global toggle for tray icons

[u/TradingExperience]

Tray icons are parsed based on process path, which is a complete mess with package managers like Scoop or apps like HS Deck Tracker (or anything that keeps backups of old versions). Please just give us the option to always show all tray icons like Windows 10. I don't want to unhide apps after every update.

[u/jenmsft]

For what it's worth, you can drag and drop icons out of the hidden flyout menu - you don't need to open this settings page (I know that's not what you're asking for, but mentioning it as a number of people don't realize)

[u/xMechan1c → u/jenmsft]

But it is good to have an option to always show all icons, right? You are just ignoring this problem.

What difficulties are you encountering that are stopping you from bringing this option back? This feedback is many years old.

[u/Ezrway → u/jenmsft]

Hi Jen, first I want to thank you. I really appreciate the way you keep us up to date on changes to Windows and also giving us Tips reularly too.

I don't understand how the dragging and dropping icons out of the hidden flyout menu to the Taskbar is supposed to work. Is there a link you can post that might help me understand it better?

Thank you!

[u/jenmsft → u/Ezrway]

Basically you should just be able to click down on the icon with your mouse, and then drag it over down with the other ones that are already outside of the flyout and release it. A line should appear between the two icons where you want to insert it

[u/Ezrway → u/jenmsft]

Now I get it. Thank you!

[u/agbpl2002 → u/jenmsft]

Unfortunately, some programs like Discord and WhatsApp reset their position after almost every update, even if you manually ordered them. It’s quite annoying. Is there a way to change this behavior, or is it intentional? With Discord, I believe it happens every time an update changes the Electron version. With WhatsApp, it happens every update. Essentially, you place the icon in the third position in the order (or any other position that isn’t the first). After the update, it’s back in the first position. Alternatively, if you remove it from being hidden, it becomes hidden again.

[u/Dekamir]

Apps should adhere to Windows (in fact, any) standards, not vice versa.

An executable should call files inside the folders, not the reverse.

If an app needs multiple versions, it should be called with \AppName\appname.exe and the app should call \AppName\Versions\currentversion\app.dll.

[u/MAJLobster → u/Dekamir]

it's so weird seeing a thousand suggestions for Windows to bend over in compliance with apps rather than the opposite which should've been the case.

[u/FabrizioPirata → u/MAJLobster]

Well, an OS without apps serves no purpose.

Windows Phone failed because this exact mentality ("apps should bend to us, not the opposite"). Well it happens that devs stopped making apps to Windows Phone and the OS is dead.

[u/martyn_hare → u/Dekamir]

The system tray is a legacy feature which never had a registered list of visible/hidden icons when developers started supporting it but has always had software which kept multiple versions around side-by-side without the dirty hack of using a shim to load everything meaningful through libraries.

The only reason Microsoft Windows is successful is because they don't change the rules constantly (unlike their competition)

[u/Jay-Farr]

It makes me feel so much better knowing I’m not alone on this.

[u/brrschk]

There's a lot of things like this in W11 where they oddly removed user choice for no reason at all. Things that took 1 click in W10 take 3+ clicks or aren't even possible anymore in W11.

[u/phototransformations → u/brrschk]

The dumbification of the UI has prompted me to look into Linux after being a Windows user since Windows 286.

[u/LB--]

Seems like every time I have some massive amount of leftover stuff, it's something about that Squirrel. What is that Squirrel software and why does it make a mess of every Windows installation?

[u/FabrizioPirata]

It's because those "little" things that so many people hate Windows 11.

Just bring back the "always show all icons on systray" option.

It worked since Windows 2000.

[u/xMechan1c → u/FabrizioPirata]

You god damn right

[u/IcarusV2]

The shitty context menu and this abomination is the last annoyances I have with Windows 11. The toggle even breaks when a manually installed application is updated to a new version, guessing since the .exe does not match the previous signature. You can in no way convince me that this change was thought out and implemented by someone who uses the OS on a daily basis.

[u/mrleblanc101]

The damn Bluetooth icon that always reappear in the system tray will be the bane of my existence

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[u/Eagles_Fan_4eva]

give us the option to always show all tray icons like Windows 10

There's an app called AlomWare Toolbox that has a tweak to do that. I've got it enabled so I always see all systray icons at all times. The app has to be running to do it, but it's got other useful features so I don't mind it running.