The Cluttered Taskbar
Windows 10 introduced the “People” button (a small icon depicting two stylized human figures) on the right side of the taskbar, near the system tray. This feature was designed to let you pin your favorite contacts directly to the taskbar for quick access to Skype, Mail, and other Microsoft communication apps. It allows you to drag and drop files onto a contact’s icon to quickly share them.
However, many users do not use the built-in Windows communication apps, relying instead on third-party tools like Discord, Slack, or web-based email. For these users, the People button is simply wasted space that clutters an already crowded taskbar. Fortunately, Microsoft provides a very simple way to hide this button and reclaim your taskbar space.
How to Hide the People Button
You can remove the icon directly from the taskbar context menu.
- Look at your Taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen where your open apps reside).
- Locate an empty space on the taskbar (an area without any app icons).
- Right-click on that empty space.
- A context menu will appear.
- Look for the option labelled Show People on the taskbar. It will likely have a checkmark next to it.
- Click on “Show People on the taskbar” to uncheck it.
The two-person icon will instantly disappear from the right side of your taskbar. (If you ever want it back, you can simply right-click the taskbar again and re-check the option). If you want to disable it entirely via settings, you can also go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and toggle off the “Show contacts on the taskbar” switch.