尽管通知区域(notification area)自Windows 95以来就已经存在，但在(Windows 95)Windows 7推出之前，它并不是非常可定制和有用的。尽管许多人知道它是什么以及它做了什么（或至少在理论上），但很少有人知道它已经变得多么可定制。在Windows 7和Windows 8中，您可以更改其功能的各个方面，使其外观和行为符合您的要求。这是如何做：
什么是Windows中的(Windows)通知区域(Notification Area)？
默认情况下，通知区域(notification area)位于任务栏的右端；它也被称为系统托盘(system tray)。其目的是提供：
Easy access to applications that display their icon in the notification area.
通知区域(notification area)图标（系统或应用程序相关）可以显示或隐藏。只要至少有一个隐藏图标(hidden icon)，通知区域(notification area)就会显示一个箭头，单击该箭头时，用户可以显示隐藏图标(hidden icon)s。
通知区域(notification area)的右侧还包括一个显示桌面按钮。(Show Desktop)在Windows 7中，此按钮比在Windows 8中更明显。
但是，Windows 8 也包含它。单击或点击(Click or tap)同一区域，将显示桌面(Desktop)。
如何访问通知区域(Notification Area)的设置窗口(Settings Window)
与Windows(Windows)中的任何其他内容一样，可以详细自定义通知区域。(notification area)为了改变它的工作方式，您需要访问通知区域图标(Notification Area Icons)窗口。在那里您可以设置所有通知区域图标的显示行为，打开或关闭(display behavior)系统(turn system)图标（例如时间/日期，音量），恢复默认行为(default behavior)并设置通知图标始终显示。
访问此窗口的最简单方法是单击或点击通知区域(notification area)左侧显示的箭头，然后单击自定义(Customize)链接。
另一种方法是使用搜索。在Windows 7中，单击开始(Start)按钮并在开始菜单(Start Menu)搜索框中搜索单词通知。(notification)然后，单击“通知区域图标”("Notification Area Icons")。
在 Windows 8 中，转到“开始(Start)”屏幕并键入notification。按设置(Settings)过滤结果，然后单击或点击“通知区域图标”("Notification Area Icons")。
通知区域图标(Notification Area Icons)窗口现已打开。
让我们学习如何配置通知区域(notification area)。
如何控制通知区域图标(Notification Area Icons)的显示行为(Display Behavior)
通知区域图标(Notification Area Icons)窗口显示可用于显示和自定义(display and customization)的系统和应用程序图标(system and application icons)列表，以及它们的相关行为。您只会看到那些将图标添加到通知区域(notification area)的应用程序图标。那些不添加此类图标的不会添加到列表中。只有在您第一次使用应用程序后，该应用程序才会在此窗口中列出其图标。
对于列表中的每个图标，都有三种可用的显示行为：
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“显示图标和通知”("Show icon and notifications") - 图标及其相关通知始终显示在通知区域中。
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“隐藏图标和通知”("Hide icon and notifications") - 图标及其相关通知始终处于隐藏状态。您只能通过单击展开通知区域的箭头来访问它们。
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“仅显示通知”("Only show notifications") - 通知图标被隐藏，但其相关通知在应用程序触发时显示。
进行所需的更改后，单击或点击确定(OK)。
如何打开或关闭系统图标
系统(System)图标，如音量、网络状态(network status)、操作中心(action center)或电池状态(battery status)的图标，可以完全隐藏。即使您通过单击或点击相应的箭头来展开通知区域图标列表，它们也不会显示。
要切换系统图标的可见性，请单击或点击(click or tap) 通知区域图标(Notification Area Icons)窗口中的“打开或关闭系统图标” 。("Turn system icons on or off")
系统图标(System Icons)窗口打开，显示所有可以自定义的系统图标。
对于列表中的每个图标，都有两个可用选项：On和Off。根据需要更改每个系统图标(system icon)的行为。
完成后，单击或点击OK。
如何恢复通知区域(Notification Area)的默认行为(Default Behavior)
有时很容易弄乱通知区域(notification area)中图标的显示方式。您可以撤消所有更改并返回默认行为(default behavior)：系统图标启用“显示图标和通知” ，应用程序图标启用("Show icon and notifications")“仅显示通知”("Only show notifications")。
要恢复默认行为，请单击或点击通知区域图标(Notification Area Icons)窗口中的“恢复默认图标行为”("Restore default icon behaviors")链接。
然后，单击或点击OK。
如何将通知图标(Notification Icons)设置为始终显示(Always Displayed)
您可以选择始终显示所有通知区域(notification area)图标和通知。在“通知区域图标(Notification Area Icons)”窗口中，选中“始终显示所有图标和通知”("Always show all icons and notifications")框。
然后，单击或点击OK。
在上面的屏幕截图中，您可以看到启用此设置后的最终结果。(end result)
如何更改通知区域(Notification Area)中图标(Icon)的位置(Position)
要更改通知区域(notification area)中各个图标的位置，请将要移动的图标拖放到所需位置。
让我们看一下这个例子：最初我隐藏了所有的应用程序图标。我最大化了通知区域列表(notification area list)。
我拿了SkyDrive图标并将其拖到通知区域(notification area)，使其可见。
SkyDrive图标现在显示在通知区域(notification area)中。
图标可以从任何位置拖放到任何位置。
不要犹豫，尝试自定义通知区域(notification area)，使其成为您想要的样子。
结论
我希望您发现本指南有用。如果您正在寻找其他很棒的提示，请不要犹豫，阅读下面的建议。与往常一样，如果您有任何问题，请随时发表评论。
How to Customize the Notification Area in Windows 7 & Windows 8
Although the notification area has been around since Windows 95, it wasn't very customizable and usеful until Windows 7 was launched. Εven though many know what it is and what it does (or at least in theory), few know how custоmizablе it has become. Іn Wіndows 7 and Windows 8 you can changе every aspect of its functioning and make it look and behave the way you want to. Here'ѕ how:
What is the Notification Area in Windows?
By default, the notification area is located at the right end of the taskbar; it is also referred to as the system tray. Its purpose is to provide:
Easy access to applications that display their icon in the notification area.
The notification area icons (system or application-related) can either be shown, or hidden. Whenever there is at least a single hidden icon, the notification area displays an arrow that, when clicked, allows the user to reveal the hidden icons.
The notification area also includes a Show Desktop button, on its right side. In Windows 7, this button is a lot more visible than in Windows 8.
However, Windows 8 includes it as well. Click or tap in the same area and the Desktop is shown.
How to Access the Settings Window for the Notification Area
As anything else in Windows, the notification area can be customized in detail. In order to change the way it works, you need to access the Notification Area Icons window. There you can set the display behavior of all notification area icons, turn system icons on or off (e.g. time/date, volume), restore the default behavior and set the notification icons to be always displayed.
The simplest way to access this window is to click or tap the arrow displayed on the left side of the notification area and then the Customize link.
An alternative is to use search. In Windows 7, click the Start button and search for the word notification in the Start Menu search box. Then, click "Notification Area Icons".
In Windows 8, go to the Start screen and type notification. Filter the results by Settings and then click or tap "Notification Area Icons".
The Notification Area Icons window is now open.
Let's learn how to configure the notification area.
How to Control the Display Behavior of the Notification Area Icons
The Notification Area Icons window displays the list of system and application icons that are available for display and customization, along with their associated behavior. You will see application icons only for those applications that add icons to the notification area. Those which do not add such icons are not added to the list. An application will have its icon listed in this window only after you have used it for the first time.
For each icon in the list there are three available display behaviors:
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"Show icon and notifications" - the icon and its related notifications are always displayed in the notification area.
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"Hide icon and notifications" - the icon and its related notifications are always hidden. You can access them only by clicking the arrow that expands the notification area.
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"Only show notifications" - the notification icon is hidden, but its related notifications are displayed whenever they are triggered by the application.
After making the changes you desire, click or tap OK.
How to Turn System Icons On or Off
System icons, like those for the volume, network status, action center or the battery status, can be completely hidden. They will not be displayed even if you expand notification area icons list, by clicking or tapping the appropriate arrow.
To toggle the visibility of the system icons, click or tap "Turn system icons on or off" in the Notification Area Icons window.
The System Icons window opens, displaying all the system icons that can be customized.
For each icon in the list there are two available options: On and Off. Change the behavior for each system icon, as you want.
When done, click or tap OK.
How to Restore the Default Behavior for the Notification Area
Sometimes it's easy to mess up the way icons are displayed in the notification area. You can undo all your changes and return to the default behavior: "Show icon and notifications" is enabled for system icons and "Only show notifications" is enabled for application icons.
To restore the default behaviors, click or tap the "Restore default icon behaviors" link in the Notification Area Icons window.
Then, click or tap OK.
How to Set Notification Icons to be Always Displayed
You can choose to display at all times, all the notification area icons and notifications. In the Notification Area Icons window, check the box that says: "Always show all icons and notifications".
Then, click or tap OK.
In the screenshot above, you can see how the end result will look when this setting is enabled.
How to Change the Position of an Icon in the Notification Area
To change the position of individual icons in the notification area, drag-and-drop the icon you want to move to the desired place.
Let's take a look at this example: initially I had all my application icons hidden. I maximized the notification area list.
I took the SkyDrive icon and I dragged it to the notification area, so that it becomes visible.
The SkyDrive icon is now displayed in the notification area.
Icons can be dragged and dropped from and to any position.
Don't hesitate to experiment so that you customize the notification area so that it is the way you want it to be.
Conclusion
I hope you found this guide useful. If you are looking for other great tips, don't hesitate to read our recommendations below. As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment.
