How to disable Meet Now in Windows 10 [Guide]

Microsoft is known to be adding features via updates to its Windows 10 Operating System. However, at times the updates also bring in bugs and other things that might make a user seem worried about why such a thing is there and why does it even exists in the first place. This has been the same reaction when the October update for Windows 10 dropped in with a strange icon that got added to the taskbar. The icon was nothing but a shortcut to Meet Now. So, if you want to remove or disable Meet know from your PC, then you’re at right place. Here’s How to disable Meet Now in Windows 10.

What is Meet Now?

Well, Meet Now is nothing but a shortcut to Microsoft’s video calling solution Skype. With Meet Now you’ll be able to join and hosts video conferences easily with just a few clicks. Looking at how the pandemic was forcing everyone’s offices to be a work-from-home thing, and Zoom being the preferred video conferencing software by all, Microsoft decided to add the little shortcut in the taskbar so that users would be happier to use Skype over Zoom for their video calls

Now a few people who suddenly noticed the new icon on their taskbar were a bit worried. People were like what is this icon and why is it here? How did this get installed automatically onto my system and is this a virus that’s infecting and trying to spy on me? Of course, this wouldn’t have been people’s reactions if Microsoft decided to let people know that it was a new feature that was added by them alongside the new update.

Since the update is still rolling to systems that haven’t received the update yet, people are still worried about it and what to know how to get rid of it. So, here’s a guide that will help you to remove the icon from the taskbar and even get rid of it permanently. Read on to know-how

How to Hide Meet Now Icon from Taskbar

It’s very simple to hide the icon from the taskbar by simply right-clicking it and selecting Hide. That is all you need to do. Or, you could always right-click on the taskbar and select the taskbar settings. Scroll a bit down till you see the Turn System Icons On or off option. Select it, scroll down till you find Meet Now, and switch the toggle to Off.

how to disable meet now in windows 10

How to Remove Meet Now via Group Policy

This is a method that will only work on Professional Editions of Windows 10. Windows 10 Home Editions will not be able to use this method. If you’ve got a Windows 10 Professional Edition, then follow the steps to remove Meet You via Group Policy.

  • Press the Windows and R key simultaneously
  • Enter gpedit in the search bar and hit Enter.
  • Head over to User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu and Taskbar
  • Now, double-click on the Meet Now icon.
  • Let the feature be set to Enabled to hide the icon itself.
  • Now it will prompt you to restart the PC. Restart it and now you will no longer find the Meet Now icon.

How to Remove Meet Now using Registry Editor

The Windows 10 registry editor is a great tool, only if you know what you are actually doing. Its access in the wrong hands might cause the system to run into unwanted issues. This method can be used to remove meet You from a PC that is being used by an individual or is being shared by different accounts.

For Individual users

  • Press the Windows and R key simultaneously
  • Enter regedit in the search bar and hit Enter.
    how to disable meet now in windows 10
  • Navigate to the below path.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

  • Select Explorer, and right-click it
  • Here select New and then D word (32 bit) Value.
  • Name the new value as Hide SCAMeetNow
    how to disable meet now in windows 10
  • And finally, set its value to 1.

For all users

  • Press the Windows and R key simultaneously
  • Enter regedit in the search bar and hit Enter
  • Navigate to the below path.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

  • Select Explorer, and right-click it
  • Here select New and then D word (32 bit) Value.
  • Name the new value as Hide SCAMeetNow
  • And finally, set its value to 1.

Finally, Restart the PC, you will now have disabled and hidden the Meet Now.

Uninstalling Skype

If you just don’t care about Meet Now and have no intention of actually making use of the Skype app that is installed on your system, you can easily get rid of it.

how to disable meet now in windows 10
  • Open the Settings App
  • Select App from the main screen
  • Select Apps and features and scroll down till you find the Skype app.
  • Select the Skype app and click on the Uninstall button.
  • That’s it. That’s how you have gotten rid of the Meet Now icon and Skype altogether.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped you to understand what Meet Now is, how it has shown up on your system, and also a few easy ways to get rid of it altogether. Well, if you are a regular Skype user then Meet Now is great! It’s quite handy for super quick video conferencing setups.

You May Also Like – Best Windows 10 Games to Play in 2021

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Joshua D'souza

Enjoy games, 90's hip-hop, and tech. Loves exploring the infinite world of laptops and food. Every ready to provide assistance in anything that rocks his boat. Will gladly enjoy capturing memories through various lenses. Worked previously at PiunikaWeb as an author and researcher.

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