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

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-03-28T22:45:13+00:00

    On my system (see earlier posts) this problem seems to have gone away all by itself - I haven't a clue why this should have happened and I cannot connect it with any particular event, but it has not happened for some weeks now. Very strange.

    Windows 7 Home Premium 32 Bit - Dell XPS420 3GB

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-03-28T22:23:57+00:00

    I have the same problem.  Auto-hide is selected but it doesn't hide itself, whether I minimize windows or not.  It also does it when I'm looking at images with the "Windows Photo Viewer" and obstructs my view and access to the buttons in the program so its not limited to 3rd party programs.

    This is exceedingly annoying and disruptive.  It may seem small but a bee is small but when it stings you it is at least annoying.  Wonder if Microsoft will actually fix this, but based upon this thread and other threads I've read on the matter and for other versions of Windows (I'm having this issue with Windows 7 Ultimate and may have had it with earlier versions too, I don't remember at this time) I'm guessing they may not do anything.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-03-02T00:15:11+00:00

    I just developed this problem and sorted it within 10 minutes, it may not be the same solution for you though of course.

    'Right click' over the windows START icon and choose 'properties'

    Next, choose the 'taskbar' tab and notice the 3 tick boxes under appearance,

    tick whichever behaviour you require, ie if you wish the taskbar to 'Auto-hide' then tick that box and make sure the 'Lock the taskbar' box is not ticked'

    Click 'Apply'....

    and voila....

    Right click over the taskbar and selecting 'lock the taskbar' does not control this behaviour.

    This is purely for shifting any toolbars you have you have active eg' Desktop'

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