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
    2016-05-17T18:30:04+00:00

    In Windows 7, all commands are merely suggestions. "Auto hide the task bar," is merely a suggestion, which the computer can override at any time for any or no reason. So is "always on top," or your folder settings. This started with Windows Vista, and unfortunately the only solution is to roll back to Windows XP or older. Micro$oft has no plans to fix this bug, and there is speculation that it's intentional. Frog, slow boil, and all that. There may be a way to fix it by hacking the OS, but I wouldn't know how to do that.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-05-12T21:16:45+00:00

    If this forum showed the replies BELOW the original post like most thinking forums online, I wouldn't have to post this.  This is a reply to the first page, to nicolaj82 who posted a registry fix.  Wondering if anyone has tried it and if there are any downsides.  I never want that stupid Taskbar appearing unless I hit the Windows key on my keyboard.  Using Task Manager is not a fix at all.  I don't want to go back to XP.  Please...there must be a real solution to this stupidity.  

    Here is the registry fix mentioned:

    In Regedit, navigate to:

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Streams\Desktop]

    delete the value named 'Toolbars'.

    In Task Manager, select 'File' -> 'New Task' -> type 'explorer' to restart

    the shell.

    If that doesn't do the trick, repeat deleting 'TaskbarWinXP' as well.

    Well isn't that wonderful.  I don't even have any value named Toolbars there.  I did have Taskbar WinXP and when that was deleted the auto hide function seems to work.  Still its activated by the mouse.  We need to stop that from happening.  Otherwise that thing will constantly pop up when your mouse is wandering the screen.  There must be a way of turning it off.  

    If anyone knows the term for this (mouse activation?) let us know.  Without the right word, Googling is a lot more difficult!

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-05-12T21:10:16+00:00

    > Typical **** Microsoftanswer - "if it's broken it must be a virus because our products don't have any bugs (that we know of)"

    EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    If you want accurate info you never go to the company that has the problem.  You'll never get unbiased info there.  Will a Ford salesman tell you the downsides of their products?  Probably not.  Thankfully Microsoft allows the public to post here.  But obviously they couldn't care less as this has been going on so long.  The first post of this thread was 2009.  Now, in 2016, the problem remains.  All bow to Microsoft.  They care.  Not.  Ever noticed some of the braindead suggestions posted by Microsoft lackies here?  

    "Yes, I did remember to power on the computer."

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