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
    2010-02-06T06:07:06+00:00

    Hi everyone,

    Under normal circumstances this does not happen. Please verify if a third party application is responsible for this behavior.

    Clean boot would be the perfect practice to determine the culprit application. A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

     

    snip

     

     

    Hope this helps in determining the application causing this behavior.

    Regards,

    Shinmila H - Microsoft Support

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

    Under "normal circumstances" this doesn't happen? What does that mean?! Does it mean it's "normal" to ONLY  use MS products? C'mon! 99% of the real world uses 3rd party software - methinks THAT is closer to 'normal'.

    The MS response seems to be "do not run third party software and reboot often" as the "solution" to this problem, er, non-problem (since MS doesn't recognize the issue as existing).  Having an OS that won't run third party software properly is like having to buy your gas from the company that sold you a car just to keep the engine from backfiring...

    Thanks to the non-MS connected souls here who DO actively take an interest in fixing problems.

    For me, it appears that the Outlook icon in the hidden icon tray has started to keep the taskbar visible when there are 'reminders' for appointments etc. Went into the hidden icon tray & right clicked on the Outlook icon, selected "Hide When Minimized", exited the hidden tray & Voila! the taskbar obediently rehid itself. I did previously 'unlock' the taskbar trying to fix this to no avail. Taskbar is still 'unlocked'. We'll see how long it stays happy and hidden.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-02-07T00:01:37+00:00

    What a perfect Name for a perfect little program! OMG you are awesome....

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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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