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How to Hide the Microphone Icon in Windows 11

Follow these easy tricks to hide the microphone icon on taskbar

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

If you are curious to know how to hide the microphone icon in Windows 11, this article is for you.

Afterenabling or setting up the microphone on Windows 11, you may have noticed that sometimes a mic icon appears on the taskbar. It helps to understand if any app or OS is using your mic. You also can control some basic functionalities by clicking on this icon.

However, you also may want to hide it from the taskbar. But is it possible? If yes, how?

Why does the microphone icon appear on the taskbar in Windows 11?

If yourmicrophone is not working, you will not see such symbols on the taskbar. But, if it works perfectly, you may see the icon due to the following things:

Is it possible to hide the mic icon?

Usually, there is no standard way to hide the microphone icon on Windows 11, as you may expect. However, if you do some tricks and follow some unusual methods, you can disable that icon.

How can I hide the microphone icon in Windows 11?

To hide, we have prepared some methods that you can try. Before that, make sure you have done the following things:

After ensuring the above things, follow these methods.

1. Disable some apps’ access

Doing this will disable mic access to specific apps. If the icon frequently appears while you are not using your microphone, it means any of the installed apps are using it. Disabling the access will permanently hide the icon from your taskbar.

2. Disable at all

It will prevent all of the applications from accessing your mic, which will also turn off the microphone icon on your taskbar.

3. Use Device Manager

From the Device Manager,you also can update drivers, including the mic driver. But, for best, it is wise to use a tool likeOutbyte Driver Updater.

After disabling it, the microphone will be inaccessible for all services on your PC. So, there will be no mic icon appearing on the taskbar.

Else, if you are using an external microphone, you can keep it disconnected when you are not using it. This will ensure that no mic symbol appears on the Windows 11 taskbar.

If you are interested, learn how to solve themicrophone volume that is too low on Windows 11.

The primary purpose of showing the icon is to make you aware that an app or service is using your audio input device. For example, it may be recording your voice or something.

To protect your privacy, till now, Microsoft has not brought an option to disable this feature. As a result, you cannot follow a standard method to put the symbol out of your sight.

So, when you apply our tricks to conceal the icon, it will also disable the microphone access so that your privacy remains protected.

This article has shown how you can hide the microphone icon in Windows 11. Please let us know in the comment box if you have an opinion.

How to Hide the Microphone Icon in Windows 11#

Why does the microphone icon appear on the taskbar in Windows 11?#

Is it possible to hide the mic icon?#

How can I hide the microphone icon in Windows 11?#

1. Disable some apps’ access#

2. Disable at all#

3. Use Device Manager#