So many of the notebook computers come with Realtek HD Audio chip built inside that offers you very high quality sound playback and processing. And if you have assembled your own desktop PC, even then chances are high that the motherboard has a Realtek HD Audio chip on it providing all the audio features in the computer.
Realtek HD Audio hardware works only if you install the supporting device driver software in the operating software. As you may already know that Realtek HD Audio software install a red colored speaker icon in the system tray of the Windows desktop. Using this icon you can access settings of the Realtek HD Audio device. But having this speaker icon in addition to the one offered by Windows is simply unnecessary.
Here is how you can disable or remove the Realtek HD Audio icon from the system tray:
- Right-click on the Realtek HD Audio icon in the system tray.
- From the right-click menu that appears, select Sound Manager.
- Click on the small “i” icon in the Realtek HD Audio Manager window.
- Uncheck the option labeled Display icon in notification area.
- Click on the OK button and close the Realtek HD Audio Manager window.
This will make the red speaker icon from the notification area disappear instantly. You do not really need it in the system tray. You can change the volume of the system or individual apps using the Windows speaker icon that is displayed in the notification area.
However, if you want to bring back this Realtek HD Audio icon in the system tray, then it is very easy. For this, you have to launch C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\RAVCpl64.exe and it will display the familiar Reaktek HD Audio Manager window. From here you can follow the same steps as previously mentioned to enable the option to display the icon in the notification area of Windows desktop.
Thank you so much!