Microsoft seems to be on a mission to brighten up the taskbar in Windows 10. Recently, Microsoft integrated the Meet Now button into the taskbar next to the Date &Time option. It is an irrelevant add-on for someone who does not use video calling frequently on Windows 10 machine. Read the article to know what is Meet Now and how to remove it from taskbar in Windows 10.
ContentsWhat is Meet Now in Windows 101. Hiding the Meet Now button2. Disable Meet Now from Settings 3. Remove Meet Now using the Group Policy EditorHide Meet Now on Windows 10
Following the current video calling trend among consumers and professionals, Microsoft added a neat utility called Meet Now with Windows 10 version 20H2. It's Microsoft's answer to Zoom to make video calling easy and seamless when your travels.
However, not everyone needs the Skype-branded Meet Now button on the taskbar. Also, if you already use Google Meet or Zoom for your video calling needs, the Meet Now button will be unnecessary.
Microsoft first added the Meet Now feature in the Skype app. And now it works as a shortcut in the system tray.
With a single click, you can dial a video call, share the link with participants using messaging or messenger apps. The good news is that other users don't need a Skype account to join the meeting. All they need is a valid invite link and password to join the meeting.
Also, it is extremely easy to dial or join the meeting using the Meet Now button. Just click the Meet Now toggle button, select Meet Now, and you're ready to start the video call with your friends and family using the Skype web.
Meet now is here for ease of use and convenience. But, if you are already using competing apps for video calling needs, you should remove the Meet now integration from the taskbar. Here's how.
This is the easiest way to hide the Meet Now button on Windows 10. Place the mouse pointer over the Meet Now button and right-click it.
Select Hide from the next menu. And that's all. Meet now will no longer bother you in the taskbar.
There is another way to disable the Meet Now button on the taskbar. Using the Settings app, you can customize the taskbar experience on Windows 10. Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on Windows 10 (use Windows + I keys).
Step 2: Go to the Personalization menu.
Step 3: Select Taskbar from the side menu.
Step 4: Click on Enable or disable system icons in the Notification area menu.
Step 5: Disable the Meet Now toggle in the following menu.
If these steps are too much for you, just search for the system icon in the Windows 10 Settings search box. It will take you directly to the system icons on or off menu in the Settings app.
For most users, the above two tips should work just fine. Power users may consider using the Group Policy Editor to remove the Meet Now button from the taskbar. Remember that the Group Policy Editor is only available for Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education users. Windows 10 Home users cannot use it.
Additionally, creating a Group Policy can change a setting for the entire computer, affecting each user of the machine rather than just one Windows account.
Follow the steps below.
Step 1: Press the Windows button and type gpedit .
Step 2: Press Enter and open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 3: Navigate to User Configuration> Administrative Templates> Start Menu and Taskbar.
Step 4: Scroll down and select the Remove Meet Now icon option.
Step 5: Double-click to open the option and select Enabled from the next menu.
Step 6: Tap Apply at the bottom.
Restart the PC and you're good to go without the Meet Now button on the taskbar.
You can also disable the Meet Now option in the Windows registry menu. But we will not advise to use it for normal users, because making wrong changes to your registry can lead to unintended consequences.
Unfortunately, you cannot completely remove the Meet Now feature in Windows 10. One can only hide the button using the tricks above.
In our personal experience, we found Meet Now to have a decent video calling feature. But again, that doesn't matter to anyone using Google Meet, Teams, or Zoom.
Then:
Are system icons disappearing from the taskbar? Read the article below to learn how to fix Windows 10 taskbar icons not visible.
