Windows Language Bar

One of the most annoying features in Windows XP is the Language bar. You usually see it after you do a fresh install on a computer. It’s annoying because most users don’t use it or need it but it uses up space in the task bar. Also, it was easy to temporarily disable it but most users don’t know how to permanently remove or disable it. Before I show you how to permanently get rid of the Language bar, here’s a little information on what it is and what it’s for.

What is the Language bar?

The Language bar appears on your desktop automatically when you add handwriting recognition, speech recognition, or an Input Method Editor (IME) as a method of entering text. In addition, if you add a second language or keyboard layout, you can display the Language bar from the taskbar.

Now that you know what it’s for, we can proceed with the methods of removing it.

Using the Classic view in Control Panel:

• Click Start, then click on Control Panel, and then double-click Regional and Language Options.
• On the Languages tab, under Text services and input languages, click Details.
• Under Preferences, click on Language Bar.
• Deselect the Show the Language bar on the desktop check box.

Using the Category View:

• Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Date, Time, Language and Regional Options.
• Click on Regional and Language Options.
• On the Languages tab, under Text services and input languages, click Details.
• Under Preferences, click Language Bar.
• Deselect Show the Language bar on the desktop check box.

That’s it. That should permanently disable the annoying Language bar. However, if you might need it in the near future, just follow the same steps and this time make sure the Show the Language bar on the desktop option is checked to enable the language bar.