Many solutions on how to turn off the Action Center (AC) assume that you also want to disable notifications altogether. However, what the author really wants is to make Windows function as if the AC does not exist, but still receive notifications in their original format and on the individual schedule set by each application.
Specifically, the author desires to see the original “toasters” in Outlook for new email notifications as they did before the AC was introduced. Despite reaching out to Microsoft, the author could not find a way to accomplish this. While attempting to disable the AC, the author found that most methods either turn off notifications or simply hide the AC icon without altering its behavior.
The author’s motivation for this is that they find the AC’s behavior unproductive and bothersome at times, such as when notifications cease unexpectedly or when past notifications appear one after the other with no clear way to stop them.
2 Answers
Introduction
If you are a Windows 10 user, you might have come across the Action Center (AC). The Action Center is a feature in Windows 10 that displays notifications from various applications and system events. While this feature is useful, some users find it distracting or annoying. In this blog post, we will discuss how to disable the Action Center in Windows 10 without disabling notifications.
Disabling the Action Center
To disable the Action Center in Windows 10, you need to make some changes to the Windows Registry. Before proceeding, it is important to note that modifying the Windows Registry can be risky and should be done with caution. Follow these steps to disable the Action Center:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsExplorer
4. Right-click on the Explorer key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name the new value “DisableNotificationCenter” and press Enter.
6. Double-click on the new value and change the value data to “1”.
7. Click OK to save the changes.
8. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
After restarting your computer, the Action Center should be disabled. However, you will still receive notifications from various applications and system events.
Customizing Notifications
If you want to customize how notifications are displayed, you can do so in the Windows 10 Settings app. Follow these steps to customize notifications:
1. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I.
2. Click on “System” and then “Notifications & actions”.
3. Here, you can customize how notifications are displayed for each application. You can choose to show or hide notifications, and you can also choose how notifications are displayed (banner, action center, or none).
4. You can also customize the quick actions that appear in the Action Center. Click on “Edit your quick actions” to customize the quick actions.
By customizing notifications, you can still receive notifications from various applications and system events, but you can choose how they are displayed.
Using Third-Party Apps
If you find the built-in notification system in Windows 10 too limiting, you can use third-party apps to manage your notifications. Here are some third-party apps you can use:
1. Pushbullet: Pushbullet allows you to receive notifications from your phone on your computer. You can also send and receive messages and files.
2. Snarl: Snarl is a notification system for Windows that allows you to customize how notifications are displayed.
3. Action Center Helper: Action Center Helper is a free app that allows you to customize how notifications are displayed in the Action Center.
Using third-party apps can give you more control over how notifications are displayed and managed.
Conclusion
Disabling the Action Center in Windows 10 can be useful if you find it distracting or annoying. However, disabling the Action Center also disables notifications. By customizing notifications, you can still receive notifications from various applications and system events, but you can choose how they are displayed. Additionally, using third-party apps can give you more control over how notifications are managed. Remember to always be cautious when modifying the Windows Registry.
To get rid of the Action Center, follow these steps:
- Right-click on the Taskbar and choose Taskbar Settings.
- Scroll down and click on “Turn system icons on or off.”
- Move the slider for “Action Center” to the Off position.
- This will remove the Action Center icon from the Taskbar immediately, while still allowing notifications to appear.
To check if notifications are still functional, you can install the Notifications Visualizer app from the Microsoft Store. Once installed, click on “New document” and then press the “Pop toast” button to generate a new notification each time it is clicked.