This article guides you on how to hide the Windows Defender icon on the Taskbar. This action doesn't hinder Windows Defender's functionality but rather relegates it to operate silently in the background. Moreover, it helps tidy up your Taskbar by reducing clutter, as there are often numerous icons that need to be displayed besides Windows Defender on Windows 10.
1. Hiding the Windows Defender Icon.
2. Re-enabling the Windows Defender Icon.
HOW TO HIDE WINDOWS DEFENDER ICON ON WINDOWS 10
1. Hiding the Windows Defender Icon.
Step 1: Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager
Step 2: The Task Manager window appears, choose More Details.
Step 3: Next, select the Start up tab, click on Windows Defender notification icon, then choose Disable. This prevents the Windows Defender icon from starting automatically when you log in.
Step 4: Then, select the Processes tab, scroll down, locate Windows Defender notification icon under Background processes. Click to select and press End Task.
-Upon completing this step, you have successfully hidden the Windows Defender icon. If you wish to display it again, follow these steps:
2. Re-enable the Windows Defender Icon.
Step 1: Access the Start up tab of Task Manager again, select the line Windows Defender notification icon, choose Enable. The Windows Defender icon will be automatically activated again when you log in.
Step 2: If you want the Windows Defender icon to always appear, follow these steps:
- Use the Window + R key combination to open the Run dialog.
- Enter the following link: “C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCuil.exe” then press Enter or select OK. Immediately, the Windows Defender icon will appear.
- And the result will be as shown below.
With the Windows 10 update, Microsoft equips users with the Windows Defender feature, which serves as an antivirus and malware protection tool. However, Windows Defender isn't highly rated and doesn't receive much positive feedback from users. Therefore, constantly displaying the notification icon on the Taskbar can be bothersome for many users.
Recently, Mytour guided you on how to hide the Windows Defender icon on Windows 10. Windows Defender is an antivirus and malware protection tool integrated into Windows 10. However, it isn't highly regarded by security experts compared to antivirus software like Avira, Avast, Panda Free Antivirus. You can refer to the top free antivirus software article in 2016 to find the best free antivirus software instead of using the default Windows Defender on Windows 10.
Instead of hiding, you can effectively disable Windows Defender on Windows 11, 10 to prevent it from displaying notifications. Refer to the article here to understand how to disable Windows Defender on Windows 11.
- Read more: How to disable Windows Defender on Windows 11