How to Minimize Skype to Windows 7 System Tray (Notification Area)
Due to the new design behavior guideline for Windows Taskbar on Windows 7, more and more software application has now making its icon to locate and stick at Windows 7 Taskbar when minimized, instead of minimizing to system tray (notification area). The most common example in Windows Live Messenger, and now Skype 4.2 (download Skype 4.2 Beta) follows the footstep.
In Skype 4.2 or any newer versions, Skype will be minimized to Taskbar, as an icon or button, when the Skype main window is closed. In previous versions, such as Skype 4.1, 4.0 and 3.0, Skype is typically minimized to system tray, which now known as notification area, right beside the clock on Windows Taskbar when the main window is closed.
Leaving the Skype program running on Windows Taskbar is not very useful to many users, especially notifications alert will pop up informing user when there is new incoming call, instant message (IM), files, contacts, events and etc. The Taskbar icon or button is prone to mistakenly or accidentally click and activate, and the Skype window is also subjected to rotation when user jumping around tasks with Alt+Tab or Win+Tab keyboard shortcuts.
In order to make Skype minimize and hide its icon into notification area or system tray when minimized, users can use the same trick to minimize Windows Live Messenger MSN Messenger to system tray in Windows 7. Here’s how to minimize Skype to notification tray on Windows 7.
Updated Skype Built-In Method
- In Skype, go to Tools -> Options.
- Then, click on Advanced tab to go to Advanced settings.
- Uncheck and untick the Keep Skype in the taskbar while I’m signed in option.
- Click Save button, and the Skype button or icon will be removed from Taskbar on minimize.
Note: You won’t see the option if the Skype is in compatibility mode.
Compatibility Mode Method
- Exit or quit from Skype program.
- Right click on Skype icon on Desktop or Skype shortcut in Start Menu, and select Properties.
- Go to Compatibility tab.
- Under “Compatibility Mode’ section, check and tick the checkbox for Run this program in compatibility mode for: option.
- In the below drop-down box, select Windows Vista (Service Pack 2).
- Click OK.
- Start the Skype program, and now it should minimize to system tray.
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Entries (RSS)
March 10th, 2010 16:28
Thank you very much!!
March 10th, 2010 06:36
Friggin greate post!!!! I dont usualy put posts to things like this, but I had to show my appreciation cuz this was absolutely pissing me off.
March 9th, 2010 20:53
EXcelente the tip. Works perfectly. Was already fed up that the Skype icon on the taskbar.
Very good.
Congratulations
March 8th, 2010 23:28
Thank you ever so much!!
March 8th, 2010 20:56
This is not a hack this is compability mode wich makes skype think you are running windows vista.You can do this to any program including messenger.
I hate skype because its a nasty program that always gets i your way.
March 8th, 2010 17:14
thanks, this works like a charm
March 6th, 2010 12:43
works ok thank you very much
March 5th, 2010 19:47
Very useful port
10x
March 5th, 2010 00:00
Heh, neat “trick”
Worked perfectly, and a very clever application of unintended consequences!
March 4th, 2010 07:25
Thanks. This worked on Win 7 x32.
March 4th, 2010 00:02
thank you so much man! it really worked
March 3rd, 2010 20:50
Dude … it worked … you saved my life … I was almost going back to windows XP because of this shit button on the toolbar.
Thanks
March 3rd, 2010 19:52
I was looking for a solution to this problem, and it worked very well.
not understand this change made by him!
Thanks for help
March 3rd, 2010 17:02
Thanks! working like a charm!
March 2nd, 2010 14:35
Cool thnx man
Windows 7 x64 professional
March 1st, 2010 08:45
It works fine… thanks
February 28th, 2010 05:07
Many thanks. I installed 4.2 last night, and the additional window in the taskbar was useless to me, and a waste of screen space. Great work around.
February 28th, 2010 04:58
Great tip, thanks – hard to see why Skype has disabled this for Windows 7.
February 28th, 2010 00:09
Many thanks !!!
February 26th, 2010 06:10
This trick worked beautifully. Thank you!
February 22nd, 2010 16:04
Worked for me as well. Thanks a lot.
February 19th, 2010 10:55
@borut:
I’m using Win 7×64 and pressing minimise or close simply minimises it to the tray. I went back to the old skype for now.
I don’t particularly like hacks like the one mentioned in this article as I don’t like messing around with settings. I felt it was better to go back to the current (i.e. NOT beta) version.
January 29th, 2010 21:50
No luck
January 29th, 2010 01:59
Worked like a charm for me. Thanks for the tip!
January 24th, 2010 16:50
Well i use windows 7 x64 and the latest skype and when i press close in minimizes to system tray. If i press minimize button then it goes to task bar