Best 5 Ways to Fix Auto-Hide Taskbar Not Working in Windows 11 2024

The taskbar is an important Windows component that allows you to quickly access frequently used applications. It includes many features to enhance user experience including an auto-hide option. When enabled, it automatically hides the taskbar when it's not in use. However, what if this functionality suddenly stops working?

The problem mainly arises from temporary errors or corruption in important system files. The good news is that fixing this problem is a simple process. Below, you'll find six quick ways to fix the auto-hide taskbar not working in Windows 11.

Windows gives you the option to automatically hide the taskbar when you're not using it. It not only frees up screen space but also gives your desktop a minimalist look. The problem occurs when the Windows taskbar fails to hide automatically. If you yourself have faced the same problem, here are some troubleshooting tips that you should try.

Before we get to any advanced troubleshooting tips, you need to make sure that the auto-hide option is enabled in the taskbar settings. Right-click anywhere on an empty area of the taskbar and select Taskbar Settings from the resulting menu. Under Taskbar Behavior, tick the checkbox that says Automatically hide the taskbar. Windows Explorer is a complex process that manages the GUI (Graphical User Interface) for various utilities, including the taskbar. If the process encounters any problems, the taskbar may fail to hide in Windows.

1. Restart Windows Explorer

The quickest way to fix any taskbar problem is to restart Windows Explorer. This removes any temporary bugs or errors that may be causing the problem. You can restart Windows Explorer by following the instructions below:

Step 1: Press the Windows + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu and choose Task Manager from the list.

Task Manager option in the Power User menu

Step 2: Right-click on Windows Explorer and select Restart.

Restart option in task manager

After that, check if you are still facing the problem. If yes, you can disable and re-enable the auto-hide taskbar feature to fix the problem

2. Disable and Enable Auto-Hide Taskbar

Another quick way to fix temporary bugs or errors is to disable and re-enable the auto-hide feature. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Choose Personalization from the left sidebar and Taskbar from the right pane.

Step 3: Click on Taskbar Behavior option.

Step 4: Uncheck the 'Automatically hide taskbar' box.

Uncheck the Auto-hide taskbar option in Settings

Wait for a few seconds, then check the 'Automatically hide taskbar' box and check if the issue is resolved.

3. Disable the taskbar badge

If the Windows taskbar does not hide automatically, you can disable the taskbar badges. This solution will work if the problem is caused by a specific application pinned to the taskbar. To disable the taskbar badge, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Settings app, select Personalization from the left sidebar and click on the Taskbar option in the right pane.

Step 2: Click on Taskbar Behavior option.

Taskbar behavior options in settings

Step 3: Uncheck the 'Show badge in taskbar app' box.

4. Run SFC and DISM scan

Corruption in important system files can also cause problems. Fortunately, you can run SFC and DISM scans to detect and eliminate corrupt files. Here's how to run these scans to avoid hiding the taskbar problem:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu.

Step 2: In the search bar, type command prompt and select Run as administrator from the right pane.

Command Prompt option in the Start menu

Step 3: Type the following command to run the SFC scan.

SFC /scannow

sfc scan in command prompt

Step 4: To run the DISM scan, type the following command and press Enter after each command.

DISM/online/cleanup-image/checkhealth

DISM/online/cleanup-image/scanhealth

DISM/online/cleanup-image/restorehealth

dism scan in command prompt

After the scan is complete, restart your computer and check the problem.

5. Perform a clean boot

The taskbar will fail to hide due to a conflict between the startup application and Windows Explorer. You can solve this problem by starting your computer in clean boot mode.

In clean boot mode, your computer boots with a minimal set of drivers and starts a program. Follow these steps to clean boot:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, type msconfig in the search bar and press Enter.

Step 2: Select the Selective Startup option and then switch to Services tab.

Step 3: Check the 'Hide all Microsoft services' box, click the Disable All button and then OK.

After that when you reboot your computer, it will start in clean boot state. Check if the taskbar auto-hide feature is working. If yes, one of the services you disabled is causing the problem.

To shrink that service, repeat the steps above while slowly re-enabling the services until the problem reappears. Once you've identified that service, download its driver update.