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How to Stop the Taskbar From Hiding in Windows 11 and Windows 10

A hidden taskbar is usually caused by the Automatically hide the taskbar setting. Here is how to turn it off in Windows 11 and Windows 10, and what to check if it still disappears.

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If your taskbar disappears when you are not using it, a built-in setting called Automatically hide the taskbar is almost always the cause. Turning it off keeps the taskbar on screen all the time. No utility, accessory, or replacement part is needed.

Turn off automatic hiding in Windows 11

Microsoft’s support guidance for Windows 11 places the control in Taskbar settings, under the Taskbar behaviors section.

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  1. If the taskbar is currently hidden, move the mouse pointer to the bottom edge of the screen, or touch that edge on a touch screen, to bring it back temporarily.
  2. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings.
  3. Expand Taskbar behaviors.
  4. Clear the checkbox for Automatically hide the taskbar.

The taskbar should now stay visible. If you prefer to reach the same page from the main menu, open Start > Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and then expand Taskbar behaviors.

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Turn off automatic hiding in Windows 10

The steps are similar, but Windows 10 can show more than one auto-hide option. Microsoft’s guidance notes that some Windows 10 screens present separate controls for desktop mode and tablet mode.

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  1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and choose Taskbar settings.
  2. Find the automatic hiding option. If you see separate desktop and tablet entries, turn off the one that applies to how you are using the PC.
  3. If you use both modes, turn off the auto-hide option in each.

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so Microsoft no longer issues routine security updates for it. The setting itself still works the same way.

Why the Windows version matters

Windows 10 and Windows 11 handle tablet behavior differently, and that difference explains most of the confusion about which switch to change.

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Item Windows 11 Windows 10
Auto-hide location Taskbar settings > Taskbar behaviors Taskbar settings; may show separate desktop and tablet options
Tablet mode control No manual switch. On touch-capable devices, tablet behavior changes automatically when the device is converted to tablet form or a keyboard is detached or attached (Microsoft support page “Turn tablet mode on or off in Windows”) Tablet mode can be toggled from Action Center (same Microsoft page)
Support status Current Windows release End of support on October 14, 2025

If you are on a Windows 10 tablet-capable device and the taskbar keeps hiding, check whether tablet mode is on. Open Action Center from the notification icon, and toggle Tablet mode off if you want the standard desktop layout.

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If the taskbar still hides

  • The setting is already off but the taskbar still disappears: check whether the Windows 10 tablet-mode option is on, as described above.
  • The taskbar is on another monitor: each display has its own taskbar setting in Windows 11. Open Taskbar settings with the taskbar on that monitor and check the auto-hide option there.
  • The taskbar is only missing during a full-screen app or video: that is usually the app, not the auto-hide setting. Exit full-screen mode and confirm the taskbar returns.

Keep the taskbar visible

Once Automatically hide the taskbar is cleared, Windows keeps the taskbar fixed at the bottom of the screen until you change the setting again.

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The steps above come from Microsoft’s Customize the Taskbar and Make it easier to focus on tasks support pages.

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The Bottom Line

Right-click the taskbar, open Taskbar settings, expand Taskbar behaviors on Windows 11, and clear Automatically hide the taskbar. On Windows 10, turn off the auto-hide option for desktop and tablet mode if both appear.

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