Although this is a useful feature, it can also be intrusive and maybe a privacy nightmare especially if an app is displaying private messages on the badge counter that you want to keep private. By default, this feature is turned on and enabled. You’ll always get pending notifications every time you sign into Windows. If this is something you don’t want, you can disable it with a few clicks. Below we’ll show you how to do that.
How to turn off app badge notifications in Windows 11
As mentioned above, Windows shows a badge counter for all messages you haven’t seen or read. These are quick notifications to your heads-up without the need to open the app or Notification Center. If you do not want your private messages to be displayed in the app badge counter, use the steps below to disable them. Windows 11 has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from its System Settings pane. To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + I shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below: Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it. Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Personalization, then select Taskbar on the right pane of your screen shown in the image below. On the Taskbar settings pane, expand the Taskbar behaviors tile, then uncheck the box next to Show badges (unread messages counter) on the taskbar app to disable this feature. Once disabled, apps in the taskbar will stop showing notifications. You can exit the Settings app.
How to enable app badge counter notifications in Windows 11
If the app badge counter notifications are disabled and you’re getting notified by apps, you can turn it back on by reversing the steps above and going to the Start menu ==> Settings ==> Personalization ==> Taskbar ==> Taskbar behaviors and check the box next to Show badges (unread messages counter) on taskbar app to enable this feature. That should do it! Conclusion: This post showed you how to disable or enable Taskbar app badge counter notifications in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
