Meet Now Windows 10: Create and Join Meetings on Skype Easily
Meet Now is a handy shortcut button linked to Skype, but you can disable it directly from the taskbar, the Settings app, or the Group Policy Editor if you’re running an Enterprise/Pro build of Windows 10.
As the breakout of Covid-19 forced business owners and employees alike to work from home, Microsoft introduced Meet Now in the taskbar to enable them to jump into business meetings with customers.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to make the most of the Meet Now button or disable it if you’re better off using another teleconferencing platform.
How Does Meet Now Work?
If you’re an active Skype user, you must have seen the Meet Now icon somewhere in the user interface. The icon is essentially just a shortcut button to start a video conference on Skype, join one, or share the link of the one you’re a part of with others via any instant messaging app, including WhatsApp and Facebook.
The icing on the cake, however, is that the people you invite via a link don’t need a Skype account to join. They’re good to go with just the link and a password (if it’s passworded).
The logic behind integrating the Meet Now button in the taskbar is to aid convenience, and that’s exactly what it does. You’ll be able to create or join meetings with just a few clicks via the Skype app (if you have it installed) or the web version on a chromium browser (Microsoft Edge by default).
However, for someone who rarely participates in any form of video conferencing, the Meet Now button might just be as good as useless. Likewise, if you use other teleconferencing platforms such as Zoom, the Meet Now button will do you no good since it can only take you to Skype and not those platforms.
Thankfully, getting rid of it takes just a few toggles in the Settings app or the taskbar itself.
How to Turn Off Meet Now Windows 10
You can easily disable Meet Now on Windows 10 with any of the following methods:
Hide Meet Now from the Taskbar
This is the quickest way to hide the Meet Now button. Simply right-click on the icon in the taskbar and select Hide from the context menu that pops up. Voila! The icon will disappear from the taskbar. The only way to bring it back is to re-enable it in the Settings app.
Disable Meet Now from Settings Windows 10
Another equally effective method to get rid of the Meet Now button is to use the Settings app. To do this,
- Launch the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I or clicking the gear icon in the Start menu
- Navigate to and click Personalization
- Next, select Taskbar
- On the Taskbar settings page, scroll down to and locate Notification Area
- Select Turn Systems Icons On or Off
- On the next page, locate Meet Now and use the toggle next to it to turn it off
You should stop seeing the Meet Now icon in your taskbar henceforth.
Remove Meet Now from Group Policy Editor
The previous methods should work just fine on any PC. But if you don’t mind a bit more technicalities, you might want to use the Group Policy Editor instead. And the good thing is using the Group Policy Editor to remove the Meet Now button makes the changes reflect on all Windows accounts logged onto your computer.
The changes won’t affect only the account you used in removing it. Also, only proceed with this method if you’re running on Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education. With that out of the way, let’s get right into it:
- Press Windows key + R to launch the Run command
- Type gpedit in the provided textbox and click OK or hit Enter on your keyboard
- In the Local Group Policy Editor window, navigate to Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar on the left pane
- Scroll down the right pane and locate Remove the Meet Now Icon
- Double-click the option to open it
- In the new window, navigate to and select Enabled
- Finally, click Apply in the bottom right and then OK
That should remove the Meet New icon from the taskbar. Other accounts logged onto your computer also won’t find it there anymore.
How to Restore Meet Now on Windows 10
If you ever change your perception of the Meet Now button and find it handy, you can always restore it in the taskbar. And the process to do that is the same, regardless of the method you used in removing it.
Simply use the following steps to restore Meet Now Windows 10:
- Open the Start menu and click the gear icon to launch Settings
- Alternatively, press the Windows key + I on your keyboard
- In the Settings window, navigate to and click Personalization
- Next, select Taskbar
5. On the Taskbar settings page, scroll down to locate Notification Area
6. Select Turn Systems Icons On or Off
7. On the next page, locate Meet Now and turn it on with the toggle button
Related: How to find Google Meet outage map
FAQ
How to get Rid of Meet Now Assistance on Startup
Once you’ve removed the Meet Now button with one of the methods in this guide, the change saves permanently. The button won’t reappear in your taskbar when you power off/on or reboot your computer.
Why Has Meet Now Appeared on My PC?
The Meet Now button is Microsoft’s response to the increasing demand for teleconferencing services since more people started working from home due to the outbreak of Covid-19. You’re seeing it because it came with a Windows 10 build you just updated to.
How to Uninstall Meet Now on Windows 10
Meet Now is not an app. It’s merely a shortcut to access the video conferencing features on Skype. You can only disable it directly in the taskbar or the Settings app.
