The taskbar is a horizontal stripe of icons on any Windows computer. It’s the space that contains the essential ‘Start’ or ‘Windows’ button. It’s also accommodating of other important buttons like ‘Search’, ‘Settings’, and any other function the user deems significant to his or her usage. The taskbar also displays vital info such as the date, time, battery, WiFi, sound, and notifications, with icons.

As wonderful as the taskbar is, it can be unwanted at times. Not entirely, because that will only handicap the user’s digital relationship with their Windows 11 device if he/she is unacquainted with hotkeys, but partially. Temporarily and automatically, in other words. Read on to know how you can hide the taskbar on Windows 11, automatically.

Hide the Taskbar from Windows Settings

Right-click on the desktop screen and choose ‘Personalize’ from the pop-up menu.

Scroll down on the ‘Personalization’ screen and click ‘Taskbar’.

Alternatively, just right-click on an empty spot in the taskbar and select ‘Taskbar Settings’ from the pop-up option to reach the same ‘Taskbar’ settings page.

Click on the ‘Taskbar behaviors’ option at the end of the menu on the ‘Taskbar’ settings screen.

Click and select the box in front of the ‘Automatically hide the taskbar’ option under ‘Taskbar behaviors’.

The taskbar will automatically hide when the cursor is not on it.

To unhide the taskbar, deselect the ‘Automatically hide the taskbar’ option on the same ‘Taskbar’ window.

Hide the Taskbar Using Command Prompt on Windows 11

Hit the Windows key + R and type ‘cmd‘ in the Run dialog box and click ‘OK’ or hit ‘Enter’ to launch Command Prompt.

Alternatively, click the ‘Search’ button in the taskbar and enter ‘Command Prompt’ in the search bar. Then select the app name on the left side of the search results or the ‘Open’ option below the app name and icon on the right to launch the application.

Copy and paste the following command on the ‘Command Prompt’ window and press down the ‘Enter’ key once done. 

powershell -command "&{$p='HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3';$v=(Get-ItemProperty -Path $p).Settings;$v[8]=3;&Set-ItemProperty -Path $p -Name Settings -Value $v;&Stop-Process -f -ProcessName explorer}"

The taskbar is now automatically hidden.

If you want to turn off the taskbar from automatically hiding, enter the following command in the Command Prompt window and press ‘Enter’.

powershell -command "&{$p= 'HKCU:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3' ;$v=(Get-ItemProperty -Path $p).Settings;$v[8]=2;&Set-ItemProperty -Path $p -Name Settings -Value $v;&Stop-Process -f -ProcessName explorer}"

How to Change the Taskbar Alignment on Windows 11

Windows 11 has introduced a new taskbar alignment; to the center. Windows users may not really be comfortable with this feature and may find it a little challenging to get used to if their comfort levels remained with the left alignment of the taskbar. Not to worry at all. You can always change the alignment of the taskbar on your Windows 11 device.

First, right-click on the taskbar and click on the ‘Taskbar Settings’ pop-up option.

Next, click the ‘Taskbar Behaviour’ option from the ‘Taskbar Settings’ menu.

Click the ‘Center’ button on the ‘Taskbar Alignment’ option.

The only other alignment option here is ‘Left’. Choose that option from the pop-up to change the taskbar alignment.

You will now be viewing the taskbar in the original alignment.

Unable to Hide the Taskbar?

One of the main reasons why the taskbar stays put even after choosing the ‘Auto-Hide’ option in the Taskbar Settings is that there is an application on the taskbar that needs immediate attention either because it has automatically opened in the background or because there’s a notification for you. Check for these highlighted app icons on your taskbar, open it, and close it back for the taskbar to auto-hide again.

If you have an application that’s also on the system tray, then the taskbar will stay unhidden because this app icon is holding a notification for the respective app. Check your system tray app icons. If there’s an app with a red or orange dot, that means the app has a notification for you. Open the application, and the taskbar will hide again.

Apart from applications and their notifications, the taskbar can be stuck in its place due to a system notification balloon that pops from the corner of the taskbar. Close this balloon to automatically hide the taskbar.

The reasons behind a stubborn taskbar are simple and easy to fix. However, if it isn’t, check if the problem lies with an application. If it does, close the app and end it from the Task Manager if need be. Then check if the taskbar is hidden. If not, restart your computer, and then check if the taskbar goes back to automatically hiding.