Let’s take a look at the solutions to the most frequent issues with the taskbar on Windows 10, such as it not responding in any way. Using these solutions will allow you to have the taskbar fully functional again.

1. Too Much Clutter on the Taskbar

Before we go on to specific issues We should note that the default Windows 10 taskbar has a number of unneeded icons that eats up precious space. If you don’t make use of the icons you see, it is possible to choose to hide them in order to free up space for the icons you are concerned about.

One of these is the lengthy searching bar that is not needed as you can search for information with either the Start or by pressing the Windows key at any time. To conceal the search bar on the Windows 10 taskbar, right-click on the search box, or an empty space in the taskbar. Select search > show the search icon to switch it to an enlarged magnifying glass or the hidden option to completely hide the search.

Cortana is no longer emphasized in the most recent editions of Windows 10. If you do not want to use this feature, remove the Show Cortana option to make it invisible. To free up space make sure to uncheck the Show Task View button and then use your keyboard shortcut Windows + Tab to open the feature instead.

There are a few unneeded elements at the top of the sidebar as well. Turn off Show People on the Taskbar to hide that naive shortcut. If you don’t utilize any of the options available under the Toolbars you can deactivate these without losing any data. Those who don’t want the display of the weather on their taskbars could switch off news and interests. And if you don’t own an LCD, the Show Windows Ink Workspace button and Show keyboard with touch button aren’t necessary.

There’s more space to display the icons that you’re using all the time. While we work on resolving specific issues with the taskbar below, you can also check out our full guide to Taskbar personalization If you’re looking for more options to personalize your taskbar.

2. The First Fix: Restart the Explorer Process

The first step to take if you experience any issues with your taskbar within Windows is to reboot this explorer.exe process. It is responsible for your Windows Shell and contains its File Explorer app as well as the Start menu and taskbar. Restarting it will solve any minor issues like the taskbar not functioning.

To restart the process, use Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager. Click for more information in the lower right, if you are only seeing the basic window. Next, on the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer. Right-click on it and select to restart it.

The taskbar will go off for a few minutes before returning. This is normal and once it is back it should perform as expected.

If this doesn’t work you could also try logging out and logging back into your account. Don’t forget to restart your computer is always a great idea if you’ve not previously done this in the past few months.

3. Check for Driver and Windows Updates

This is general advice that can be applied to a variety of PC issues, but it has resolved the issue of the taskbar for a few. Incorrect drivers, particularly those for display, could create many problems. Therefore, it’s worthwhile if your taskbar doesn’t respond or seems to be acting weird.

Use our guide on how to update Windows drivers without risk and see if it solves your problem.

While you’re there, ensure that you’ve installed all Windows updates by going to Settings > Update and Security Windows Update. Sometimes, the latest Windows patches can resolve odd issues such as this.

4. Windows 10 Taskbar Not Hiding

If you’ve turned on the auto-hide feature on the taskbar it can be difficult to use if it’s not functioning correctly. When restarting your Explorer process fails or the issue is frequent then you may try alternative solutions.

First, ensure that you’ve enabled auto-hide. Go into the Settings menu, Personalization, and Taskbar and ensure Auto-hide of the taskbar when you’re in the desktop view is on. It’s worthwhile to disable and re-enable this feature while you’re there as well. Sometimes, an option may get stuck, and switching it back to its original functioning.

One of the main reasons that the taskbar fails to disappear automatically is an application that requires your focus. Although this is often with a glowing icon in the taskbar, it’s not always clear when this happens.

If your taskbar has become stuck in the middle, you can cycle through all the applications you have open, and ensure there aren’t any warnings or errors waiting to be found anywhere. For instance, your web browser may switch to the “attention” state if a site displays a notification or a chat application may have received a message.

If checking your apps that are open isn’t enough, take an examination of the apps that are in the System Tray. The one that is which is running in the background may be asking to get your attention.

If you encounter this issue frequently, try adjusting Windows notifications for the application which keeps getting stuck. Start by going to the Settings menu, then System and Notifications and actions and turn off notifications you don’t need.

Also, you should check the settings of the app to gain greater control. For instance, In Telegram, you can disable notifications for noisy chats, but allow them to be on to allow other chats. In the event that you fail, reinstalling the application that has the taskbar open can resolve the issue.

5. Windows 10 Taskbar Icons Missing

If your taskbar has been missing its icons, and you notice that your System Tray at the bottom-right does not show the time and others, you could be required to use your command prompt and utilize the standard Windows troubleshooting tools to resolve the problem. The good news is that this won’t be as difficult as it may appear.

To begin, you must first, you must use first, use the Win+X shortcut (or right-clicking the Start button) to launch the Power User menu. From there, you are able to open the Command Prompt (Admin), Windows PowerShell (Admin) as well as a Windows Terminal (Admin) window. From these windows, you will be able to use a couple of tools for performing this taskbar repair.

If you get a prompt, you must first attempt first the SFC command that runs the System File Checker program to repair Windows problems. This command can be used to accomplish this, after which you can reboot:

sfc /scannow

If this isn’t enough to fix the issue, test a different program. Follow the below command to launch Disk Image Service as well as Management (DISM), and you’ll notice that your Taskbar returns to its original state following a reboot:

6. Windows 10 Taskbar Not Responding or Frozen

If you are unable to click any of the taskbar icons You can try some PowerShell solutions. It’s an easy procedure that uses a non-invasive procedure that can solve your taskbar’s unresponsive problems.

To access these for use, to use them, type PowerShell within the start menu. Then, select it with a right click and then run it as an administrator. Use the following command to reset the registration of all applications:

After this, navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local. Locate your TileDataLayer folder and remove it. In the end, hopefully after a few seconds it will repair your taskbar and let you navigate back to items in a proper way.

There’s a second alternative, a more drastic solution when your taskbar is frozen. However, it isn’t without cost because it will remove the majority of Windows 10 apps, including the Microsoft Store, from your system. Do this only if you’re willing to lose all Store apps, and there is nothing else that can fix the problem.

To test it, you need to open PowerShell with administrator rights, as shown in the previous example. After that, type this command:

After that, restart your computer and, hopefully, you’ll get all of the issues repaired. Follow the Winaero guide when you decide you’d like to have to get the Microsoft Store app back.

7. Windows 10 Taskbar Moves Around

If you notice that the Windows 10 taskbar moves around whenever you try to click it, the chances are that it is locked. It’s a convenient method to swiftly stick your taskbar on a different area of your screen, but should you prefer to remain in one spot it’s just an inconvenience.

Go into settings > personalization, then taskbar to check if you’ve got locked the taskbar activated. When this is enabled it will be impossible to drag and click on an empty space on your taskbar, allowing it to be moved around the screen.

8. Last Resort: Try System Restore or Create a New User Account

Have you tried everything mentioned above but cannot get your taskbar to behave like it ought to? You could try a System Restore point, in the event that you have one, to go back to before the issue began.

In the event that this is not possible, make an account from scratch Windows users account in order to resolve the issue. It’s not the most convenient option however, it may be the only option in the event that nothing else has worked.