Remove "Windows Security" icon from taskbar
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Impact: High
System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: High
This action improves privacy with high impact when you run the recommended script.
- Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This script removes the Windows Security icon from the system tray.
Windows Security is an interface introduced in Windows 10, version 1703 1. It was previously named Windows Defender Security Center 1. It offers a unified interface to manage security settings and monitor system status 1 2.
The icon in the system tray is controlled by the SecurityHealthSystray.exe
file 3 4.
Removing the icon may hide important security alerts and make accessing security settings less convenient.
Technical Details
The script modifies the registry to stop this file from running on startup, effectively removing the icon.
It specifically removes the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run!SecurityHealth
registry key.
This key exists in modern Windows versions (tested on Windows 11 22H2 and Windows 10 22H2) with a
default value of %SYSTEMROOT%\System32\SecurityHealthSystray.exe
.
- Not Advised
This script should only be used by advanced users.
This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality.
Consider creating a system restore point before doing any changes.
- Security Trade-off
This action prioritizes privacy over certain security features. It's not recommended and should only be used by advanced users after understanding its implications.
Increased Privacy
Enhanced privacy through reduced data collection and trackingDecreased Security
Some security features will be disabled or limitedThis script can be reversed, this action allows you to can restore the system security.
Sources
- Windows Security - Windows Security. Microsoft Learn. (2023).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/system-security/windows-defender-security-center/windows-defender-security-center
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231013153902/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/system-security/windows-defender-security-center/windows-defender-security-center - Hide notifications from Windows Security. Microsoft Learn. learn.microsoft.com. (2024).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/system-security/windows-defender-security-center/wdsc-hide-notifications
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240314130605/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/system-security/windows-defender-security-center/wdsc-hide-notifications - SecurityHealthSystray.exe Windows process - What is it?. (2023).
Original: https://www.file.net/process/securityhealthsystray.exe.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231013155101/https://www.file.net/process/securityhealthsystray.exe.html - SecurityHealthSystray.exe. Windows Security notification icon. STRONTIC. strontic.github.io. (2023).
Original: https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/SecurityHealthSystray.exe-783C99AFD4C2AE6950FA5694389D2CFA.html
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231013155434/https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/SecurityHealthSystray.exe-783C99AFD4C2AE6950FA5694389D2CFA.html
Apply Now
Choose one of three ways to apply:
Download script
Download and run the script directly- No app needed
- Offline usage
- Easy-to-apply
- Free
- Open-source
Help
How to apply or restore "Remove "Windows Security" icon from taskbar" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on thebutton above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
Apply with privacy.sexy
Guided, automated application with safety checks- Recommended for most users
- Includes safety checks
- Free
- Open-source
- Popular
- Offline/Online usage
Help
How to apply or restore "Remove "Windows Security" icon from taskbar" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Remove "Windows Security" icon from taskbar
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
- Apply
- Revert
:: Delete the registry value "SecurityHealth" from the key "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyName = 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'; $valueName = 'SecurityHealth'; $hive = $keyName.Split('\')[0]; $path = "^""$($hive):$($keyName.Substring($hive.Length))"^""; Write-Host "^""Removing the registry value '$valueName' from '$path'."^""; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $path)) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no action needed, registry key does not exist.'; Exit 0; }; $existingValueNames = (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path).PSObject.Properties.Name; if (-Not ($existingValueNames -Contains $valueName)) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no action needed, registry value does not exist.'; Exit 0; }; try { if ($valueName -ieq '(default)') { Write-Host 'Removing the default value.'; $(Get-Item -LiteralPath $path).OpenSubKey('', $true).DeleteValue(''); } else { Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path -Name $valueName -Force -ErrorAction Stop; }; Write-Host 'Successfully removed the registry value.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the registry value: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"
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
Help
How to apply or restore "Remove "Windows Security" icon from taskbar" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Command Prompt
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as Administrator. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.Some changes require a system restart to take effect
Similar Guides
Wider Goal
Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.
These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
- Disable Windows Security interface
- Disable Defender
- Privacy over security
This category offers scripts to disable or modify different aspects of the Windows Security user interface, formerly known as Windows Defender Security Center. Win...
This category offers scripts to disable Windows security components related to Defender. Defender is also referred to as Microsoft Defender or Windows Defender. Al...
Steps to privacy over security on your Windows machine to enhance data privacy protection. Together with that, this feature walks through the procedure to undo the...
Same Goal
Other guides in Disable Windows Security interfaceSee settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
See all 12 guides
About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
Reviewed By
This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
- Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
- Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.