How to Minimize Outlook Email to the System Tray for Efficiency

If your Windows taskbar is getting crowded, but you prefer to keep Microsoft Outlook open all the time, you can add an Outlook icon to the system tray.

1. 1. Open Outlook.

2. 2. Go to the Windows system tray and right-click the Outlook icon.

   

3. 3. Select Hide When Minimized. A check mark before Hide When Minimized indicates that Outlook is set up to minimize to the system tray.

4. 4. In Outlook, select Minimize. Outlook disappears from the taskbar and reappears on the system tray.

Use the Registry to Minimize Outlook

If you prefer to make the change using the Windows Registry, first create a system restore point and then follow these steps:

1. 1. Open the Registry Editor. Go to the Windows taskbar and, in the Search box, enter regedit. Select regedit Run command from the search results.

2. 2. In the Registry Editor window, go to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences folder.

   

3. 3. Select MinToTray to open the Edit DWORD dialog box.

4. 4. In the Value Data field, enter 1 to minimize Outlook to the system tray. Enter 0 to minimize Outlook to the taskbar.

5. 5. Select OK.

6. 6. Close the Registry Editor.

What to Do If Outlook Still Shows in the Task Bar

If you can still see the Outlook icon in the Windows taskbar, it may be pinned to it.

To remove a closed or minimized Outlook from the taskbar:

1. 1. In the taskbar, right-click Outlook.

   

2. 2. Select Unpin from taskbar if it appears in the menu.

Restore Outlook After It Has Been Minimized to the System Tray

To open Outlook again after it has been hidden on the system tray and disappeared from the taskbar, double-click the Outlook system tray icon. Or, right-click the Outlook system tray icon and select Open Outlook.

Make Sure the Outlook System Tray Icon Is Visible

To unhide and make visible the Outlook icon in the main system tray:

1. 1. Select the Show hidden icons arrowhead in the system tray.

2. 2. Drag the Microsoft Outlook icon from the expanded tray to the main system tray area.

3. 3. To hide the Outlook icon, drag it to the Show hidden icons arrowhead.