Geek Humor: Add Fun Icons to Windows Notification Area

A Playful Trick for Windows Users

The primary intention of this technique is simply amusement, both for yourself and those around you. It involves introducing unusual symbols or characters into the Windows Taskbar’s Notification Area as a lighthearted prank on colleagues.

Begin by opening the Control Panel and then double-clicking the Regional and Language Options icon.

Customizing Time Formats

Within the Regional and Language Options window, navigate to the Formats tab. Then, click the “Customize this format” button.

Select the Time tab. Here, you can input the characters and/or symbols you desire to display in the AM / PM fields. You have the flexibility to enter virtually any character sequence, with a maximum length of 12 characters.

Confirm your changes by clicking OK twice to exit the Regional and Language Options settings.

Examples of Customizations

Consider these examples to inspire your own creations. You can use anything from your name to classic chat emoticons.

If a colleague is unaware of this modification, they may find it surprisingly difficult to correct. Each customized example will now appear within the dropdown menus.

Compatibility with Windows XP

This technique is also fully functional in Windows XP. The process remains the same: access the Control Panel, navigate to Regional and Language Settings, and then customize the Time tab.

Enjoy the fun! Feel free to share any amusing anecdotes resulting from this playful trick.