The Ghost Icon
Windows 11 is designed to be highly adaptable, scaling across both traditional desktop computers and touchscreen tablets. To support this, Microsoft includes a feature called the “Windows Ink Workspace” or the “Pen menu.” If your laptop features a touchscreen, or if you ever connect a drawing tablet (like a Wacom board) to your PC, Windows will automatically pin a small icon resembling a squiggly line directly to your taskbar’s system tray. This icon serves as a shortcut to launch whiteboard apps. If you exclusively use a mouse and keyboard and have absolutely zero intention of ever drawing on your screen, this icon is completely useless and just wastes space. You must unpin it.
How to Hide the Pen Menu Icon
You can completely remove the stylus shortcut via the Taskbar settings.
- Click the Start Menu and type Settings, or press the Windows Key + I.
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Personalization.
- In the main window, scroll down and click on Taskbar.
- Look for the section labeled “System tray icons.”
- Find the toggle switch labeled Pen menu.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position.
A Cleaner System Tray
The change takes effect instantly. Windows 11 will immediately delete the squiggly line icon from the bottom right corner of your screen, freeing up space next to your clock and Wi-Fi indicator. This does not disable your touchscreen or uninstall the whiteboard applications; it simply removes the persistent, unnecessary shortcut from your taskbar, ensuring a cleaner desktop environment.