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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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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
    2011-07-23T23:46:56+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

    The real problem is when taskbar gets unhidden is because a program wants your attention, but, the icons in the notification area (in my case) won't blink  or display any alert forcing me to click on every one of them in order to find out who wants it, then the taskbar autohides again.

    It should be easier if they'd blink or display an speech balloon but that comes from the software designer.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-23T23:49:44+00:00

    Had same problem.

    Clicked on little white flag ( action centre) as mentioned before, looked at and deleted the 'actions'. Problem solved.

    This also worked for me - after wasting 40 minutes searching the internet for solutions.  Microsoft - please do something so that people don't have to waste their time trying to figure this out.  I don't think that most people would think to open up the little arrow at the bottom of their screen and start clicking on random icons.  I needed to get some work done on Excel, which is a complete impossibility if you need to use the horizontal scroll function.  Not happy...

    The real problem is when taskbar gets unhidden is because a program wants your attention, but, the icons in the notification area (in my case) won't blink  or display any alert forcing me to click on every one of them in order to find out who wants it, then the taskbar autohides again.

    It should be easier if they'd blink or display an speech balloon but that comes from the software designer.

    I ended up eliminating the useless action center (google it, it will show how to do it) it had me bugged off cuz it doesn't blink or attracts my attention in some way, can't Microsoft put the icons to bounce like Apple? now I have the same problem with dropbox or other software every now and then

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-07-26T07:51:19+00:00

    Wow, I had the exact same problem -.- this fixed it, thanks man! and nice job being useless MS!

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