How To Hide Taskbar in Full Screen in Windows 10/11

Do you want to avoid your Windows 10 or Windows 11 taskbar cluttering your full-screen experience? We’ve got the solution for you! Windows 10 and 11 offer an immersive full-screen mode for video watching, gaming, or focused work. This mode lets you enjoy a distraction-free screen, automatically hiding the taskbar when activated. Discover how to effortlessly conceal your taskbar in full-screen mode with our step-by-step guide. Whether you’re a gaming enthusiast, a movie buff, or simply looking to maximize your screen real estate, mastering this feature will enhance your Windows experience. Say goodbye to distractions and hello to uninterrupted full-screen bliss—let’s dive in!

Customizing your taskbar to vanish in full-screen mode is a simple yet valuable trick. It clears up space on your screen when you need it most. If you need it back, move your mouse to the bottom of the screen. In this post, you’ll discover how to hide the taskbar in full screen on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. We’ll also troubleshoot if your taskbar refuses to disappear in full-screen mode on Windows.

Taskbar Not Hiding in Fullscreen? Here’s What to Do

Are you frustrated because the taskbar remains visible when you transition to full-screen mode on your Windows 11 or 10 computer? Worry not; we’ve got you covered. This issue is often related to settings, although other factors could be at play.

Review Your Taskbar Settings:

• Begin by carefully examining your taskbar settings. In most cases, adjusting these settings can resolve the persistent taskbar problem. Enabling the auto-hide option represents a quick and effective way to improve your full-screen viewing experience, offering a temporary fix.

Investigate other potential causes:

Nonetheless, there might be additional reasons behind your taskbar troubles, including:

• Outdated operating system: Ensure your Windows version is up-to-date.
• Windows Visual Effects: Fine-tune visual effects settings for smoother performance.
• Outdated Drivers: Regularly update your system drivers.
• Malware: Conduct a system scan to identify potential malware threats.
• Third-Party Applications: Examine any third-party software, especially resource-intensive ones like antivirus programs or heavy games, which could conflict with fullscreen mode.

By addressing these issues, you can regain command over your taskbar and relish a seamless full-screen experience. Refrain from letting a persistent taskbar disrupt your productivity or enjoyment; follow these steps to resolve the problem today.

Wondering how taskbar hiding works?

In Windows 10 and the new Windows 11, the “Automatically hide the taskbar” feature was designed for this purpose. When this setting is enabled, the taskbar intelligently disappears when not in use.

All you need to do to bring it back is move your cursor to the taskbar area—no clicking or button-pressing required! This feature creates more desktop space, maintains a clean interface, and reduces distractions when you’re focused on tasks. It’s convenient for applications like video games that require an unobstructed full-screen view to ensure optimal usability. So, say goodbye to taskbar clutter and hello to a more immersive computing experience!

Hide the taskbar in full-screen Windows 10 and 11

We previously wrote a tactile explanation: “Why is the taskbar showing full-screen? How to Fix It” You can check it out to get an idea.

Here’s a guide to enabling automatic taskbar hiding in Windows 10 and 11. Follow these straightforward steps to achieve a clutter-free desktop experience on these modern Windows operating systems!

For Windows 10, enable the “Automatically hide the taskbar” feature.

1. Begin by right-clicking on an unoccupied taskbar area and selecting “Taskbar settings.” This action will trigger the opening of a fresh window, allowing you to tailor various elements of your computer’s taskbar functionality.
2. Turn on the feature to automatically hide the taskbar when using a tablet or computer. Whichever choice you see will depend on how your laptop or computer is configured.
3. You should see the taskbar transitioning down and disappearing from the screen. To restore it, simply hover over the spot.

For Windows 11, enable the “Automatically hide the taskbar” feature.

1. Open the window by pressing Win + I or clicking the Windows button on the taskbar to access the Start menu.
2. Access the “Personalization” menu and select “Taskbar” from the panel on the right side. This process will lead you to the interface, where you can manage taskbar behaviors and system pins.
3. Go to the bottom of the page and select the “Taskbar Behaviors” button to view its options. Ensure that the “Automatically hide the taskbar” option is chosen.
4. The auto-conceal option silently conceals the taskbar when you move your cursor away from that screen area. If necessary, you can easily make it visible again by moving your mouse over the bottom.

Resolved: The full-screen taskbar appears in Windows 10/11

For some users, the Windows 10 and 11 taskbars might remain when the screen is in full-screen mode. These are the most practical fixes for this problem.

Method 1: Turn off all app alerts.

Even in full-screen mode, a program operating on your PC can prevent the taskbar from hiding if it receives a notification. This functionality helps you see critical notifications even while the taskbar is hidden.

To resolve this, ignore or turn off these alerts for that particular app. Some apps, such as Discord and Skype, have “Do Not Disturb” modes so you don’t get distracted while gaming or watching videos. Additionally, you can enable this to prevent the taskbar from appearing while in full-screen mode.

Method 2: Launch Windows Explorer again

Occasionally, Windows Explorer encounters a problem that could result in oddities happening on your system. This might be why the taskbar does not vanish when using full-screen mode. Fortunately, this can be fixed with just a restart.

1. To access Task Manager, right-click a vacant area in your taskbar and choose it from the context menu. Ensure you click the More Details button if your Task Manager is in compact mode.
2. Continue to the default Processes tab, then click to select Windows Explorer (explorer.exe).
3. After selecting the Restart button now displayed in the window’s lower-right corner, watch for Windows Explorer to restart. It is typical for your desktop, windows, and taskbar to vanish momentarily.
4. Once everything has loaded back up, you can verify if the taskbar has been fixed. Additionally, we advise restarting your computer.

Method 3: Turn off the taskbar locking

To stop the taskbar in Windows from accidentally being moved or resized, you can lock and unlock it. If you leave this option enabled on your computer, unintended consequences could happen, like the taskbar appearing in full-screen mode. Unlock the taskbar to ensure that something similar does not occur.

1. Press and hold any vacant area in the taskbar to display the context menu.
2. Verify that the option to lock the taskbar is not selected. If so, you can unlock the taskbar and turn it off with a single click.
3. Verify whether you can enter full-screen mode without the taskbar on the screen.

Method 4: Disable all visual effects.

If your taskbar is frozen or does not respond, it could be due to Windows’ built-in visual effects. This occasionally creates app difficulties and inhibits your system from running correctly, including the toolbar! Turning off these visual enhancements may help you fix taskbar difficulties.

1. To access the Start menu, simply click on the Windows icon in the lower-left corner of your screen. Next, click the Settings option or press the Windows key + I to access it.
   
2. Use the search box at the top of the window for “performance.”. Please select “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows” from the drop-down menu to customize your Windows operating system’s visual and operational settings.
   
3. A new window should open on the screen. Stay on the default page and select Adjust for Best Performance from the options. Alternatively, you can change your options and turn off any visual enhancements you do not want to use.
   
4. To close the window, click Apply, then OK. You should be able to tell the difference right away. Check to see if the taskbar works properly after this upgrade.

Method 5: Repair corrupt system files.

Corrupt system files are the most typical cause of this issue. You can restore all corrupted files using software provided in Windows called the System File Checker, or SFC scan for short. This tool scans all of your system files, noting any that are missing or corrupted, then replaces them with the default unaltered files.

Running the SFC scan will restore all possibly corrupt or missing system files on your device, perhaps resolving the taskbar issue.

1. To open the search bar in your taskbar, click the magnifying glass icon. You can also unplug it using the Windows + S keyboard shortcut.
2. In the search box, type Command Prompt. Right-click when you see it in the results and select Run as Administrator. If you use a local account without administrator privileges, please click here first.
   
   
3. When User Account Control (UAC) is prompted, select Yes to launch the app with administrative privileges.
4. Please enter the following command and press Enter to run it: SFC/ScanNow.
   
   
5. Please be patient while the System File Checker completes the scan of your machine. The utility will restore system files and correct all associated errors in a discrepancy.

Method 6: Run the DISM command.

The SFC scan can detect and fix broken system files, but you can also use the DISM tool to target other sections of your device that may contain corrupt data.

The DISM tool also helps you identify and resolve system corruption issues by entering commands in the Command Prompt application. It monitors for corruption throughout the system and automatically attempts to repair damaged or missing files.

1. Search for Command Prompt in the taskbar search box (or use the Windows + S keyboard shortcut). To launch the program with administrative access, select Run as administrator and click Yes.
2. Next, run a command to resolve any faults discovered on your machine. Enter DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth, then press Enter.
   
   

After running the command, could you wait for it to complete? Once finished, shut the Command Prompt window and restart your device to verify if the taskbar has been resolved.

Method 7. Update your system

An update to your operating system can solve underlying issues, including problems with the taskbar. Try downloading the latest version of Windows to see if it fixes the issue.

1. Open the Windows Start menu and click Settings, or use Windows + I to open the Settings menu.
2. Next, click on the Update & Security tile. This is where you can find most of your Windows Update settings and choose when to receive updates.
   
3. Ensure that you are on the standard Windows Update tab. Select the “Check for updates” option and wait for Windows to locate any available updates. If any updates are shown, click the “View all optional updates” link to view and install them.
   
   
4. When Windows discovers a new update, select the “Install” choice. Please wait for Windows to finish downloading and installing the necessary files—required updates.

Final Thoughts

We hope that the solutions we’ve provided were helpful. However, if you’re still experiencing issues, we recommend contacting Microsoft Support for further assistance.

If you want more information on optimizing and troubleshooting issues with Windows 10 or 11, please visit our Help Center. Additionally, our blog is an excellent resource for the latest news and helpful articles. We’d love for you to check it out!

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