How to hide taskbar on windows 10: How to Hide the Taskbar in Windows 10

How to Hide Taskbar in Windows 10

Windows OS

2 months ago

by Rafia Zafar

On the Windows screen the stripe is pinned on the bottom known as Taskbar. However, you can change its position to any side on the desktop. It displays the pinned or currently running applications. We can quickly access our favorite or frequently used application directly from the taskbar. While some users are comfortable on full screen view of the screen and taskbar may irritate them. Therefore, you need to hide Taskbar. In this post, we have demonstrated various methods to hide the taskbar in Windows 10.

The following learning outcomes are expected:

From Graphical User Interface (GUI)
From Command Line Interface (CLI)

So, let’s start!

How to Hide Taskbar Using Graphical User Interface in Windows 10?

The majority of Windows users prefer the GUI as it is more user-friendly. It offers us menu and icons to interact with the operating system and perform the desired operation. Observe the provided instructions to hide the taskbar in Windows from the GUI:

Step 1: Open Taskbar Settings

Firstly, right-click anywhere on Taskbar, and open taskbar settings:

Step 2: Hide Taskbar Automatically

Here, we can access “Taskbar” settings from the “Personalization” settings panel also. Find the option “Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode” that is highlighted below (on the right side of the pane):

After that, turn on the toggle button highlighted in the above image:

As of right now, the taskbar is successfully hidden from the desktop. When we move the mouse pointer over a taskbar location, the taskbar will immediately appear:

How to Hide Taskbar Using Command Line Interface in Windows 10?

Although the GUI is the most common way to use Windows, some users still prefer to utilize the command line to perform administrative tasks Command Prompt is a Windows application used to run commands for administrative tasks. It provides us with a Windows command line User Interface/shell. To hide the taskbar from Windows Command Prompt, follow provided steps.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

First type “CMD” in the “Startup” menu and launch Command Prompt with administrator privileges:

Step 2: Hide Taskbar

To hide the taskbar, run the supplied command below. Because we are using PowerShell command to hide the taskbar on the Command Prompt, we must use the “powershell -command” keyword:

powershell -command «&{$p=’HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3′;$v=(Get-ItemProperty -Path $p).Settings;$v[8]=3;&Set-ItemProperty -Path $p -Name Settings -Value $v;&Stop-Process -f -ProcessName explorer}»

It is observed that the taskbar is hidden successfully:

Moreover, if you want to get the taskbar back again, use the below-stated command in CMD:

powershell -command «&{$p=’HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3′;$v=(Get-ItemProperty -Path $p). Settings;$v[8]=2;&Set-ItemProperty -Path $p -Name Settings -Value $v;&Stop-Process -f -ProcessName explorer}»

We have compiled the GUI and command line method to hide Taskbar on Windows.

Conclusion

To hide Windows Taskbar, you can either use the command line (CLI) or Graphical user interface (GUI). In the GUI, go to the “Taskbar Settings” option and hide the task bar. Apart from GUI method, the PowerShell command can be utilized in the CMD to hide the taskbar on windows 10. In this blog, we have illustrated several methods including CLI and GUI to hide the taskbar.

About the author

Rafia Zafar

I am graduated in computer science. I am a junior technical author here and passionate about Programming and learning new technologies. I have worked in JAVA, HTML 5, CSS3, Bootstrap, and PHP.

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How To Hide The Taskbar In Windows

One way to boost your productivity is by working without distractions. In this case, having a cluttered taskbar with notifications can interfere with your workflow. So, you can choose to hide it whenever you’d like.

But, the steps to get rid of the taskbar in Windows depend on whether you want to remove it temporarily or permanently. So, let’s look at all the possible ways to remove the taskbar.

How to Get Rid of Taskbar in Windows?

If you only want to hide it for a short duration, there are easy and safe ways to do it using the available settings and commands.

Using Taskbar Settings

If you want to get rid of the taskbar in Windows only for a short time, you can try hiding it from the taskbar settings. You can follow these steps:

On Windows 10

Hit right-click on any empty space on the taskbar and click on Taskbar Settings.
In the Settings page, slide the toggles for both options that say Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode and tablet mode.
For tablet mode, you can also select Automatically hide the taskbar from the additional tablet settings.

Turning on the setting for desktop mode will allow you to work seamlessly in fullscreen. You can access the taskbar again whenever you hover over the bottom of the screen. Similarly, the same setting for tablet mode is best if you have a laptop that’s foldable and has a touch screen.

On Windows 11

If you want to hide the taskbar in Windows 11, you can follow these steps. Although the steps are fairly the same, some settings have slightly different names.

Hit right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and go to Taskbar Settings.
Scroll down and go to Taskbar Behaviors.
Under Taskbar alignment, check the box that says Automatically hide the taskbar.

Using Command Prompt

Another quick and easy way to hide the taskbar on the desktop is by using Command Prompt. All you need to do is enter a command, and your taskbar will automatically disappear. Here’s how you can do it:

Simply open the Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the search bar.
Copy and paste the following command:
powershell -command "&{$p='HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3';$v=(Get-ItemProperty -Path $p).Settings;$v[8]=3;&Set-ItemProperty -Path $p -Name Settings -Value $v;&Stop-Process -f -ProcessName explorer}"
Your taskbar will now automatically be hidden.

If you want to turn it off and make the taskbar reappear, you can again use the following command:
powershell -command "&{$p='HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3';$v=(Get-ItemProperty -Path $p).Settings;$v[8]=2;&Set-ItemProperty -Path $p -Name Settings -Value $v;&Stop-Process -f -ProcessName explorer}"

How to Permanently Hide Taskbar?

It’s not possible to delete a Windows feature, like the taskbar, from the built-in settings. So, in such cases, you’ll need to take help from third-party sources, like the Taskbar Hide app. Even this app helps to only temporarily disable the taskbar and not completely remove the feature.

Disclaimer: Using third-party apps is not always reliable as they can harm your computer. So, please follow the steps at your own risk.

To use this app, you’ll need to set up a keyboard shortcut to disable the taskbar.

Install Taskbar Hide and go to the Menu > Settings.
Click on the Hotkey tab.
In the last section that says Hotkey for hide taskbar action, you can enter any shortcut that’s convenient. For example, we added the shortcut Ctrl + T.
Then, click OK.

Your taskbar is now disabled, and you can work fullscreen. Even when you hover the mouse pointer on the taskbar area, the taskbar will not pop up.

If you want to restore the taskbar, again press the same shortcut keys that you used to hide it.

Why My Taskbar Won’t Hide?

If your taskbar is not hiding when following the methods above, it can be due to system glitches and errors. Firstly, make sure you have enabled the Auto-Hide taskbar option. Then, you can try updating your Windows and restarting your PC.

Alternatively, you can also try restarting Windows Explorer from the Task Manager. Here are the steps:

Open Task Manager by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut keys.
From the Processes tab, right-click on Windows Explorer and select Restart.

How to Hide Taskbar in Windows 7?

You can follow these methods to hide the taskbar in Windows 7:

Hit right-click on an empty area on the taskbar and click on Properties.
From the pop-up menu, check the box that says Auto-hide the taskbar.
Click on Apply and Ok.

How to remove the bottom bar on Windows 7, 8, 10, what to do if the taskbar does not disappear in full screen mode when watching videos and playing games

«How to hide the taskbar in Windows 10?» — this is the question that often arises among many users who have switched to a new version of the operating system from Microsoft. Compared to previous versions of Windows — the seven (7) and the eight (8 and 8.1), the interface of the dozen has changed, and some functions have “moved” from their usual places to separate menu items and submenus. In today’s article, we will take a closer look at several ways on how to still hide the icons on the Windows 10 taskbar.0003

Why you need

The reasons why you need to hide the taskbar can be different. Some may simply not like that there is some kind of dark bar with various icons at the bottom of the screen. Others, on the contrary, do not mind the fact that the panel is located at the bottom, but, for example, while watching a movie, it can simply be distracting. Moreover, in Windows 10, an unpleasant glitch often occurs, due to which the taskbar is constantly on top of many applications, including media players, even if they are deployed in full screen mode.

Well, in the end, third parties have already become accustomed to the fact that the panel is constantly hidden from view, and when you hover the mouse over the bottom of the screen, that is, when the need arises, it appears.

How to fix error

This problem in Windows 7, 8, 10 can be fixed in several ways. You can choose the most appropriate if the user knows what exactly the problem is. If not, you should try several options.

Restarting Explorer and rebooting the computer

The simplest and most effective would be restarting the computer or the explorer . After a reboot, the taskbar will not be displayed in full screen mode. To restart the taskbar, you need:

Press the key combination « Ctrl + Alt + Del » and select « Task Manager «. The same command can be found by right-clicking on the panel.
Go to section « Processes «.
From the list, select the item « Explorer » and restart it by clicking the right mouse button.

What to do if the «Steam client not found» error occurs

This method helps to fix the problem. But many users note that the reboot box, the fault returns. Therefore, it is recommended to restart File Explorer and then the computer. If an error is returned, then you should use another method.

Automatically hide the panel in Windows 10

The Windows 10 operating system provides an option to completely hide the panel. So, it will not be displayed on the desktop. Its appearance causes the mouse cursor, which is brought to the bottom edge of the screen.

Thus, the bottom panel will not interfere when watching a video in full screen mode. To get used to such a function, the user will need time. But there are also advantages, this method allows you to expand the space on your desktop.

To enable automatic hiding of the panel, you must use the following instructions:

Click on the free space and select the item « Settings «.
There are two parameters that can be adjusted here. The bottom area can be removed in desktop mode or tablet mode . To adjust, you need to move the slider by clicking the mouse.

After that, the taskbar will collapse down . This will help solve the problem with its appearance when using the browser.

Moving the taskbar

The workspace is pinned to the bottom of the screen. But the user can move it to the other edge . So, if it is on the left, then the taskbar will not interfere with watching videos and movies, even if it is not hidden. Many people note that in this case it hides in full screen mode .

To move, you must first unpin it. This is possible by right-clicking on the panel. Here you need to uncheck from the item that is responsible for fixing.

Now the user has only to move this area . Just hold down the left mouse button. Then, you need to move the cursor to the desired edge of the screen.

Why use a firewall or firewall in Windows

Changing the default theme

There are different themes in the operating system that are responsible for the appearance of the desktop. User can set up personalization in settings computers. There are several built-in themes from Windows. Also, the user can add his design by downloading it from the Internet.

If the user did not change the theme, then it is set by default . Changing it will help solve the problem. To change the design, follow:

Go to control panel . You can do this through the search or computer settings.
Open « Personalization «.
Here are all settings , the user can change the theme and some explorer objects.

The same menu can be accessed by right-clicking on an empty spot on the desktop. In the list, select the item « Personalization «.

Keyboard shortcuts

The user can go to another desktop . There are special keyboard shortcuts for this.

Win+B . For starters, it is worth using this particular combination. It shows the taskbar, especially if it’s hidden. It will also come in handy if this area is not hidden. The function calls redraws all windows and helps to restart the panel.
Win+T . The shortcut is used to navigate between the various tasks that are displayed at the bottom of the screens. With it, you can restore the taskbar, which means that it will hide in full screen mode.

File Integrity Check

If none of the above methods resolves the problem, some operating system files may be corrupted. To check this, the user can run the standard utility , which helps to detect damage.

First you need to open the command line . This can be done using the combination » Win + R «. In the open window, enter the command « cmd » and click on « OK «.

Using the Registry Editor for Beginners

Then you need to enter the command » sfc /scannow «, which will scan the computer for corrupted files. If they exist, the system will automatically restore them. In some cases, a message may be displayed that files cannot be restored . Then, it is recommended to reinstall the OS, since errors may be contained not only in this area.

Method one: auto-hide

Auto-hide is the easiest way to make the taskbar (taskbar) disappear from view. Many people are familiar with this method from previous versions of the Windows operating system, however, something has changed a little in the top ten, but this does not really matter.

How do I hide the taskbar in Windows 10 and make it disappear automatically? Everything is simple.

First you need to move the mouse pointer (cursor) to any area of the taskbar (taskbar) and right-click in this place (right mouse button). From the menu that appears, select «Taskbar Options». After a few seconds, a small window will open with some settings.

Only one item is of interest here, more precisely, the switch, which is on the second line (underlined in red in the screenshot). This switch must be enabled.

This will hide the icons on the taskbar in Windows 10 and the panel itself, they will not be displayed.

How to hide the Taskbar in Windows 10

After installing the operating system on your digital device or while working, the user can customize the elements of the Desktop in the way that suits him. The «ten» provides the setting for automatic hiding of the tool.

To enable the function, you will need to follow the instructions:

Right click on the panel.
Find and click in the Options menu that appears.

In the window, select the appropriate settings for the element.
To enable the option, move the switch to the «On» position. next to Auto Hide Panel in Desktop Mode.

Save changes.

After that, the user will have to close all windows. On the Desktop, the interface element will disappear from view. To display a tool, just move the mouse cursor to it. If the user moves the pointer to another location, the element will hide again. It will also not be visible when watching a video, during gameplay and other operations.

Taskbar AutoHide Control

How to hide the taskbar in Windows 10, the tiny program Taskbar AutoHide Control also knows. It weighs very little and is distributed free of charge. The entire interface consists of one small window, in which you only need to specify a combination of hot keys that will hide and display the taskbar. The program does not require installation.

That’s it for hiding the taskbar in Windows 10. Good luck!

Restarting the taskbar using PowerShell

If the method above turned out to be ineffective in your case, then you should use the almost one hundred percent option to restore the taskbar to working capacity. But first you need to disable the firewall built into the OS, otherwise nothing will work. You can do this as follows:

Open the control panel;

We find among the icons «Windows Firewall», click on it;

Go to the «Turn Windows Firewall on or off» tab;

Do what is shown in the screenshot and save the changes;

Done. We can use PowerShell. Tip: if you use an antivirus with a built-in firewall (a / in Kaspersky, Nod32, Dr. Web and others), you will not need to disable it.

There are several ways to enable this utility, but we decided to use the command line. Run it as Administrator, enter the command «PowerShell» (without quotes). Done, now the appropriate mode has been enabled on the command line. Then proceed as follows:

Enter the command from the screenshot;

Press the «Enter» button and wait for the taskbar restoration process to complete;

Restarting the computer.

Done! The taskbar should now work correctly again. If the problem returns with the next update, you know what you need to do — so keep the article bookmarked. Even if you immediately switched to the second method, skipping the first one, we recommend using it to clean the Registry — the computer will start to work a little faster.

Additional reasons for the disappearance of

The number of reasons for the failure of the taskbar is actually much more, but the most popular are: Most often these are tweakers, alternative skins, transformation packs, and in some cases even software that is not related to appearance at all. To make sure that the taskbar disappeared precisely because of third-party utilities, you need to perform a clean boot of Windows.

The integrity of system files has been violated. This situation in most cases manifests itself immediately after installation. To solve the problem, you need to perform OS diagnostics, and if necessary, install a different version of Windows.

There is a problem with the video card or related software. Some computer owners use obsolete components that do not support new display technologies. If your video card does not support one mode or another, it’s time to think about buying a new one. It is also worth checking the relevance and presence of the necessary drivers in the system.

Don’t forget about tablet mode, which was introduced in Windows 8. After switching to a special display mode, the Windows shell changes its appearance, and some elements become inaccessible. To fix the problem, you just need to return the classic display mode. This is done by disabling tablet mode in the notifications menu.

Problems with File Explorer

The taskbar can also disappear due to a File Explorer system bug. In such a situation, there are two ways to fix the problem — restarting the computer or restarting the explorer.exe process. In the latter case, we need:

Open the «Task Manager» using the combination CTRL + ALT + DEL (CTRL + SHIFT + ESC)
.
Go to the «Processes» tab and find «Explorer» here. On some versions of Windows, it’s called Explorer.
Right-click the menu and click Restart.

If this sequence does not help, then end the process completely in the task manager (the whole tree is possible), and then click «File — start a new task» and enter 9 here0280 explorer.exe

The second way to completely remove the taskbar at the bottom of the windows 10 screen is through the registry

The word «registry» is not clear to many. Yes, you can do miracles there, but if you follow the instructions, then nothing bad will happen.

First, open the registry and find the branch below (you can open it by entering the word Regedit in the search box).

HKCU/ Software/ Microsoft/ Windows/ Current/ Version/ Policies/ Explorer

Then, in the window on the right side, create a DWORD parameter °NoSetTaskbar° with a value of 1.

Then the ability to call it through the Start properties in the context menu of the button will also be removed.

How to hide the taskbar in Windows 10

Contents

Taskbar settings in Windows 10
Conclusion

The Windows taskbar includes various useful things that are convenient to have at hand without delving into these issues. the jungle of system settings is shortcuts for network settings, sound volume, and keyboard language selection. The role of the Start button, which is also present on the taskbar, is not worth mentioning too much — from version to version, the evolving operating system almost invariably retains this button, which hides access to many applications and to various functional parts of Windows.

On the taskbar, there are also pinned application shortcuts, the list of which you can customize as you wish. Conveniently customize the list of these shortcuts. Leave to display only those application shortcuts that are really relevant to you, you relatively often need to run while working in Windows.

But there is one caveat that is related to the area occupied by the taskbar on the screen of your device. It’s one thing when you work in Windows 10 using a large monitor, whether it’s a 22.5-inch or 30-inch diagonal — there is more than enough space on screens of this size, and interacting with Windows 10, working in applications is very comfortable. Sometimes there is enough space so that you can deploy up to 2-3 applications on the screen at the same time!

Another thing is when Windows 10 is installed on your tablet, or on a laptop with a small screen size — 10-13 inches. In this case, the issue of “free” screen area becomes very relevant, and the space occupied by the taskbar already seems to be unfairly occupied. In this article, we will learn how to hide the taskbar for better work.

Taskbar settings in Windows 10

The issue of hiding the Windows taskbar is solved very simply — the functionality of Windows 10 is configured for this action, and removing the taskbar from the screen will not be difficult for a Windows user of any level of preparedness.

You won’t need to spend time searching for settings in depth, modifying the Windows registry, restarting the computer several times to apply new settings, and so on.

To do this, open in the parameters window (opens with the key combination «Win» + «I» or, or right-click on the button «Start» -> then select «Settings» ) the section of the same name to our question named «Dashboard». To hide the panel, select the appropriate item, and move the slider to the «On» position:

The taskbar will instantly disappear from the screen, «left» to the bottom of it. In order to re-display the taskbar — you just need to move the mouse pointer to any point on the bottom of the screen, as if resting the mouse pointer all the way down — and the taskbar will appear in the same second. Over time, this action will quickly automate for you, and bringing the taskbar to the screen will be quick and easy.

Another handy feature of Windows 10 is the option to automatically hide the taskbar when working in tablet mode. Also, to optimize free space on the screen, it is possible to use smaller icons on the Windows taskbar — respectively, both the shortcuts on the taskbar and the panel itself will significantly decrease, freeing up some vertical part of the screen:0003

Conclusion

We have covered the issue of hiding the taskbar in the Windows 10 operating system. A couple of clicks in the system settings — and your desktop becomes a little larger, which is sometimes important, especially if the screen area is small. At the same time, optimize the speed of your operating system, and working in Windows will become doubly pleasant with the understanding that you did everything “as it should” and how it suits you.

If you have any similar experience optimizing the Windows 10 screen for more free real estate when working with Windows applications — tell us about it in the comment block.