Earlier this year, Microsoft added the Skype Meet Now feature to Windows 10 preview builds, and this same feature is now gradually rolling out to non-Insider (general public) users.
When Meet Now is added to Windows 10, it will display a small button with a video camera icon on the system tray, which will launch Skype's Meet Now web conferencing software when clicked.
This icon allows Microsoft to integrate their Meet Now video conferencing platform directly into Windows 10 to compete with Zoom and other platforms.
As shown in the screenshot above, if you click on the icon, a flyout will appear with two options - 'Create a meeting' or 'Join a meeting.'
Both options will automatically launch the Skype app and start the video conference. If the Skype app is not installed, Windows 10 will launch Skype Web in Chromium-based Microsoft Edge, where you'll need to create or join a Skype meeting.
How to disable Skype Meet now icon in Windows 10
As we mentioned at the outset, Meet Now is enabled by default, but you can right-click on the icon and select 'hide' to disable it.
If you're still unable to hide the Meet Now button from the taskbar, follow these steps:
- Open Settings,
- Click on Personalization.
- Click on Taskbar.
- Click on 'Turn system icons on or off'.
- Scroll and toggle off the 'Meet now' option.
If you want to revert the changes, simply revisit the same Settings page and enable the feature.
Comments
doriel - 3 years ago
Why is Microsoft developping two equal meeting SW at once? Teams and Skype Meet Now?
Once again no intelligence proven to be found in redmond.
CJatWork - 3 years ago
I'm thinking it could be because Teams is part of the 365 package while Skype is available to the rest of us, without an additional purchase. No?
doriel - 3 years ago
Yes. They can just simply buy everything that other developped and earn more money, cant they. That is what I dont understand, why it all has to be under Microsoft. My original post was sarcasm, they are very smart people and they know what to do.
CJatWork - 3 years ago
LOL, you confuse me, doriel. You say your first post was sarcasm and continue with "they are very smart people and they know what to do." Now THAT reads like sarcasm, heh-heh. To me they are not necessarily the smartest bunch and they have proven now and then that they do not always know what to do.
doriel - 3 years ago
Sorry for confusion, I mean they know ho to do bussiness. But they should learn how to do the SW and its updates :D
KyleAyle - 3 years ago
That's nice, but is there a way to completely prevent these ads from appearing in the first place?
doriel - 3 years ago
Ususally there should be check box "Don not display on startup" or setting "Load on startup" which can be disabled. Unfortunatelly these ads on MSFT products are hard coded to the OS, so sometimes is not possible (Edge, Cortana, Startmenu ads.
I cannot see this ad in msconfig.
JagedNS - 3 years ago
The article is missing a step.
After 4. "Click on 'Turn system icons on or off'"
5. Scroll to Notification area.
6. Click on "Click on 'Turn system icons on or off'"
7. Scroll and toggle off the 'Meet now' option.
exit151 - 3 years ago
To point out a critical flaw in this documentation....
Clicking HIDE, or turning off system icons is NOT DISABLING IT - It is merely removing the icon! Is there an actual way to DISABLE meet now from loading and wasting system resources?