Understanding Notifications in the Windows 10 Action Center

by Barry Dysert
(last updated June 28, 2017)

1

The Windows 10 Action Center basically replaces (or enhances) the previous Notification Area, which previously replaced the System Tray. (Microsoft sure likes to change things!) The Action Center notifies you of various events that you can address or dismiss at your discretion. To invoke the Action Center window, click the "call out" icon to the right of the clock in the taskbar. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The empty 'call out' icon.

This launches the Action Center window, which is a pane that appears along the right side of your display. (Besides clicking the "call out" icon, you can also launch Action Center by pressing the Win+A shortcut key.) If you have notifications, the "call out" icon will appear to have text in it. If the "call out" icon is empty, there's little point in launching the Action Center since it would be empty. Here is what the icon looks like when I have a notification. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2. The 'call out' icon indicating a notification.

Now that I see I have a notification I can click the icon to reveal the Action Center window. (See Figure 3.)

Figure 3. The Action Center window with a notification.

If you want to clear the notification, click the Clear all text in the upper-right corner and your notification goes away. If you want to see the details of your notification, click its down-arrow on the right. If you want the Action Center window to disappear just click anywhere on your desktop outside the window.

Certain applications can write notifications to the Action Center. To configure this, go to Start | Settings, click System, then on the left click Notifications & Actions. You can now indicate what applications are able to write notifications to the Action Center. You can also do some rudimentary configuration to the Action Center as well.

 This tip (6867) applies to Windows 10.

Author Bio

Barry Dysert

Barry has been a computer professional for over 35 years, working in different positions such as technical team leader, project manager, and software developer. He is currently a software engineer with an emphasis on developing custom applications under Microsoft Windows. When not working with Windows or writing Tips, Barry is an amateur writer. His first non-fiction book is titled "A Chronological Commentary of Revelation." ...

MORE FROM BARRY

Determining if You Have 32-bit or 64-bit Windows

There are occasions when you may want to know whether you're running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows. This tip ...

Discover More

Using Batch Files, Part 3: The IF Command

This tip is part of a series that talks about Windows batch files. It introduces a few more commands you can use in your ...

Discover More

Using Powercfg to Query an Existing Power Scheme

This tip shows you how to use the command-line Powercfg utility to query a given power scheme from your current environment.

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Deferring Windows Updates

Are you bothered by when Windows decides to do its updates? If you want some control over when Windows downloads and ...

Discover More

Understanding Processes in the Task Manager

Your computer is typically running scores of processes behind the scenes of the relatively few windows you may have open. ...

Discover More

Creating a New Desktop

One of the big new features of Windows 10 is the ability to create new virtual desktops. This tip tells you about them.

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five minus 4?

2017-06-19 09:47:58

Caitriona Ryan

Hi there,

Thanks for this it is very handy tips. I am having a problem though- in that when I fill in data to the cell- the colour stays the same?

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2018 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.