Enable or Disable the Windows Update Status Icon in the System Tray on Windows 11/10

Windows Update plays an important role in keeping your computer secure, stable, and up to date. Whenever Windows downloads an update, requires a restart, or encounters an update-related issue, it may display a Windows Update Status icon in the system tray on your taskbar.

This icon makes it easier to identify when your computer needs attention. For example, you might see it when a Windows update is waiting to be installed or when your computer needs to restart to finish an update.

However, not everyone wants another icon taking up space near the clock. If you prefer a cleaner taskbar, you can hide the Windows Update Status icon. You can also enable it again whenever you want.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through different ways to enable or disable the Windows Update Status icon in the system tray on Windows 11 and Windows 10. 

Enable or Disable Windows Update Status Icon in System Tray on Windows 11/10

To enable or disable the Windows Update Status icon, open Settings by pressing Windows + I. Navigate to Personalization > Taskbar. On Windows 11, expand Other system tray icons and locate Windows Update Status. Turn its switch on to enable the icon or off to hide it. On Windows 10, navigate to Personalization > Taskbar > Select which icons appear on the taskbar and change the Windows Update Status setting.

The available options may vary depending on your Windows version and installed updates.

Step 1: Open Windows Settings

First, you need to open the Windows Settings application. This is where you can customize different parts of your computer, including the taskbar, display, sound, and Windows Update options.

To open Settings, press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut. Both keys should be pressed together.

Alternatively, click the Start button on your taskbar and select Settings from the Start menu.

Once the Settings window opens, look at the left-hand sidebar. You will find different categories, such as System, Bluetooth & devices, Network & internet, Personalization, and Apps.

Click Personalization to access the customization options.

This section allows you to change your desktop background, colors, themes, lock screen, and taskbar appearance.

Step 2: Navigate to Taskbar Settings

After opening Personalization, you need to find the Taskbar settings.

If you are using Windows 11, click Taskbar from the Personalization section.

You will now see several taskbar customization options. These include Taskbar behaviors, Taskbar items, System tray icons, and Other system tray icons.

If you are using Windows 10, the interface looks slightly different.

Click Taskbar under Personalization. Scroll down to the Notification area section and look for the option called Select which icons appear on the taskbar.

Click this option to view the available notification area icons.

Don’t worry if the options look different on your computer. Microsoft has changed the taskbar settings interface across different Windows releases.

Step 3: Find the Windows Update Status Icon

Now, you need to locate the Windows Update Status option.

For Windows 11, scroll down through the Taskbar settings and expand Other system tray icons.

You will see a list of applications and system icons that can appear in the notification area.

Look for Windows Update Status in this list.

For Windows 10, you should already be inside the Select which icons appear on the taskbar section.

Find Windows Update Status among the available icons.

Depending on your Windows version, the option might not appear if Windows currently has no update-related notification to display.

Once you find the option, you can control its visibility using the corresponding switch.

Step 4: Enable the Windows Update Status Icon

If you want Windows to display the update status icon, you need to turn on its visibility setting.

On Windows 11, locate Windows Update Status under Other system tray icons and switch it On.

On Windows 10, find the same option under Select which icons appear on the taskbar and turn it On.

That’s it! Windows can now display the Windows Update Status icon in the system tray whenever an applicable update notification or alert is available.

Keep in mind that enabling this option does not mean the icon will remain visible all the time. Windows generally displays it when there is an update-related status that requires your attention.

For example, if an update is waiting for a restart, you may see the icon appear near the clock.

Step 5: Disable the Windows Update Status Icon

If you don’t want to see the Windows Update Status icon, you can disable it using almost the same process.

Open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.

On Windows 11, expand Other system tray icons and locate Windows Update Status.

Turn its switch Off.

If you’re using Windows 10, open Select which icons appear on the taskbar and turn off the Windows Update Status option.

After changing the setting, close the Settings window.

Windows will no longer show the icon through that visibility setting.

Remember, this only hides the status icon. It does not stop Windows from checking for updates, downloading security patches, or displaying other important update notifications.

Step 6: Temporarily Hide the Windows Update Status Icon

Sometimes, you might not want to permanently disable the icon. Perhaps you only want to remove it from the taskbar for the time being.

In that case, you can try the temporary hiding option.

First, locate the Windows Update Status icon near the clock in the system tray.

Right-click the icon to open its context menu.

If the option is available, click Hide for now.

Windows will temporarily hide the icon. However, it may appear again when another Windows Update warning or alert needs your attention.

This is a convenient option if you occasionally want a cleaner taskbar without changing the permanent visibility settings.

Step 7: Enable or Disable the Icon Using Registry Editor

If you cannot find the Windows Update Status option in Settings, you can also try the Registry Editor method.

This method is useful for users who want to manage the icon through a system-level registry setting.

However, be careful when editing the Windows Registry. Incorrect changes can cause system problems. I recommend creating a System Restore Point or backing up the registry before proceeding.

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.

Type regedit in the search box and press Enter.

If the User Account Control window appears, click Yes to continue.

Once Registry Editor opens, copy the following location and paste it into its address bar:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings

Press Enter to open the location.

Look for a DWORD (32-bit) value named TrayIconVisibility in the right-hand panel.

If the value already exists, double-click it to open its editing window.

To disable the Windows Update Status icon, enter 0 in the Value data field and click OK.

If you want to restore the default behavior, delete the TrayIconVisibility value if it was created specifically for this purpose.

If the value does not exist, you can create it by right-clicking an empty area in the right-hand panel and selecting New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Name the new value:

TrayIconVisibility

Double-click it and enter 0 to hide the icon.

Close Registry Editor and restart your computer to check whether the change has taken effect.

Important: This registry method may not fully control icon visibility on newer Windows 11 releases, particularly version 24H2 and later. Prefer the Windows Settings method whenever it is available.

FAQs

1. What is the Windows Update Status icon?

The Windows Update Status icon is a notification icon that appears in the Windows system tray. It informs you when Windows Update requires attention, such as when an update needs a restart or another action.

2. Can I permanently disable the Windows Update Status icon?

You can disable its visibility through Windows taskbar settings or supported registry configurations. However, Windows may still display other important update notifications.

3. Does hiding the Windows Update Status icon disable Windows Update?

No. Hiding the icon only changes its visibility. Windows Update will continue working according to your existing update settings.

4. Why can’t I find Windows Update Status in Taskbar settings?

The option might not appear because your Windows version handles the icon differently, or there is currently no applicable update status to display. Check whether your Windows installation has the latest available updates.

5. Can I hide the Windows Update icon without restarting my computer?

Yes. You can generally change its visibility through Taskbar settings without restarting Windows. However, registry changes may require signing out or restarting before they take effect.

6. Will the Windows Update Status icon appear again after an update?

It can. Windows may display the icon again when a new update-related warning or notification requires your attention, depending on your visibility settings.

Summary

The Windows Update Status icon is useful because it helps you identify when your computer needs attention regarding Windows updates. However, if you prefer a cleaner taskbar, you can easily manage its visibility.

The easiest way is to open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and change the Windows Update Status option. Windows 11 users can find it under Other system tray icons, while Windows 10 users can access it through Select which icons appear on the taskbar.

You can also temporarily hide the icon using the Hide for now option or try Registry Editor for additional control.

Most importantly, remember that hiding this icon does not disable Windows Update. Your computer will continue receiving updates according to your existing settings.