The Unnecessary Pen Tools
Windows 10 includes a suite of features designed specifically for users with touchscreen devices and digital styluses, collectively known as the “Windows Ink Workspace.” To make these tools easily accessible, Microsoft places a pen-shaped icon directly in your system tray (the bottom-right corner of the taskbar next to the clock). Clicking this icon opens a menu offering quick access to tools like Sticky Notes, Sketchpad, and Screen Sketch.
If you are using a standard desktop computer without a touch display, or a traditional laptop where you only use a mouse and keyboard, this workspace is entirely useless. The pen icon simply takes up valuable space in your system tray and adds unnecessary clutter. If you never plan to draw on your screen, you can safely hide this icon and disable the quick access menu.
How to Hide the Windows Ink Workspace Button
You can remove the icon directly from the taskbar context menu.
- Locate an empty space on your Windows 10 Taskbar (the bar at the bottom of the screen).
- Right-click on that empty space.
- A context menu will appear. Look down the list of options.
- Find the option labelled “Show Windows Ink Workspace button”. If the button is currently visible on your taskbar, this option will have a checkmark next to it.
- Click on “Show Windows Ink Workspace button” to uncheck it.
The pen icon will instantly vanish from your system tray. This does not uninstall the underlying applications (like Sticky Notes); it simply removes the dedicated touch-centric menu, freeing up space and cleaning up your desktop environment.