How to Hide Notification Area and clock in Windows 7

Here is a quick tip for Windows 7 users, which allows you to Disable/Hide the notification area (previously called the "system tray") and clock from right end of the taskbar.

Windows 7 taskbar without notification area & clock

Follow the simple steps below to perform this task -

Hiding Notification area aka System tray -

1. Open Run or Search and type gpedit.msc to open Local Group Policy Editor. Navigate to User configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.

Hide the notification area & clock

2. Now double-click the entry named ‘Hide the notification area’. Select Enabled button, click Apply > Ok.

Select Enabled button

The entire notification area, including the notification icons will be hidden. The taskbar will display only the Start button, taskbar buttons, custom toolbars and system clock.

Hiding the System Clock – If you want to remove the system clock also from taskbar, then follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to the same place as described above.

2. Double-click the entry named ‘Remove clock from the system notification area’. Select Enabled button, click Apply > Ok.

Mark the settings as disabled or not configured to revert back to old settings easily.

Note: You need to Log off or restart Windows for letting the changes to take effect.