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How to Hide the Taskbar in Windows 11 and Windows 10

Use Windows taskbar settings to hide the bar until you move to or touch the screen’s bottom edge. Here’s where to enable auto-hide and what to check if the option is unavailable.
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To hide the taskbar automatically in Windows 11, right-click an empty area of the taskbar, choose Taskbar settings, expand Taskbar behaviors, and turn on Automatically hide the taskbar. When it disappears, move the pointer to—or touch—the bottom edge of the screen to reveal it. Turn the same setting off to keep the taskbar visible.

Hide the taskbar in Windows 11

  1. Right-click an empty part of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
  2. Expand Taskbar behaviors.
  3. Select Automatically hide the taskbar.

The taskbar then stays out of view until you need it. Move the mouse pointer to, or touch, the bottom edge of the screen to reveal it. To keep it on screen, return to Taskbar behaviors and clear Automatically hide the taskbar. Microsoft documents this option for desktop and tablet modes in its Windows taskbar customization guide; its accessibility guidance describes the same control.

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What “hide taskbar” means

Auto-hide conceals the entire taskbar until you reveal it. It is different from removing or hiding individual items such as Search, Task View, pinned app icons, or notification-area icons. Those controls have their own taskbar settings or, on managed computers, administrative policies. Microsoft documents some of those controls and restrictions in its taskbar policy settings.

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If the taskbar setting is missing or unavailable

  • Check that you opened Taskbar behaviors in Taskbar settings; the auto-hide checkbox is nested there.
  • On a work- or school-managed PC, an administrator policy may restrict access to taskbar settings. Ask the administrator if the control is unavailable; a missing setting alone does not prove that policy is the cause.
  • If you are using an alternate taskbar position in a Windows 11 preview, check the update-specific limitations. In a post dated May 15, 2026, Microsoft said auto-hide and the tablet-optimized taskbar were not yet supported in alternate positions. That statement applies to the update described in that Insider post, not necessarily every stable Windows 11 release or device: Windows Insider Blog, May 15, 2026.

Windows 10 and support status

Microsoft’s taskbar customization information covers Windows 10 as well as Windows 11, but the current setting labels and screens can differ by version. Microsoft’s support notice says Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. The end of support is not evidence that the taskbar auto-hide option itself stopped existing, but it does mean Windows 10 should not be treated as currently supported.

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Choose auto-hide or a visible taskbar

Enable auto-hide if you want the taskbar out of view until you call it up. Leave it disabled if you want its controls continuously on screen. This is a built-in Windows setting; no extra app is needed.

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  • Equipped with a blazing fast Core i5 2.00 GHz processor.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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