Taskbar ocassionally hidden

from Stardock Forums

Start 11, 2.74 Windows Info:
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 25H2
OS build 26200.9168

Occasionally, when another program is full-screen (as expected), it hides the Windows 11 Start taskbar. However, when I move my cursor down to where the taskbar should be, the taskbar won't pop up. On those occasions, I have to fully minimize the other program in order to get the taskbar to pop up.

Stardock Software Start Menu Products Type: Bug Report
81 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues. Does the taskbar appear if you press your Windows key on your keyboard while in full screen?

Thank you,

Basj,

Stardock Community  Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

The Start 11 program menu AND the taskbar both appear when pressing the Windows key when this happens.

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I looked into this and I notice that this issue is known in Windows 11 when application running on full screen.

I did a little dig using their own Copilot and these is what I get:

Yes — the Windows 11 taskbar auto‑hide failing to unhide in full‑screen mode is a known issue that has been reported repeatedly. It usually happens when apps are maximized or running in borderless‑windowed mode instead of true full‑screen, or when notifications/widgets force the taskbar to stay visible.
 

🔎 Why This Happens

  • Fullscreen vs Maximized: Many apps (games, browsers, video players) use “borderless windowed” mode that looks full‑screen but isn’t. In this mode, Windows treats the taskbar as active and prevents auto‑hide.

  • Notifications & Badges: Taskbar badges, flashing icons, or widget alerts can override auto‑hide and keep the taskbar visible.

  • Explorer Glitches: Windows Explorer occasionally fails to refresh auto‑hide state, leaving the taskbar stuck.

  • Multi‑Monitor/Scaling Issues: On setups with multiple displays or mixed DPI scaling, taskbar auto‑hide can misbehave.

⚠️ Key Takeaway

This is not a new bug — it’s a recurring Windows 11 shell behavior documented since 2025. Microsoft hasn’t issued a permanent fix, but the above steps are widely reported to resolve it. If the issue persists across multiple apps, it points to Windows shell/Explorer misbehavior rather than the apps themselves.

Thank you,

Basj,

Stardock Community  Assistant