How do I Disable Media Controls Overlay in Windows 11 Quick Settings

What to know

• Windows 11 doesn’t have a single choice to disable the media controls overlay globally. You’ll need to disable it from every software’s settings individually.
• For Spotify, go to Profile icon > Settings > toggle off “Show desktop overlay when using media keys’.
• For Chrome, disablechrome://flags/#hardware-media-key-handling
• For Edge, disable edge://flags/#hardware-media-key-handling
• For Mozilla Firefox, open Settings > General > disable “Control media via keyboard, headset, or virtual interface”.
• For an easier, more international resolution, strive the Windhawk software with the “Windows 11 Notification Center Styler” mod.

When taking part in music or movies in Windows 11, the media controls seem in Quick Settings and the Lock display screen. Also known as Media controls OSD (On Screen Display), the location of those controls isn’t supreme for a lot of Windows customers. 

The media controls overlay additionally poses a privacy risk, particularly when it continues to point out media lengthy after it has been closed. Fortunately, this overlay could be refreshed or disabled altogether. Here’s how to go about it

How do I drive refresh media management overlay in Windows 11 fast settings

If the media management overlay continues to point out the media lengthy after it’s been closed, you’ll have to refresh the shell expertise host that controls it. Here’s how:

1. Right-click the taskbar and choose Task Manager.
2. Search for Windows Shell Experience Host.
3. Select it and click on End Task.

This ought to refresh the media management overlay immediately. 

How do I disable media management overlay in Windows 11 Quick Settings

Windows 11 doesn’t have a single choice that permits you to disable media management for all apps. Instead, you must disable the media overlay for the completely different apps manually. Depending on the media app, chances are you’ll or could not get this setting. But for ceaselessly used apps for media playback, you’ll be able to disable media controls with out a lot fuss. Here’s how to take action:

1. For Spotify

1. Click in your profile icon and choose Settings.
   
2. Scroll all the way down to the ‘Display’ part.
3. Toggle off Show desktop overlay when using media keys.
   
4. From now on, you received’t see the media management overlay whenever you play songs on Spotify.
   

2. For Google Chrome

To stop the media performed on a browser from exhibiting up within the media overlays, you’ll have to disable the “Hardware media key handling” flag. Here’s how to take action on Chrome:

1. In a brand new Chrome tab, enter the next: chrome://flags/#hardware-media-key-handling
   
2. Select Disabled from the drop-down menu.
   
3. Click on Relaunch.
   
4. And similar to that, you received’t get media overlays in fast settings when watching or listening to media on Google Chrome. 
   

3. For Microsoft Edge

Similarly for Microsoft Edge, disable the media overlay using the next:

1. In a brand new tab, enter the next: edge://flags/#hardware-media-key-handling
   
2. Select Disabled from the drop-down menu.
   
3. Click Restart.
   
4. You received’t get any overlays for media being performed on Edge anymore. 
   

4. For Mozilla Firefox

Unlike different browsers, Firefox has a easy setting that permits you to disable the media overlay. 

1. Click on the hamburger icon within the high proper nook, additionally known as Open software menu. 
   
2. Select Settings.
   
3. Select General on the left.
4. Scroll all the way down to the ‘Browsing’ part and disable Control media by way of keyboard, headset, or digital interface.
   
5. And that’s about it. No more media management overlays within the fast settings.
   

5. Using Windhawk

It would have been a lot easier if there was a setting that allow you to allow or disable the media overlay globally for all apps. But in lieu of an official setting, there are different third-party apps which you can check out.

One of those is Windhawk, an open-source customization market for Windows. Here’s how to make use of it to disable the media management overlay in Quick settings:

1. Download Windhawk using the hyperlink above.
   
2. Run the downloaded windhawk_setup.exe file.
   
3. Install and run Windhawk.
   
4. Click on Browse for Mods.
   
5. Look for Windows 11 Notification Center Styler. Click on its ‘Details’.
   
6. Click Install.
   
7. Select Accept Risk and Install.
   
8. Once put in, go to its Settings.
   
9. In the “Target” subject, enter: Grid#MediaTransportControlsArea
   
10. In the “Styles” subject, enter: Visibility=1
    
11. Click Save settings.
    

This ought to disable the media controls overlay altogether. 

In some circumstances, Windhawk could not work as anticipated, particularly in case you’re on any of the Windows Insider builds. Some customers have additionally famous that current Windows updates have tended to interrupt Windhawk mods. But the bulk agree that the mod works fantastic. So, do give this a shot and test it out for your self because it provides a single international resolution to all apps. 

We hope this information helped you take away the media controls overlay in Quick settings and safe your privacy on Windows 11. Until next time! Stay protected.