Borderless Window (Fullscreen) underneath taskbar

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need more information.

1. Windows 11 full version and OS Build number. Please use Winver.exe
2. Start11 full version number
3. Start11 enhance taskbar turn on or off?
4. Is the issue appear on any games with borderless window? If you use the full screen mode does the issue appear?

Thank You.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

• Windows Build: Version 24H2 (OS Build 26100.2033)
• Start11 version: 2.11
• Enhanced Taskbar is on.
• It affects all games with borderless window and fullscreen applications, like a full screened video in VLC, or video playing in Chrome.

It is not something that happens consistently. I suspect it is something that starts occurring once I have alt tabbed out of an application a couple of times.

It is happening almost every time I full screen a video in a web browser.

I can not reproduce your issue on my system. I tried with Chrome playing full screen youtube video and alt tabbed to notepad multiple time. Any specific Website and app application that you can see the issue 100% time that I can try to reproduce?

Also need information on your hardware specially your graphics card and do you have any overlays turn on.

Thank you.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I can confirm that this is an issue with the enhanced taskbar. Having disabled that, the issues go away completely. Which is a shame because I kind of hate it without the enhanced mode.

As I said, it isn't consistent. It behaves normally at first but then begins showing window previews and sticking over fullscreen apps. I will post a screenshot and conditions next time I get it.

Specs:

• Monitor resolution: 1440p
• GPU: RTX 4070
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5700X3D
• RAM: 32GB 3200mhz

Something might not get installed properly. Please try this, uninstall Start11, reboot immediately (important). Re-download the installer. Reinstall it. Reboot immediately right after installation is done. Retest and report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I performed a reinstallation per instruction and I still have the issue. I took a screenshot to show the taskbar showing window previews and sticking above the game but I don't know how useful that is. To reiterate, it's something that happens over time and I don't know what triggers it. I can restart explorer either from taskmanager or the button in Start11's options and it'll solve it but the issue will come back.

Please try cleanboot and see if there is something else causing it: https://forums.stardock.com/505872/start11-support-faq#cleanboot.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I know this wasn't what was asked for, but I did a full clean install of Windows 11 Pro. Same issue still present.

I'm having what I think is the same problem with the taskbar intermittently remaining on top of borderless full screen games.
From what I can tell it only happens for me if I leave my mouse on the item on the taskbar long enough for the window preview to show up.
If I alt-tab to it or click on the window on the taskbar to switch to the window before the window preview shows up it doesn't happen.

Windows Version 23H2 (OS Build 22631.4317)
Start11 v2.11
Start11 enhance taskbar on
Happens with both Windows 11 and Windows 10 Taskbar button style settings

I have tried a new install on a new admin user account and the problem still happens

Hello,
I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

When you notice this happening, if you restart Windows Explorer, can you readily still make it happen immediately after?

Restarting Windows Explorer

or...

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Yes it happens after restarting explorer. After some more testing it doesn't seem to be intermittent and happens every time for me if I allow the window preview to appear before clicking the window for the borderless fullscreen program on the taskbar.
Restarting explorer makes no difference, it still happens consistently.
To be absolutely certain I tested on both my every day user account and on a new admin account using Microsoft's clean boot instructions and with a fresh install of Start11 and its happening on both accounts.

Hi everyone

For testing what's going on, just couple questions to anyone experiencing this issue:

1. Can you observe the same issue occurring if you disable the Start11 Start Menu style?  

2. Does clicking somewhere within the full screen/borderless window make the taskbar go away, or does this not have an effect?

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Customer Support Specialist

1. It still occurs with Start11 Start Menu style disabled. I turned it off and rebooted and tested again just to make sure.

2. Clicking within the borderless window does not have an effect, the taskbar remains.

Not sure if it's helpful but from what I can tell it happens with exclusive fullscreen windows as well, it just gets covered up.
E.g.
1. Hover mouse over an exclusive fullscreen window on the taskbar so the preview appears to trigger the bug
2. Click on it to switch to the fullscreen window. Taskbar vanishes as expected
3. Change the program from exclusive fullscreen to borderless in its options
4. Taskbar shows up over the now borderless window

If I instead
1. Switch to exclusive fullscreen window in a way that doesn't trigger the bug, by alt-tabbing or clicking before the preview shows up
2. Change the program from exclusive fullscreen to borderless in its options
3. Taskbar does not show up over the now borderless window

I can also confirm that restarting explorer through the Start11 option solves it until the issue appears again. When in the "glitched" state, Clicking within the borderless windowed or alt tabbed game does not put the game in front of the taskbar, but double tapping the windows key does.

I have bought a key in the sale even though I am still having issues with it. The enhanced taskbar is causing the issue for me.

Did this get fixed for you?  I still have the issue.  I can usually get it to go away by clicking the taskbar to lose focus out of game and then click in game again.