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.

Windows Live Messenger in Windows 7

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).

342 Comments

maya January 11, 2012 at 7:12 pm

thank you!!!!!! YOU RULE

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[...] directive from Microsoft for Windows 7 where icons replace buttons on Taskbar (which also makes MSN Windows Live Messenger does not minimize to notification tray), Windows Media Player 12 (WMP12) in Windows 7 does not have such an ability to minimize to mini [...]

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prnd321 November 14, 2011 at 12:12 pm

If you want to close it, just right click the tab in task bar and choose either exit/sign out.
I don’t know why Skype 5 doesn’t have this option…

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basant malviya November 3, 2011 at 11:55 pm

Thankx Its worked now both Skype and msn are on system try. I usallly open many windows at same time these Skype and msn takes lots of space of task bar

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Johnmir September 18, 2011 at 1:52 pm

Man, you rule! I'm happy now

Thank you!

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Daniel September 6, 2011 at 6:06 am

Thank you

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mj September 6, 2011 at 3:52 am

Ah!! THANK you, brother! <3<3<3

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Zaaphod September 2, 2011 at 10:43 am

Thats a pretty hoopy peice of thinking there! good job! Finally the icon back where it belongs, not clutting up my task bar

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Danfers August 5, 2011 at 12:34 pm

thanks it works for me. nice to have a people like you that helps others..

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yart July 27, 2011 at 10:38 am

Thanx bro. It really works.

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Saduga June 5, 2011 at 2:11 pm

Thanks a lot! That was very annoying! =)

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Kalleb May 20, 2011 at 4:08 pm

Yes, it works perfectly. But what would I loose with it runninh in compatibillity mode?

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me May 19, 2011 at 7:01 pm

thanks!

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Howard May 12, 2011 at 4:32 am

Thanks dude, that was annoying the hell out of me!

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JUST WHEN I ALMOST H May 11, 2011 at 6:53 am

OMG, I want "MY WIFE" to bear your children!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

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Bad Temper May 7, 2011 at 7:38 pm

AWESOME it really works thank you soooooooo much, it was really annoying but with your help it's a charm

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Ethan May 2, 2011 at 4:01 am

I disabled compatibility mode from gpedit.msc, is there other way to make WLM minimize to notification area?

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Keavon April 29, 2011 at 7:15 pm

Thank you so much!

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Евгений April 19, 2011 at 6:28 am

Thank you so much! I was always annoyed – had to periodically turn on and off prog, just for one-stage test post …

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nihilis April 7, 2011 at 12:02 am

Cool, thanks for the tip!

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Claire March 30, 2011 at 3:34 am

Thanks so much, this has been annoying me forever.

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diwar March 21, 2011 at 9:55 pm

thanks

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Flavio March 11, 2011 at 3:30 am

THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!

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Albeiro March 7, 2011 at 12:00 pm

That's why I love forums!! Thanks a lot!! you're greatttt!!

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leng chai March 6, 2011 at 7:19 am

wow~~~ since i use win7 in this damn disgusting feature… now i can roll back~ THANKS~

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th@nz February 24, 2011 at 11:06 pm

Ggggreeeeeaaaaatttt! Thanks a lot!!

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Faraz February 23, 2011 at 5:16 pm

Thanks heaps! works for me

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Clarissa February 20, 2011 at 5:34 am

OMG! This has been annoying me for a year and I never thought to google it (until today). *lol*
THANK YOU SO MUCH!

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happy dude February 17, 2011 at 5:35 pm

THANKS A BUNCH!

IT JUST WORKED!

GOD BLESS!

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BlackCoral February 11, 2011 at 3:08 pm

Great job!!!! Thanks a lot I'm new to win7 and would have never figured that out…

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Daniel Thum February 10, 2011 at 10:57 pm

Thank you so much for the info. Is very helpful. Been searching for the solution.

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me February 10, 2011 at 7:24 pm

THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!

Tell me, why is it than when they update something they just leave behind things instead of making them posible by options?

Even if they preset a new feature, I want to be able to go back to how I like it if I want to, is that so hard to ask???

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Martin February 8, 2011 at 4:16 am

Excellent tip thanks very much

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Smirnoff February 7, 2011 at 10:47 am

Thanks a lot

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Shrini Viswanathan February 4, 2011 at 5:25 am

Thanks much.

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Salgadinho January 4, 2011 at 4:41 pm

Thanks. Great Help!

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Casedd December 21, 2010 at 12:49 pm

Thats really amazing how simple tips can make your life WAY more pleasant

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jonathan December 20, 2010 at 4:32 am

marvelous freaking awesome, works on the new 2011 version

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I want to bear your children.

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i need a blog!

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Natascha December 7, 2010 at 2:27 am

THANKS !

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Bjorheim November 23, 2010 at 1:15 pm

Great^^ thanks alot mate^^

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Jane, his wife November 23, 2010 at 11:01 am

I want to bear your children.

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zokas November 20, 2010 at 5:42 pm

THX A MILLION MATE!

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