBack (paid, with a trial).

Step 1: Download ExplorerPatcher from its GitHub page or StartAllBack from the official site. Install your chosen tool.

Step 2: Open the configuration interface for ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack. Switch the taskbar style to “Windows 10” or “Classic.” This unlocks the legacy settings for system tray icons.

Step 3: Access the old system icon settings using this command in the Run dialog (Win + R):

shell:::{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}

This opens a dialog allowing you to turn system icons on or off individually. Uncheck “Volume” or “Network” to remove those icons from the taskbar. Note that these options may be grayed out unless you’re using the classic taskbar mode.

Switching to Windows 10-style taskbar comes with trade-offs: some Windows 11 features may be unavailable or behave differently, and third-party tools can occasionally break after major Windows updates. Still, this method restores granular control for users who want the old flexibility.

Why Built-in Settings and Group Policy No Longer Work

Earlier Windows 11 builds and Windows 10 allowed users to hide volume, network, and notification icons via Settings, Group Policy Editor, or registry tweaks. With the 24H2 update and other recent changes, Microsoft removed these options. Even Group Policy directives like “Remove Network Icon” or “Remove Volume Control Icon” no longer have any effect in the current taskbar implementation. Attempts to use the classic “Turn System Icons On or Off” dialog will often show these options as unavailable or grayed out.

Some users have tried registry edits or system hacks to restore this functionality, but these methods are unreliable, can cause side effects, and may break after system updates. Microsoft’s changes are deliberate, and there is no supported way to hide these icons using only built-in tools.

Other Workarounds and Tips

If hiding the icons entirely isn’t possible or desirable, consider these alternatives:

  • Use the auto-hide taskbar feature to keep icons out of sight except when needed.
  • Rearrange quick settings by dragging less-used icons to the bottom of the quick settings panel (note: this does not fully remove them).
  • Overlay the icon area with another widget or tool (for example, using ElevenClock to cover the volume icon), though this is more of a visual trick than a true removal.
  • Switch to a different operating system or revert to Windows 10 if customization is critical and third-party tools are not an option.

Microsoft may reintroduce more customization options in future Windows 11 releases, but for now, third-party utilities remain the most effective solution.

While Windows 11 restricts direct removal of taskbar volume and network icons, tools like Windhawk and ExplorerPatcher restore control and let you hide what you don’t need—giving you back a cleaner, more personalized desktop experience.