How to Get Chat Off Taskbar in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Windows 11 introduced a new Chat app integrated with Microsoft Teams that sits right on your taskbar. While it’s designed to make connecting with friends and colleagues easier, not everyone finds it useful. Many users prefer a cleaner taskbar and want to remove the Chat icon.

If you’re wondering how to do it, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through step by step how to get Chat off the taskbar in Windows 11 — and also show you other ways to manage or disable it completely.

Table of Contents

Summary — Key Takeaways

The Chat icon in Windows 11 is tied to Microsoft Teams.
You can remove it in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
It doesn’t uninstall Teams — it only hides the icon.
Advanced users can also disable it via Group Policy or Registry Editor.
Removing Chat helps keep your taskbar cleaner and distraction-free.

What Is the Chat Icon in Windows 11?

The Chat feature in Windows 11 is a shortcut to Microsoft Teams for consumers. By default, a speech bubble-like icon appears on the taskbar, letting you quickly chat or video call contacts.

But if you use other apps like Zoom, Slack, or WhatsApp, this shortcut may be unnecessary. That’s why many users want to remove the Chat button from the taskbar.

Method 1: Remove Chat from Taskbar via Settings (Easiest Way)

The most straightforward way is through Windows Settings:

Press Win + I to open Settings.
Go to Personalization > Taskbar.
Under Taskbar items, look for Chat.
Toggle the switch Off.

✅ Done! The Chat icon will disappear instantly from your taskbar.

Method 2: Right-Click Taskbar Shortcut

An even quicker way:

Right-click anywhere on the taskbar.
Select Taskbar settings.
Turn off the Chat toggle.

This leads to the same setting but is faster for those already at the desktop.

Method 3: Disable Chat via Group Policy (Pro & Enterprise Users)

If you’re using Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can disable Chat with Group Policy:

Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
Navigate to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Chat
Double-click Configures the Chat icon on the taskbar.
Select Disabled.
Click Apply → OK.

After restarting, the Chat icon won’t appear.

Method 4: Remove Chat Using Registry Editor (Advanced Users)

For Home edition users (without Group Policy), you can use the Registry:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Right-click the right pane → New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name it TaskbarMn.
Set its value to 0.
Restart your PC.

This will remove the Chat button from your taskbar.

Method 5: Uninstall Microsoft Teams (Optional)

If you don’t plan on using Teams at all:

Press Win + I → Apps.
Select Installed apps.
Search for Microsoft Teams (Personal).
Click the three dots → Uninstall.

This removes Teams, but note that future Windows updates may reinstall it.

Why Remove Chat from the Taskbar?

Here are some common reasons:

Cleaner taskbar with only essential icons.
Reduce distractions if you don’t use Teams.
Faster performance (small impact, but fewer background processes).
More control over which apps appear on startup.

Alternative to Removing Chat

If you sometimes use Teams but don’t want it always visible:

Hide Chat but pin Teams to the Start Menu or taskbar manually.
Use the Web version of Teams instead of the built-in chat integration.

Troubleshooting: Chat Icon Still Appears?

If the Chat icon comes back after an update:

Recheck the Taskbar settings.
If it keeps reappearing, disable it via Group Policy or Registry (Methods 3 & 4).
Run Windows Update to ensure you’re on the latest build.

Windows 11 Taskbar Customization Tips

While you’re cleaning up your taskbar, here are a few extra tweaks:

Turn off Widgets: Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Toggle off Widgets.
Hide Search or Cortana: Toggle off Search or Cortana if you don’t use them.
Rearrange pinned apps: Drag and drop icons for quick access.
Auto-hide taskbar: Settings → Personalization → Taskbar behaviors → Enable Automatically hide.

Conclusion

Now you know exactly how to get Chat off the taskbar in Windows 11 step by step.

To recap:

Open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
Toggle Chat off to hide the icon.
Use Group Policy or Registry Editor for advanced control.
Uninstall Teams if you don’t use it at all.

With just a few clicks, you can enjoy a cleaner, distraction-free taskbar that fits your workflow.

FAQs

1. Does removing Chat uninstall Teams?
No, it only hides the icon. Teams is still installed unless you uninstall it separately.

2. Can I re-enable Chat later?
Yes, just go back to Taskbar settings and toggle Chat on again.

3. Is Chat available in all editions of Windows 11?
Yes, but it’s mainly tied to Microsoft Teams for personal use.

4. Will updates re-enable Chat automatically?
Sometimes after major updates, yes. You can disable it again via Settings, Group Policy, or Registry.

5. Is removing Chat safe?
Absolutely — it doesn’t harm your system. It only affects the taskbar shortcut.