You know you have the auto-hide feature enabled, but the setup doesn’t seem to be working. Sometimes the issue only needs a quick fix, while in other cases you’ll need to dig a little deeper. Hopefully, the fix is as simple as enabling the feature or restarting the Express Process. Here are some ways for you to fix the taskbar not hiding issue.
Check If the Auto-Hide Feature Is Enabled
I’ve lost track of the number of times that I thought I had a feature enabled, only to see it wasn’t. Maybe it wasn’t you; maybe your kids turned it off without letting you know. In that case, first things first, check to see if the auto-hide feature is on. To check if the feature is on, go to “Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar.” The second option will allow you to toggle the feature on if it was off for some reason.
If you’re using a computer, you’ll only need to enable the first option. The second option is only necessary if you’re on a tablet. Having this feature enabled should make the taskbar disappear – if it doesn’t, try the following tips.
Try Restarting the Explorer Process
Sometimes all you need to do is to restart the Explorer Process. To do this, open the Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or you can also search for it. When the Task Manager window appears, you’ll only see a few options. Click on the “More Details” dropdown menu and a new window with a lot more information will appear.
Under Processes, look for and right-click on the Windows Explorer option. A new window will appear that will have Restart as the first option on the list. Hopefully, that is all that it will take to fix the problem.
An App May Need Your Attention
There are times when there is nothing wrong with the taskbar, and the reason why it won’t hide is that an app is trying to get your attention. If the app that has the new message for you is pinned to your taskbar, it will flash until you click on it.
If the app is not pinned to your taskbar, you’ll need to click on the Show Hidden Icons arrow. Look for the app that has a badge on it – that’s the app that has a notification waiting for you.
Use the Command Prompt
Another option would be to use the command prompt to hide the taskbar. Press the Win and X keys and choose “Command Prompt (Admin).” You can also type in command prompt in the Cortana search bar, and it will be the first option that appears.
In the command prompt, type and press Enter. Don’t forget to restart your computer and see if the taskbar is still there.
Conclusion
It’s not a lot of space that the taskbar takes up, but sometimes it makes all the difference. The advantage of having it always displayed is that info such as the time and date are only a glance away. You’ll also save valuable seconds if you need to open an app quickly. If these advantages don’t convince you to leave the taskbar, these tips should help you hide it once again.
