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

Mario Liebisch 51 Reputation points

2022-03-11T06:32:12.627+00:00

Microsoft acknowledged the issue in this Feedback Hub thread and promised a solution to be included starting with build 22567.

For the time being, you can also use this tool, which runs in background and tries to fiddle with windows styles to avoid the issue. I've been using it for quite some time and only some games bug out the task bar, but this can be fixed by hitting the Windows key once or twice to make the start menu pop up and close. After that the cursor makes it reappear as expected.
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DMay 1 Reputation point

2022-04-07T21:39:35.877+00:00

Tapping the Windows key pops the Taskbar over top of a window such as a video that is set to fullscreen.

I have the taskbar set to show only the icons for the apps that are open on 'that' monitor. I might have 5 windows open on one monitor and three on another monitor. When I run a video fullscreen the video window covers the taskbar, and I can't access the other 4 apps I have on the monitor. I was having to take my video out of fullscreen. MarioLiebisch's recommendation to hit the Windows key solved my issue!

Thanks!
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LumberJ4Ck 61 Reputation points

2022-05-17T15:36:54.09+00:00

Turning off my HUD FPS Layout in NVIDIA Settings (ALT + Z) appears to have resolved the issue for me.
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Aleo 0 Reputation points

2023-03-02T11:19:40.1866667+00:00

Ha, I was getting ticked off, this was the issue for me!

Kane 5 Reputation points

2023-05-20T09:20:35.3033333+00:00

Thank you! This works without having to disable Nvidia GeForce Experience entirely.

CJ 0 Reputation points

2023-06-09T13:56:23.8066667+00:00

This worked like a charm dude, thanks so much!

Bryson Tidman 10 Reputation points

2023-07-09T23:12:26.0766667+00:00

This was the issue for me and disabling performance overlay fixed it. You don't have to alltogether disable geforce experience in-game overlay, but just the performance indicator seems to have fixed it. DUMB.

DaPistolShrimp 11 Reputation points

2023-07-14T12:18:48.2133333+00:00

This also worked for me. Nvidia needs to fix this.

Zuko 5 Reputation points

2024-01-18T15:47:54.7966667+00:00

Wow you solved it. Thankyou so much.

Bobby Hill 0 Reputation points

2024-12-26T00:31:22.14+00:00

It's been 2 years and this is still an issue for the Performance HUD. NVIDIA is a multi-billion dollar Corporation. Why are we dealing with HDMI and HUD issues from them?
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Dalton Reeves 146 Reputation points

2022-07-25T18:32:12.317+00:00

What a trash OS that this happens and I have to install and adjust Nvidia's program? its July 2022 and this is happening? Awful.

Seems the easier solution is to just click and unclick this box.
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Ary 6 Reputation points

2022-09-29T11:26:02.2+00:00

I have tried mucking around with the regedit and followed the online articles and videos but still the new updates on the Windows 11 revert back to the defaults.
I now absolutely hate the windows 11 ! hate how the new windows 11 doesn't allow you to move your task bar to the top. Having the task bar at the bottom is not ergonomic and it hurt my neck.
What happened to having the option to customize your windows
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Mario Liebisch 51 Reputation points

2022-09-29T15:20:09.883+00:00

Updated to Windows 11 22H2 last week and it seems like this finally fixed all my focusing issues.

Since then I never had an issue making the taskbar pop up (except while watching a fullscreen video or playing a fullscreen game, as expected). Also my recent issues switching to different windows was fixed as well.
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Bill Robinson 10 Reputation points

2025-09-17T17:44:32.9366667+00:00

So here I am in 2025 having this same damned issue again, even though I'm on the latest updated Win11 (24H2) from auto Win updates. Why does Microsoft keep doing this to us?? Is there any solution to this problem, short of reverting back to Win10? And by "on top", I mean "in front"!
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How do I make the Windows 11 Taskbar always on top?

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