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).
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Entries (RSS)
December 18th, 2009 02:19
Thank you so much, it worked perfectly!
December 17th, 2009 05:55
I cannot thank you enough for this. Having that stupid big taskbar icon was bugging me to death.
Now it is back in the system tray where it belongs.
December 13th, 2009 02:59
THANKS ALOT
December 13th, 2009 02:25
AMAZING!!! thanks!!!
December 12th, 2009 19:37
Thanks!!
December 10th, 2009 23:26
Sorry, I take it back, for some reason it took few times to “close” the WLM main window before it began to work. Now I got WLM away from my taskbar and in the tray icon list. THANKS, makes me wonder why did MickeySoft did this like it did and also taking away our quicklaunch bar which is the basis of my Windows use since XP! Luckily it could be restored as well with little workaround.
December 10th, 2009 23:23
I just installed the latest Windows Live Messenger and instantly began looking for this kind of workaround for the taskbar button hide but this doesn’t seem to work for me, even I change the .exe file itself to Vista compatibility mode.
December 9th, 2009 23:13
Nice! Thank you
December 8th, 2009 00:14
Thank you.
December 3rd, 2009 04:47
thanks a lot!!!!!
November 29th, 2009 14:12
Oh man, thank you so much, I just installed Windows 7 a few hours ago and that was driving me more insane than anything else.
November 24th, 2009 02:00
SWEET! Thansk my friend! I just got bananas on that stupid taskbar icon!
November 23rd, 2009 05:43
thanks for solving yet another of microsofts many flaws
November 22nd, 2009 14:35
That worked beautifully! Thanks. That was so annoying.
November 20th, 2009 23:31
Thanks for a quick and easy fix
November 20th, 2009 16:56
Thanks a lot! This works flawlessly.
November 19th, 2009 20:11
God. Finally!!!! Thanks a lot. It was driving me mad!!!!!!!
November 18th, 2009 14:34
An easy solution. Thank you.
November 16th, 2009 19:59
thank you!
November 16th, 2009 16:26
Thanks!! An annoyning issue solved.
November 15th, 2009 01:16
you sir are a legend
annoying the hell out of me too!
November 14th, 2009 15:44
Thank you so much! it was annoying the hell out of me ;D
November 14th, 2009 01:10
thanks a lot !!!!
November 12th, 2009 12:48
Yoooho, it works!
November 7th, 2009 06:26
I still have the problem. One of the 2 messenger windows is still on the taskbar. The other one is gone. Is it only me ? Any idea how to remove this ?
I think it’s the DP picture that make doesn’t make it to the tray.
I taught 7 was better than vista, it is I think but lot of work to be done to make it stable.