How to Hide Windows Defender Security Center Icon from Taskbar

Isabella Shinn

Updated: January 11, 2024

Windows Defender built-in antivirus program, it helps protect your PC against malware in two ways: Windows Real-time protection and anytime scanning options. If you found the Windows Defender icon was annoying and want to hide the shield icon from the notification area, this article will show you how to do it.

• Method 1: by Taskbar Settings
• Method 2: by Task Manage

Hide Windows Defender Security Center Icon from Taskbar

To hide Windows Defender icon from the Notification area, here is how:

Step 1: Right-click on Taskbar, click Taskbar Settings from the menu.

Step 2: Location to Taskbar tab, click on the Select which icons appear on the taskbar link under the Notification area section on the right pane.

Step 3: Turn off Always show all icons in the notification area at the top, then select turn Off the Windows Defender notification area icon to hide shield icon.

Step 4: Restart your computer, the icon should have been hidden.

When you open Windows Defender Security Center app, you can see the icon in the tray again.

Disable or Enable Windows Defender Notification in Task Manager

To get rid of the Windows Defender Security Center icon from notification area using Task Manager, here is how:

Step 1: Open Task Manager in more details view.

Press Win+X and T keys. If it opens in mini mode, click on More details button.

Step 2: Click the Startup tab, select the Windows Defender notification icon startup item, and enable (default) or disable based on the current status for what you want.

Step 3: Restart your PC (press Win+X, U, R on keyboard) to apply.