How to Hide the Taskbar in Windows 11 and 10

If you want more room on your screen in Windows 11 or 10, you can hide the taskbar so it disappears automatically when you’re not using it. Whenever you need the Start menu, open apps, or notification area again, simply move your pointer to the bottom edge of the screen.

Windows 11 and Windows 10 include this option in Settings, so you don’t need to install any additional software.

Quick solution: automatically hide the taskbar

The steps depend on your version of Windows:

• Windows 11: Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, then enable Automatically hide the taskbar.
• Windows 10: Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, then turn on Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode.

Once enabled, it disappears when you’re not using it and reappears when you move the pointer to the bottom edge of the screen.

How to Hide the Taskbar in Windows 11

In Windows 11, you can automatically hide the taskbar from the Personalization settings.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Personalization and click Taskbar.
3. Expand Taskbar behaviors and check Automatically hide the taskbar.

The taskbar should disappear when you move the pointer away from it. To show it again, move the pointer to the bottom edge of the screen.

Microsoft also documents this option along with other Windows taskbar customization settings.

How to Hide the Taskbar in Windows 10

The same feature is available in Windows 10, although the option is located directly on the Taskbar settings page.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Personalization and select Taskbar from the left sidebar.
3. Turn on Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode.

The taskbar will hide when you’re not using it. Move your pointer to the bottom edge of the screen whenever you want to show it again.

Windows 10 reached the end of support on October 14, 2025. If your PC meets the requirements, Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 11.

How to Keep the Taskbar Visible

If you no longer want Windows to hide the taskbar automatically, disable the same setting:

• In Windows 11, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, then clear Automatically hide the taskbar.
• In Windows 10, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, then turn off Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode.

The taskbar should remain visible immediately after you disable the option.

What to Do if the Taskbar Won’t Hide

If automatic hiding is enabled but the taskbar won’t hide, try the following:

1. Move the pointer away from the taskbar. The taskbar remains visible while the mouse pointer is over it.
2. Check for apps that need your attention. An open app or notification can sometimes keep the taskbar visible.
3. Close open menus and pop-ups. A context menu, notification panel, or other interface element may prevent the taskbar from disappearing.
4. Turn automatic hiding off and back on. Open the taskbar settings, disable the option, and then enable it again.
5. Restart Windows Explorer. If the taskbar still won’t hide, restarting explorer.exe can fix temporary problems with the Windows interface.
6. Restart your PC. A full restart can clear temporary processes that are interfering with the taskbar.
7. Check third-party customization apps. Programs that modify the Start menu, taskbar, or Windows interface can interfere with automatic hiding.

If you use Windows 11 and want to change the rest of the interface as well, you can also learn how to turn on dark mode in Windows.