The notification area is located at the right edge of the taskbar (if the taskbar is horizontal) or at the bottom (if the taskbar is vertical). However, in Windows 7 and later, some of the information previously provided by the notification area should be provided through an application's taskbar button. For example, an application might put a printer icon in the notification area to show that a print job is under way. For more information, see Taskbar Extensions.Īpplications can put icons in the notification area to indicate the status of an operation or to notify the user about an event. This functionality has been greatly expanded as of Windows 7. To switch to a window, the user clicks its window button. The Shell places a button on the taskbar whenever an application creates an unowned window-that is, a window that does not have a parent and that has the appropriate extended style bits (see Managing Taskbar Buttons, below).

In Windows 7 and later, this functionality is included in the taskbar buttons. Icons in this area respond to a single click. Windows provides default entries, such as Windows Internet Explorer, and the user can add any further shortcuts that they choose. The Quick Launch bar, available in versions of Windows earlier than Windows 7, contains shortcuts to applications. The Start in earlier versions of Windows contained items such as Find and Run, the functionality of which was included in Search programs and files in Windows Vista and later. These commands include All Programs, Documents, Control Panel, Games, Help and Support, Shut down, and Search programs and files. The Start menu contains commands that can access programs, documents, and settings. Quick Launch bar (Windows Vista and earlier only).Adding and Deleting Taskbar Icons in the Notification Area.Adding, Modifying, and Deleting Icons in the Notification Area.This topic contains the following sections. For information on changes made to the taskbar as of Windows 7, see Taskbar Extensions.

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