The Windows taskbar helps you access your pinned taskbar apps and all your active programs. However, it can get really crowded if you’re running multiple apps simultaneously.

So, how do you avoid taskbar clutter without closing your software programs? Easy—just grab an app that can store them for you and get your taskbar back once again. Now, let’s dive in and discover the best apps to help you clean up taskbar clutter.

What Are Taskbar Cleaning Apps?

Taskbar cleaning apps remove windows from the taskbar without closing it outright, so you don't lose unsaved work or progress. Some taskbar cleaning apps have an interface through which you can select and manage open windows, and some rely on hotkeys to do the job.

Once you hide a window from view, taskbar cleaning apps typically store them in one of two ways. Some programs move the icon to the system tray to free up your taskbar, while others remove the icon altogether and "store" it within the app for when you need it again.

1. Hide Window Hotkey

Hide Window Hotkey Interface

Hide Window Hotkey allows you to hide programs by either using hotkeys or pressing a few buttons.

By default, you can hide any program by clicking on it and pressing the F8 hotkey. To restore the program, press Shift + F8. However, you can configure these hotkeys to your liking in Options > Hotkey.

To manually hide programs, open Hide Window Hotkey, check the box next to the target app and click the Hide button. To restore a program, check the box next to it and click the Show button.

To hide or restore multiple windows simultaneously, press Ctrl + A and click the Show or Hide button. To uncheck all windows, press Ctrl + N. And if one of your active windows doesn’t appear on the Hide Window Hotkey program, click the Refresh button.

Download: Hide Window Hotkey for Windows (Free)

2. MinimizeToTray

MinimizeToTray Interface

MinimizeToTray is a simple tool that makes managing taskbar icons a breeze. The application requires no installation—you only need to run its executable file. Also, MinimizeToTray is portable, which means you can send it to an external storage device and run it on other Windows devices.

This program allows you to minimize and restore any window to the system tray using a hotkey or a few mouse clicks. After launching MinimizeToTray, it’ll run in the background, and you can view it in the system tray. Once the program is running, minimize any active window by clicking on it and pressing Alt + F1. To restore a program, press Alt + F2.

To restore all your programs simultaneously, press F10. And if you want to change these hotkeys, right-click the MinimizeToTray icon, click Configs, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Download: MinimizeToTray for Windows (Free)

3. RBTray

RBTray Interface

RBTray is another easy-to-use app that runs in the background. To get started with this tool, download it and then run the executable file. Depending on your system specs, you should either download the 32 or 64-bit version of RBTray. If you're unsure which of these your PC uses, try checking your PC specs before downloading this program.

Related: What's the Difference Between 32-Bit and 64-Bit Windows?

Once you’ve downloaded RBTray, run it and then minimize any program by pressing Windows key + Alt + Down arrow. Alternatively, you can minimize any program to the system tray by right-clicking on the program’s Minimize button. Finally, to restore a window, right-click on it in the system tray and select Restore Window.

If you want to close RBTray, do it via the Task Manager. To get started with this, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Next, locate RBTray under Background processes, right-click on it, and select End task.

Download: RBTray for Windows (Free)

4. Min2Tray

Min2Tray Interface

Min2Tray runs in the background and helps you minimize windows by using hotkeys. However, you’ll have to configure some settings before you can start using this app.

To get started, download and run Min2Tray, right-click its icon in the system tray, and select Preferences. In the next window, configure your hotkeys on the left-hand side pane. From there, you can minimize and restore windows by using your hotkeys.

To manually restore a program, go to the system tray, right-click the target program, and select Show window. And to restore all your windows simultaneously, right-click Min2Tray in the system tray and select Restore all windows.

To exit Min2Tray, right-click on it in the system tray and select Quit only. Otherwise, select Restore all & quit if you want to restore all your windows and close Min2Tray simultaneously.

Download: Min2Tray for Windows (Free)

5. Actual Window Minimizer

Actual Window Minimizer Interface

Actual Window Minimizer is a sophisticated tool that offers a wide variety of features. To get started with using this app, download and run it. From there, right-click the Actual Window Minimize icon in the system tray and click Configure.

When the program opens, navigate to Window Settings > Default Settings and then click the Minimizing tab. If you’d like to minimize programs after a predetermined period, configure the settings under the Minimize Window Automatically option. You can also configure more settings under the Minimize Window Manually option. Alternatively, you can configure settings by clicking the Hotkeys option on the left-hand side pane.

To make things easier, Actual Window Minimizer adds an extra Minimize button to all your active programs. This allows you to minimize any program to the system tray by left-clicking on the program’s additional Minimize button.

Download: Actual Window Minimizer for Windows (Free 14-day trial, premium version available)

6. TrayIt!

Tray It Interface

TrayIt! is another lightweight application with a clean and straightforward interface. After launching the program, it’ll display all your active programs. Then, to minimize any window to the system tray, right-click on the program and select Hide Window. You can then restore the window by right-clicking on it and selecting Restore Window.

If there’s an active program that doesn’t appear on the list, click the Refresh button on the top-left corner of the screen. To configure your settings and hotkeys, press the Modify Applications Options button (next to the Refresh button).

Download: TrayIt! for Windows (Free)

7. TrayEverything

TrayEverything Interface

TrayEverything displays all your active programs in its interface. Also, this program shows you whether your programs are hidden or not. To get started with this tool, download and install it. From there, open TrayEverything, right-click on your target program and then select Minimize to tray. To restore a window, right-click on it and select Restore.

This program also allows you to use hotkeys, but you’ll first have to configure them by navigating to Options > Hotkeys. You can also minimize inactive windows after a certain predetermined period by navigating to Options > Tray 2.

Also, you can minimize TrayEverything to the system tray and let it run in the background. To do this, click the Minimize button on the program.

Download: TrayEverything for Windows (Free)

Tackle Taskbar Clutter With the Best Software Program

Taskbar clutter can make it quite difficult for you to switch between all your active programs. However, taskbar clutter shouldn’t be an issue for you anymore. Simply use any of the apps we’ve recommended, and you’ll be able to minimize any active program to the system tray.