Workaround to Hide and Minimize Windows Live Messenger Icon/Button to Notification Area (System Tray) in Windows 7
When running Windows Live Messenger, aka MSN Messenger of latest version (as installed Windows Live Essentials 2009) in Windows 7, the main Messenger Contact window, display picture, and all chat or conversation windows now have full fledged button or icon on Windows Taskbar, even when minimized, instead of placing main WLM Contacts window icon in system tray or notification area.
In previous Windows Vista, XP or Server operating system, Windows Live Messenger (MSN) Messenger will load itself into notification area, also known as system tray, which located at the far right end of Taskbar beside the clock, while the rest of the windows such as IM chat dialog box have their own Taskbar button when the windows are opened.
Windows 7 has removed the notification area icon for Windows Live Messenger though, thus the main button for Messenger window now appears in Taskbar, along side with all its conversation or chat windows. The Taskbar button icon won’t go away even when Messenger window is minimized. When mouse over the WL Messenger icon on Taskbar, the thumbnail preview may show two confusing Messenger’s windows, where one is actual WLM Contacts main window, and another is display picture (DP, which does not show if user clicks on ‘X’ button to close the main window).
It’s possible to instruct Windows Live Messenger to revert back to classic style, where its main window is represented by notification tray area icon. The hack is to run Windows Live Messenger in Windows Vista compatibility mode in Windows 7 in order to move WLM icon back to system tray.
- Exit Windows Live Messenger or MSN Messenger completely (Right click on WLM button/icon on Taskbar and select Exit).
- Go to Start Menu, locate the Windows Live Messenger shortcut.
Tip: It’s also possible to deal directly with the actual WLM program, msnmgsr.exe located in %ProgramFiles%\Windows Live\Messenger\ folder.
- Right click on the Windows Live Messenger shortcut or executable, and select Properties.
- Go to Compatibility tab.
- Tick the check box for Run this program in compatibility mode for under “Compatibility Mode”, and then select Windows Vista from the drop down list.
- Click OK.
- Run Windows Live Messenger.
With the hack, Windows Live Messenger will minimize to system tray (notification area).
Related Articles
- Windows Defender Icon Not Found in System Tray (Notification Area)
- How to Hide or Remove Action Center Icon from Notification Area in Windows 7
- Disable and Turn Off System Tray (Notification Area) to Hide Icons in Windows XP and Vista
- Volume, Battery (Power) or Network Icon Disappear or Missing from Vista Taskbar Notification Area (System Tray)
- Remove or Hide Windows Live Messenger Tabs
- Remove Ads from Windows Live Messenger with A-Patch and Customize Messenger Options and Visualisation
- System Tray Icon Missing from System Tray in Windows XP
- Easy Way to Hide or Show Notification Area Icons on Taskbar in Windows 7
- MSN Web Messenger Closure with Windows Live Messenger Unblock Alternative
- HideOutlook – Minimize Microsoft Outlook to System Tray
Entries (RSS)
September 9th, 2009 17:20
it works. simple modification but i would never come up with this idea.
September 4th, 2009 22:36
Thank you thank you thank you.
September 2nd, 2009 10:04
thank you very much. It really was a big HEADACHE!
With this tip, Win7 is back in the game.
Greetings from venezuela.
August 29th, 2009 03:45
Thank you very much, it’s crazy this is necessary if the first place!
August 26th, 2009 23:53
Thanx
August 26th, 2009 21:28
Very nice tip
Thanks and cheers:-)
August 25th, 2009 10:59
thanks.
And it’s incomprehensible why Windows live team didn’t fix it.
August 24th, 2009 01:00
AweSome DUde THANKS XD
August 23rd, 2009 23:53
Thank you very much!!!
August 14th, 2009 13:26
Look at your system memory now. It’s inflated about 60mb memory now.
August 13th, 2009 01:50
Gracias, vaya que si me ayudaste a quitar un dolor de cabeza…
August 11th, 2009 02:16
Nice, but immediately after reboot messenger stops working .. at all. :f
August 9th, 2009 22:03
Thanks! This was annoying me.
August 9th, 2009 14:26
THANK YOU!!!
This was one of my biggest annoyance in win 7 and removal of classic start bar.
But im so glad i found this, to the person that discovered this your an absolute genius.
August 9th, 2009 02:38
[...] impostando la modalità su Windows Vista. Maggiori informazioni sono disponibili in questo post. Technorati Tag: Windows,Live Published sabato 8 agosto 2009 20.38 by Marco Minerva Filed under: [...]
August 7th, 2009 16:32
Many thanks man, this was bugging me big time.
August 7th, 2009 15:36
Hahaha not really a hack but its a funny way to get it back to normal.
August 6th, 2009 04:27
Thank you.My taskbar is much tidier now
August 6th, 2009 03:46
Thank you for the helpful tip
August 3rd, 2009 09:38
heeeeeeyyyy sweet dude!! it works!!! love ya man!! I really miss this way to find messenger in notification area!! u rock!! xD
July 31st, 2009 02:38
Thx! this worked!
July 28th, 2009 13:34
Glad I looked it up, this DID help, and the problem did bug me. Still, I wouldn’t call it a hack though, because it isn’t.
July 16th, 2009 04:27
This bugged me for a while so I googled it. I’m glad I found this answer. Thanks.
July 10th, 2009 03:47
nice! That’s it was looking for
July 7th, 2009 10:10
GRACIAS! era un problema que tenia!
muchisimas gracias(: