How to FIX Windows 10 Taskbar Not Hiding

On Windows 10, the taskbar may be used to open apps that have been pinned to it, navigate between open apps and files, open the Start Menu, and interact with the system tray. How to FIX Windows 10 Taskbar Not Hiding?

The Taskbar is useful, but you can hide it until you need it. If you need to concentrate on something, you can make an app full screen, which will hide the taskbar by default.

Windows 10 Taskbar Not Hiding

When the taskbar isn’t in use, i.e. when you’re actively working in an app, it can be set to automatically hide. to hide it;

Right-click the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
Turn the ‘Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode’ switch on.
Turn the ‘Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode’ switch on if you use a tablet or 2-in-1 laptop.

Windows 10 Taskbar Not Hiding – How to Hide Taskbar

If none of the above works, or if the Windows 10 Taskbar Not Hiding when you switch an app to full-screen mode, try the following workarounds.

1. Restart Explorer.exe

In terms of the user interface, Taskbar appears to be a stand-alone component, however it is functionally linked to File Explorer, or more specifically, the explorer.exe process. The problem can be solved by restarting explorer.exe, which will restart Taskbar.

Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager from the context menu.
Go to the Processes tab.
Look for Windows Explorer and select it.
Click the Restart button at the bottom right.

2. Disable UI modifying apps

Users can customize the UI in Windows 10 with themes, icons, skins, and overlays. Users will typically install one or more UI altering apps (Rainmeter, UXThemePatcher) to complete the task and then layer on themes. They may occasionally cause issues with Windows 10.

Disable all apps that modify the UI.
Switch to full-screen mode in an app or wait for the taskbar to auto-hide.
If the Taskbar hides, take a look at the apps that you’re using to modify the UI and remove the ones that interfere with the Taskbar.

3. Restart app

It’s possible that the taskbar isn’t the source of the problem. The app you’re attempting to use in full-screen mode is having difficulties switching to it.

Close/exit the app e.g., Netflix.
Open the app again.
Switch to full-screen mode.
The taskbar should hide.

4. Media apps: click inside the media player

Media players may have trouble entering full-screen mode and hiding the taskbar.

Open the media player and play something.
Tap the F11 key to switch to full-screen mode.
Click inside the media player once.
Hit the Taskbar.
Click inside the media player once again.
Toggle full-screen with the F11 key.
The taskbar will be hidden in full-screen.

5. Remove third-party toolbars

Third-party toolbars can be added to the taskbar. These are apps that can be shown above the taskbar (For example: Xmeters). A well-designed taskbar toolbar will not cause problems, while one that is badly written may prevent the taskbar from hiding.

Right-click the taskbar and go to Toolbars.
Disable third-party toolbars.
Restart explorer.exe (see solution 1 above).
The taskbar will hide in full-screen mode or when it’s idle.

6. Check pending alerts

Unsaved work, for example, will flash on the taskbar if an app needs to send an alert. If you’re in full-screen mode, this activity usually stays in the background/hidden, although this isn’t always the case.

Check for notifications in each app you have open. Check the tabs if you have a browser open. Not only are certain websites persistent with notifications, but they’re also obtrusive.

Conclusion

The taskbar usually has issues with media players or apps that can play media, such as Chrome. The problem can be solved by simply turning on and off full-screen mode. In the case of obscure apps, it’s possible that the app is to blame. If the issue is isolated to a single app, check its settings to see if the full-screen view may be customized.