Windows 10: Hide or Show Windows Defender Notification Area Icon in Windows 10

Hello Anry, and welcome to Seven Forums. *Smile

This is a user specific settings, so there's not an all users option. The Windows Defender icon is enabled for all users by default, but may need to be set to show for some members.

 

Ok. In Win10 the Defender icon is not showing up in the taskbar by default. Checked GPO and there is no setting to change it.
Well, I guess it is what it is.

Thank you

 

That's ok. You'll just need to set it to show per account using either OPTON ONE or OPTION TWO.

 

Actually, it's possible. *Smile Just replaced HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run with
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run in your .REG file and it starts showing the Defender icon for new logged in users.

 

do i really need this icon there if i use another AV and firewall ??

 

Hey Tony, *Smile

It really depends on your needs, but the icon does make it easier to check and use any of the WD features.

 

ok yeah i noticed that i opened it up and seen other security stuff, and is a good way to make sure all the stuff is on, even showed that i was using another av and firewall and had green check, so i leave it. i was using periodic scanning but norton hated it, it would run a full scan right after, WD did was wired so i turned it off.

 

Does this guide also work with Windows Defender Security Center Windows 10 v1709?

Thanks

Bye

 

Hello balubeto, *Smile

Correct. That's the icon it is for.

 

Note In Windows 10 build 17074, the Windows Defender icon is missing from the systray, even if it shows as enabled in Settings.

 

version 1709, the security center notification icon is not in the startup tab in task manager thus you can not enable it to show in the task bar. How can I fix?

 

Hello @Peggsie, *Smile

If you like, you can download and merge the Add_Windows_Defender_notification_icon_to_startup.reg file below to add it back to the Startup tab in Task Manager. It restores the default registry entries below for this.

*Arrow Add_Windows_Defender_notification_icon_to_startup.reg

(contents of .reg file above)
Code: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "SecurityHealth"=hex(2):25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,00,\ 69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,25,00,5c,00,57,00,69,00,6e,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,73,\ 00,20,00,44,00,65,00,66,00,65,00,6e,00,64,00,65,00,72,00,5c,00,4d,00,53,00,\ 41,00,53,00,43,00,75,00,69,00,4c,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,00,00[/quote]

 

Thanks Brink. That fixed the problem.

 

You're most welcome John. I'm glad it could help. *Smile