How to Hide Input Method Widget on Taskbar in Windows

Hide Input Method Widget in Windows Taskbar: A Guide for US English Keyboard Users

If you've recently switched your Windows display language between US and UK English, you might have noticed that the Input Method Widget (IMW) constantly appears on your taskbar. This article will guide you through the steps to hide the IMW when using a US English keyboard.

Understanding the Input Method Widget

The IMW is a feature in Windows that allows users to switch input methods, such as changing from a US English keyboard layout to a UK English layout. However, when you consistently use a single keyboard layout, the IMW can be unnecessary and take up space on your taskbar.

Checking your Keyboard Configuration

Before proceeding, let's ensure that your keyboard configuration is set to US English:

# Check the current keyboard layout
Get-WinUserLanguageList

You should see the English (United States) language listed with a layout tag of "0409:00000409." If the layout tag shows any other value, you may need to change your keyboard configuration.

Hiding the Input Method Widget

To hide the Input Method Widget in Windows, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key and search for "Region & Language." Click on the app to open it.
2. In the "Languages" section, click on "English (United States)" and then click on "Options."
3. Click on "Additional date, time, & regional settings."
4. Click on "Language preferences."
5. Click on "Advanced settings."
6. Under "Switching input methods," click the "Use the desktop language bar when it's available" dropdown menu.
7. Select "Docked in the taskbar" if it's not already selected.
8. Toggle the "Let me manually change my input method" setting to "Off" by clicking the checkbox.

# Execute these commands to change the necessary settings
$languageList = Get-WinUserLanguageList
$usEnglishIndex = $languageList.GetIndexForLanguageListEntry("English (United States)")
$languageList[$usEnglishIndex].InputMethodTips = $null
Set-WinUserLanguageList -LanguageList $languageList -Force

After completing these steps, the Input Method Widget should be hidden on your taskbar.

References

• Microsoft, Unsupported Windows environments.
• Microsoft, Switch the input language or keyboard layout in Windows.
• MS Power User, Win10 Tip: How to change your input method, language, or keyboard layout.

With these instructions, you should now have a cleaner taskbar on your Windows system by hiding the Input Method Widget while using a US English keyboard.