Windows 11 - Microphone icon in system tray

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Martin

As a use case, that "microphone in use" is preventing the taskbar from auto-hiding.

This means that when I'm using webex to share the screen (which is the app using the microphone, causing the issue in the first place) the task bar is there even if I don't want it to show.

So, it's an issue for me.

If it has to be there (for some reason I'm not getting into), then it shouldn't prevent the autohide of the taskbar.

It's teams! at least it was for me. open task manager and end task for Teams, icon goes away.

Yes, in the EU we take privacy very seriously. We have multiple privacy related laws and they actually work.
And I'm doubting if the US ones do work if you need big brother to tell you if something is being used.
Again I am not saying that those sickos who decide to spy upon others by silently taking over cameras and microphones should not be punished. But it is the way it is implemented: Forced upon you, Big brother style.

Of the EU laws privacy of the person is one of the most serious.
But another one is that a person should be in control of the tools he/she is using. Software should not be forced upon that person.

And there lies the crux: I'm forced to have a stupid icon on my screen of my work-laptop that I do not need to see on that laptop which only I use. So no big-brother protection of Microsoft is needed.

In case you did not notice from my replies: I am European and I want that icon gone.
I'm still wondering if having that icon where I don't want it is not breaking those stringent privacy laws you are talking about. Microsoft (and some other big brother acting companies) have been fined before by the EU since they were limiting the freedom of their users.
And those strict EU laws for privacy are actually more bothering for big US companies, who want to be in control of their users, than for us EU citizens, who want to be in control themselves.

Yeah, totally praticle. Being able to disable it wouldn't be the most pratical solution. MS had this option and now they remove it.