Taskbar Not Hiding in Windows 10 – How to Fix It

If your taskbar is not hiding in Windows 10, it can become quite frustrating, especially when icons or notifications keep appearing on your screen, disrupting your workflow. This issue can occur for various reasons, but the good news is that it’s often easy to fix with just a few simple steps.

Common Causes for Taskbar Not Hiding

Before diving into solutions, it’s helpful to understand what might be causing the problem. Some of the most common factors include:

  • Open windows or applications that prevent the taskbar from hiding;
  • Notifications or background programs triggering the taskbar to appear;
  • Incorrect settings or system glitches;
  • Graphics driver issues or other system component malfunctions.

Steps to Fix the Issue

Now, let’s look at several steps that can help restore the normal functionality of your taskbar in Windows 10.

1. Restart Windows Explorer

One of the quickest solutions is to restart Windows Explorer. You can do this through the Task Manager:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager;
  2. Find the Windows Explorer process, right-click it, and choose Restart;
  3. Check if the taskbar issue is resolved.

2. Check Taskbar Auto-hide Settings

Sometimes, the problem is simply that the auto-hide feature for the taskbar is turned off. To enable it:

  1. Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar and select Taskbar Settings;
  2. In the Taskbar Behavior section, enable the option Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode;
  3. Move your mouse to the bottom of the screen and see if the taskbar hides.

3. Turn Off or Adjust Notifications

Sometimes, notifications from apps or the system itself can block the taskbar from hiding. To turn off notifications:

  1. Go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions;
  2. Disable notifications for apps that might be interfering with the taskbar.

4. Check for Windows Updates

If none of the above steps help, the issue might be related to system errors that can be fixed through updates. To check for updates:

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update;
  2. Click Check for updates and install any available updates.

5. Use Windows Troubleshooter

Windows 10 has built-in tools for diagnosing and fixing problems. You can try using the troubleshooter:

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot;
  2. Select Additional troubleshooters and run the Program and Features troubleshooter;
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to automatically search for issues related to the taskbar.