Taskbar does not Auto-hide all the time Windows 7

Anonymous
2009-11-21T17:32:06+00:00

**Original Title**Windows 7 taskbar won't consistantly autohide. After changing the properties to Autohide and clicking 'OK', it hides for a brief second then reappears. Other times it autohides as desired.

My taskbar autohide behaves in an erratic pattern.  When I have an alert, it autohides after resolving the alert, but other times it refuses to go away, even if I, once again, open the properties, uncheck autohide, recheck autohide, then click 'apply' and/or 'OK'. As I type this, the taskbar stubbornly remains!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2010-03-29T18:26:16+00:00

In the "good old days" applicaitons would often un-hide the Taskbar so their notification icons could show an updated status and they could ensure it would be seen.  I think this method has fallen out of favor, but older applications that haven't been updated could still be sending the commands to the system to show the Taskbar.  Is it possible that you have an older app in the notification area that's affecting the Taskbar as described?

What notification area icons do you have (and what versions)?

For what it's worth, I just tried disabling Avast Pro 5.0 and it still allowed the Taskbar to auto-hide.

-Noel

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Anonymous
2009-11-22T15:00:10+00:00

Hi Lamargene,

Welcome to Microsoft Answers.

See that “Lock the Taskbar” is not enabled. If it is, you may disable it by right-clicking on taskbar and unchecking it.

Still the same behavior?

If such is the case, I’d recommend you to download Microsoft Security Essentials on your computer. This will make sure that any virus, spyware or other malicious software on the computer is wiped out completely. Also if the weird behavior is due to any one of those, running the essentials will fix it.

Download it from

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Do you see any changes after running the essentials? Post back and let us know.

Regards,

Shinmila H - Microsoft Support

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forumand let us know what you think

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-11-20T14:03:49+00:00

    I echo this reply, as being feasible:

    shanham67 asked on

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-07T02:02:51+00:00

    My problem has been mitigated.. by first following the RegEdit procedure above (thanks) and also by realizing that MS is not smart enough to see around 3rd party programs that "take the podium" so to speak and demand attention (not minimizing the taskbar).. so we just procede slowly when starting 3rd party programs.. and if it won't minimize , we restart the 3rd party program,, and it works..  (Or if possible you can simply terminate the 3rd party program from the non-hiding taskbar (close program option)...  So today we have a much less of a problem than before although not perfect

        AGAIN:  BEWARE of service pack update for WIN7.. it slowed our pc to 1/10th of the normal speed so much that we had to UN-Install it and start anew.. So now we are afraid of these "Updates" which sometimes result in DnDates ..      Sure wish someone would simply come up with a do all , end all, OS that is easy to use, virus adware free, and very speedy.. soo much to ask .. that things work right ?

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-05T08:40:31+00:00

    This solution works!

    (i.e. stop and re-start explorer)

    The problem with taskbar's auto-hide failing to work has annoyed me for years with XP, and now annoys me with Windows7, so I am delighted to have finally discovered this fix for the problem.

    Suppose Microsoft were a responsive company who cared about the experience that users have of their operating system - then they would add a little feature (perhaps another item on taskbar's right-click menu saying "re-enable autohide") to deal with this problem better.

    But it will never happen, so instead we should follow the advice to fix this problem by stopping and re-starting explorer.

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