(The program will still run just the notification icon will be removed) Removing the Windows Defender Security Center System tray Icon.įirst, you will need to open the Windows Task Manager, which can be done in a ton of different ways, generally though, right-clicking on your taskbar and selecting Task Manager or pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete are the easiest two ways to find it. I should also mention that even if you are using The Windows Defender Service you can still remove the icon from the system tray using this method. Unsurprisingly, removing the Window Defender icon is one of those annoying situations where you have probably overlooked a super simple solution. If you are like me, you have probably tried all the usual workarounds, venturing into the settings app and flicking all sorts of toggles to hopefully remove it.

The main problem with Windows defender is that even if you opt to use other services to protect yourself, the icon in the system tray refuses to go away. For this reason alone, you might want to remove the Windows Defender notification icon as it is a duplicate service on your system, consuming resources that could be spent better elsewhere. Programs like Avast for antivirus, Malwarebytes for antimalware and perhaps a firewall like ZoneAlarm are all popular alternatives to Windows Defender and widely used on Windows 10. The Windows Defender Security Center is a great little backup tool if you aren’t already using other third-party protection. How to Hide the App List on the left-hand Side of your Windows 10 Start Menu.

Don’t worry though, if it's making your OCD flare up, this guide will show you how to remove it. If you have tried the usual methods to remove it, you may also have found that the Windows Defender icon has been deliberately left off the list. You may have also noticed the new Windows Defender Security Center icon in your system tray. If you were quick to update to the new Windows 10 Creators update, you are probably having some fun checking out all the new features.

How to hide windows defender icon