[Windows 10 Tip] Remove “Windows Defender Security Center” Icon from Taskbar Notification Area
In Windows 10 newer versions, Microsoft has added a new application called “Windows Defender Security Center” which is an advanced app developed to replace the classic Windows Defender program.
It allows you to monitor virus & threat protection, device performance & health, firewall & network protection. It also allows you to customize family options and SmartScreen filter options (app & browser control).
This new app also adds its shield icon in Taskbar notification area (system tray) which can be used to launch the app quickly and easily right from the Taskbar.
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If you don’t want this icon in Taskbar tray and want to have a clutter-free Taskbar tray, this tutorial will help you. Today in this tutorial, we’ll tell you how to remove Windows Defender Security Center icon from Taskbar notification area in Windows 10.
After removing the notification icon, you’ll still be able to launch Windows Defender program using windowsdefender: command in RUN dialog box or you can launch it using its shortcut present in the Start Menu.
If you also want to get rid of this notification icon, following simple steps will help you:
1. Right-click on Taskbar and select Task Manager option. It’ll open Task Manager. You can also directly launch Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys together.
If Task Manager is opened in mini mode, click on “More details” button. It’ll launch Task Manager in full version mode.
2. Now go to “Startup” tab and click on “Windows Defender notification icon” entry to select it.
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3. Now click on “Disable” button to disable the icon.
That’s it. Restart your computer and after reboot you’ll no longer see the icon in Taskbar notification area.
Also Check:
- [Tip] Disable or Remove “Windows Defender Security Center” App in Windows 10
- [Windows Tip] How to Disable Windows Defender Permanently
- [Tip] How to Disable Windows Defender SmartScreen Filter in Windows 10
- [Windows 10 Tip] Disable Data Collection and Telemetry in Windows Defender
- [Tip] Remove “Scan with Windows Defender” Option from Context Menu in Windows 10
Nice, but how do we start the scanner if the icon is missing ?
Is it possible to create an icon of WinDef on the desktop ,for opening the program ?
I have now two startup-items ; 1 is WindowsDefender and 2 is SecurityHealth !
Is this normal or should I remove one/both ………..?
^^ The shortcut is already available in Start Menu. You can pin it to Taskbar or Start Menu.
You can manually create shortcut using windowsdefender: command.
@VG
Why are the some shortcut keys like CTRL+C for Copy and CTRL+V for Paste not working in Windows 10 Creators Update?
^^ Its working fine for me. Have you installed any software in Windows? May be a software is causing this issue?
thank you very much! this worked perfectly! thank you for taking the time to explain!
Excuse me, Windows, why did you build an executable for just the Windows Defender notification icon? Is it that you couldn’t figure out how to integrate this service into the control panel? Are you trying to hide it? Either way, thanks for nothing.
i removed the windows security notification from the background… would that cause any problems?
Got a vehicle with proximity warning –
Well you can turn it off !
same as you can remove the icon that indicates defender is active ( not necessarily working )
But if there is no green tick, then that is a primary indication that the app is probably not working as you would want it to do.
You know – checking the content of every file on the 2TB? backup USB drive you just attached so you can (eventually) create another 50GB backup to be scanned next time you plug the drive in!