Minimize Windows Live Messenger to System Tray in Windows 7
Adjusting Windows Live Messenger Behavior in Windows 7
Users of Windows Live Messenger on Windows 7 may have encountered an issue where the application doesn't minimize to the system tray as expected. Instead, the taskbar button remains visible. Fortunately, a straightforward adjustment can be made to restore the desired functionality.
Forcing Messenger to Minimize to the System Tray
First, ensure Windows Live Messenger is completely closed. This can be achieved by right-clicking its icon and selecting the "Close window" option.
Next, navigate to the program through the Start menu. The path is typically Start, All Programs, Windows Live, and then Windows Live Messenger.
Right-click on the program entry and select "Properties" from the context menu.
Within the Properties window, click on the "Compatibility" tab.
Check the box labeled "Run this program in compatibility mode." From the dropdown menu, select "Windows Vista" and then click "Apply." This action effectively instructs the application to operate as if it were running on an older version of Windows.
Upon reopening the program, it will initially appear in the taskbar as before.
However, when you close the application by clicking the close button ("X") in the upper-right corner, it will now minimize to the system tray, indicated by a small blueish-green icon.
This resolves the issue, allowing Messenger to function as intended. You can now enjoy a cleaner taskbar and easy access to the application from the system tray.
Consider this a small act of digital housekeeping, ensuring a more organized computing experience.
The system tray icon provides convenient access without cluttering the main taskbar.
This compatibility setting ensures a smoother user experience with older software on newer operating systems.
By utilizing compatibility mode, you can often resolve unexpected behavior in legacy applications.
This simple tweak restores a preferred feature for many Windows Live Messenger users.
