How do I make the Windows 11 Taskbar always on top?

TiredSoul 201

I cant seem to access my taskbar when it is hidden by auto-hide, and when I use the shortcuts, then switch to my tabs, it immediately disappears instead of going down. Every article I've read are for older windows versions, and use taskbar properties, but I don't know how to access taskbar properties on Windows 11, as right clicking it doesn't have all the options it used to.

Mario Liebisch 51 Reputation points

2021-12-14T13:38:53.567+00:00

The very same issue has been bugging me for weeks. I originally thought it's a side-effect by Battlefield 2042's fullscreen mode (which sometimes crashes the ShellExperienceHost handling the regular Start Menu (but not the Search version accessible through Win+S), but only recently noticed it's actually (most likely) caused by the task bar no longer being always on top.

I'm pretty sure it hasn't been that way when Windows 11 released, but I might be wrong. It made me go back to the always visible task bar, since it's just annoying when you can't access anything with the bar not popping up (due to being behind other windows and the Start menu not always showing).

Guess I'm writing a small script to just manipulate the window style on my own…
Fredrik Lidström 31 Reputation points

2022-01-14T14:49:45.547+00:00

I'm having this problem as well. The taskbar is frequently obscured by other windows which makes it quite unusable. Have experienced this ever since I upgraded to Windows 11, but I have not found any solution to it. When searching I find answers regarding moving the taskbar to the top of the screen, which has nothing to do with the problem I am experiencing.

I don't understand how this apparent bug is flying under the radar?!

It's becoming very apparent that Windows 11 is the new Windows 8, with changes no one ever asked for or wanted. Here's hoping Windows 12 will be the new Windows 10 where they try to fix most of their mistakes.
ElkkuOne 11 Reputation points

2022-03-02T08:37:01.207+00:00

I had the same problem, and went to github to find solution and found someone that made a fix to atleast GeForce window broblem, so i don't have to turn it off ingame owerlay
https://github.com/dechamps/RudeWindowFixer
JUAN M 1 Reputation point

2022-06-03T16:22:15.503+00:00

I want to move the taskbar back to the bottom of the screen, since what i meant for always on top was on top of all windows. But when I change the regedit back to number 03, press ok, then restart, the taskbar remains on top of the screen. When I check the regedit again, i see that the number goes back to 01. What should i do?
T Mac 5 Reputation points

2023-02-21T22:07:45.0566667+00:00

I am having this same issue. All the sudden it just stopped showing up when I have windows open on full screen.
Steve Olsen 0 Reputation points

2023-12-01T16:57:49.28+00:00

This worked for me:

https://windowsreport.com/windows-11-taskbar-always-on-top/

It is basically changing a registry value in:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects3

In "Settings"

On line 00000008, byte 5, change 03 to 01...

Then in Task Manager restart Windows Explorer.
Behzad 0 Reputation points

2024-02-09T11:28:19.95+00:00

same issue here, very annoying, worst when the keyboard covers the taskbar or you swipe up to see the taskbar but the start menu pops up, and cannot do anything before u close the stat menu. also most of the time must manually open the virtual keyboard when using this waste of money as a tablet. it has been my worst Microsoft experience

22 answers

Lucas Røyrvik 10 Reputation points

2025-02-24T10:14:59.49+00:00
Any type of overlay meant for full screen or in-game can make this behavior happen, notably this happened to me with NVIDIA, after the new app .

Make sure to disable the NVIDIA overlay, and other overlays meant for full screen or windowed full screen, E.G. Steam, Xbox, MSI Afterburner, discord etc.

These can all interfere with the taskbar and window visibility, making them overlay the taskbar, they should only be enabled with intended applications.

How to toggle NVIDIA overlay:

Alt + R,

if this does not work, try:
1. Alt + Z
2. Statistics
3. Toggle "show Statistics in heads up display"
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2 people found this answer helpful.
Nick Stevens 0 Reputation points

2025-05-25T18:53:34.1566667+00:00

Thanks. Great answer. All I wanted was to see my taskbar on top of other windows. Nvidia overlay was what was stopping this from happening. Thanks again
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How do I make the Windows 11 Taskbar always on top?

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