How to automatically hide the Windows 10 and 11 taskbar

How to automatically hide the taskbar in Windows 11

1. Right-click an empty space on the taskbar.
2. Click Taskbar settings.
   
3. Click Taskbar behaviors.
4. Check the box next to Automatically hide the taskbar.
   
5. Close settings.

The taskbar disappears when your cursor moves away and reappears when you hover at the bottom edge.

How to automatically hide the taskbar in Windows 10

Windows 10 uses a slightly different path. Note: Microsoft ended Windows 10 support in October 2025, so consider upgrading to Windows 11 when convenient.

1. Right-click an empty space on the taskbar.
2. Click Taskbar settings.
3. Toggle Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode to On.

The taskbar disappears when your cursor moves away. To bring it back, move your cursor to the bottom edge of the screen.

Taskbar won't hide? Here's the fix

The taskbar can stay visible even with auto-hide on. This usually happens when an app has an active notification.

• Check for notifications: Look for a flashing icon or a small red dot on an app (like Teams or Discord). Once you click the notification, the taskbar should hide.
• Restart Explorer: If it's still stuck, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Find Windows Explorer in the list, right-click it, and select Restart. This resets the taskbar.