The default taskbar received a huge overhaul with Windows 11. The Start menu now sites in the center, and there are quite a few changes to the quick toggles and notification center. However, not everything is flawless in the latest Windows 11. Users have been complaining about the auto-hide taskbar not working as expected – leaving them with unusual ways to make it appear. If you face the same, read along to learn to fix the auto-hide taskbar not appearing on Windows 11.
You must return to the desktop by minimizing all windows to make the taskbar appear at the bottom. It’s not the most convenient way to enable the taskbar at the bottom. Instead, you can use the tricks below to fix the auto-hide taskbar not appearing issue once and for all.
1. Disable and Enable Auto-Hide Taskbar Option
You can temporarily disable the auto-hide taskbar option and enable it again to fix the issue. You are resetting the auto-hide taskbar option in Windows 11. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open Windows 11 Settings menu (use Windows + I keys).
Step 2: Select Personalization from the left sidebar.
Step 3: Open Taskbar.
Step 4: Expand Taskbar behaviors.
Step 5: Disable Automatically hides the taskbar toggle and enable it again.
Move your cursor to the bottom and see if the taskbar is appearing or not.
2. Restart The File Explorer
One of the Microsoft forum members suggested restarting the File Explorer process to fix the auto-hide taskbar not appearing.
Step 1: Right-click on the Windows key and open the Task Manager menu (or you can use the Ctrl + Shift + Ess keys).
Step 2: Select the Details tab.
Step 3: Scroll to the Explorer.exe process and select it.
Step 4: Hit the End task button in the top right corner.
Step 5: Select Run new task.
Step 6: Type explorer.exe and hit Ok.
Once explorer is restarted, reboot the computer and verify if the taskbar is still appearing or not.
3. Tweak Windows Projection Settings
Did you connect your Windows PC to an external display? You may want to modify projection settings to make the taskbar appear. Simply press Windows + P keys and open the Project menu. Select PC screen only if you want to work with the external display.
You can also duplicate the screen or extend the screen from laptop to monitor. Select the relevant option and see taskbar appears or not.
4. Try Command Prompt
If you frequently face issues with the Start menu or taskbar, you can run the following command and fix it.
Step 1: Open the Task Manager menu on your PC (refer to the steps above).
Step 2: Select Run new task at the top.
Step 3: Type cmd and hit Enter.
Step 4: Enter the following command and press Enter.
reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\IrisService /f && shutdown -r -t 0
Restart the PC, and the taskbar should appear now.
5. Check Date and Time on Your Computer
Some Windows features do get affected by incorrect date and time on your computer. You can use the steps below and set the correct date and time on Windows 11.
Step 1: Open Windows 11 Settings menu.
Step 2: Select Time & language from the left sidebar.
Step 3: Open the Date & time menu.
Step 4: Enable Set time automatically toggle.
If you still see the incorrect date and time details, you can disable the toggle and manually adjust the time zone, date, and time. Hit the Sync now button from the same menu and save the settings to the Windows time server.
6. Run SFC Scan
You might run into an auto-hide taskbar disappearing issue due to corrupt system files. You can run the SFC scan on your PC and remove bogus files.
Step 1: Press Windows + R keys and open the Run menu.
Step 2: Type cmd to open Windows Terminal.
Step 3: Run the following command.
sfc/scannow
Step 4: Hit the Enter key to run the command.
Restart your PC and see if taskbar appears or not.
7. Hit the Windows Key
While it is not an ideal solution to make the taskbar appear, you can use it as a temporary workaround when none of the tricks work. You can hit the Windows key to open the start menu and make taskbar appear at the bottom.
8. Update Windows 11
Microsoft has admitted to taskbar issues in Windows 11. The company is actively working on future updates to resolve all user problems. You must keep your computer up-to-date to enjoy new features and troubleshoot issues like auto-hide taskbar not appearing.
Open Windows 11 Settings menu and select Windows Update from the left sidebar. Download and install the latest Windows build and fix the issue in no time.
Make Taskbar Appear Again
Auto-hide taskbar not appearing can leave you in confusion. Before you move to a permanent taskbar at the bottom, try the trick above and fix the issue.
