How to Disable the Windows 11 ‘Taskbar Flashing’ (Stop Apps from Flashing Orange)

In Windows 11, when a background application requires your attention—such as a chat program receiving a new message or a file transfer completing—its icon on the taskbar will begin flashing orange. While this is an effective way to grab your attention, it can be incredibly distracting if you are trying to focus on writing a document or presenting your screen in a meeting.

If you prefer a quieter computing experience where applications only notify you through the Action Center rather than aggressively blinking at the bottom of your screen, you can use the Windows Registry Editor to completely disable this taskbar flashing animation.

How to Stop Taskbar Icons from Flashing

Because there is no graphical toggle for this in the Settings app, you must adjust a specific registry value.

1. Click the Start button, type regedit, and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor. (Confirm the User Account Control prompt).
2. Using the left-hand folder tree, navigate exactly to this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
3. Click on the Desktop folder so it is highlighted.
4. In the right-hand pane, scroll down the alphabetical list until you find the value named ForegroundFlashCount.
5. Double-click on ForegroundFlashCount.
6. Change the “Value data” from its default number (usually 3 or 7) to 0. Click OK.
7. Next, find the value in the same list named ForegroundLockTimeout.
8. Double-click on ForegroundLockTimeout.
9. Change its “Value data” to 0. Click OK.

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Moving forward, background applications that demand your attention will no longer flash orange on the taskbar. They will remain silent, waiting for you to click on them when you are ready.