# Minor nuisance problem with Outlook

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-nuisance-problem-with-outlook/292625>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 2, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-nuisance-problem-with-outlook/292625 "2005-03-02T18:14:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-nuisance-problem-with-outlook/292625/1 "2005-03-02T18:14:29Z")

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I am using Outlook (SP-3) and have WinXP as my OS.

For no reason (that I can see), the little icon that’s in the form of an envelope that used to appear in the lower right hand corner of the screen to signal the arrival of a new e-mail is now being hidden (under the left-pointing arrowhead thingee that looks like a “less than” sign). In order for me to see if there’s new e-mails, I have to click on the “less than” sign.

Just a nuisance, but it would be nice to restore things to the way they used to be and always have the envelope icon kept in plain site.

Any ideas how to do this?

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-nuisance-problem-with-outlook/292625/2 "2005-03-02T19:24:33Z")

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Right click in the System Tray and select “Properties” and then on the Taskbar tab look at the bottom and uncheck “Hide inactive icons.” Presto!

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-nuisance-problem-with-outlook/292625/3 "2005-03-02T19:54:06Z")

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Thank you!

In fact, it was possible after right-clicking to selectively select the “envelope” icon while still keeping the other stuff hidden. Terrific. Much obliged.