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How to Fix a Frozen Windows 10 Taskbar

Bottom bar not responding? One of these tips should get things back on track

By Karen Marcus Karen Marcus Writer University of Colorado at Denver Colorado State University Karen Marcus is a former Lifewire writer who has also written for companies like HP, Intel, IBM, Samsung, and others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 7, 2022 Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide When the Windows 10 taskbar isn't working, it may manifest in one of several ways: Clicking the taskbar has no effect, icons don't show up, or keyboard shortcuts don't work. The instructions in this article apply only to Windows 10.

Cause of Windows 10 Taskbar Not Responding

The Windows 10 taskbar may be frozen for a variety of reasons, including an incomplete operating system update, an update bug, corrupted system files, or corrupted user account files. The procedures we outline here rely on launching tasks through Task Manager, but if you can execute them through the Start menu or other shortcuts, use that method instead.

How to Get a Windows 10 Frozen Taskbar to Work

You may not realize how much you use the Taskbar until it's frozen. There are several ways to get back control of this overlooked feature. See the list below for several solutions, from easy to increasing difficulty. Use Task Manager to restart Windows Explorer. Under the Processes tab, select Windows Explorer, then select Restart at the bottom. Run an SFC scan. Press Win+X to open the Power User menu, then select either PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). Run the command sfc \scannow. Use Powershell. This is a two-part process. First, enable the Windows Firewall. Press Win+R. In the Run dialog box, type powershell and then press Enter. At the prompt, type the following command, then press Enter: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} Run DISM image management command. You'll need to run the Command Prompt as an administrator. In the next window, at the prompt, type Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then press Enter. Wait until verification is 100 percent complete. Enable the User Manager. From the Startup type menu, select Automatic and click OK. Disable recently opened items. Go to Settings > Personalization > Start, then turn off Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar. Run System Restore. Select a restore point closest to before your issues began for best results. Create a new user account. Sign in to the new user account. If the taskbar works, transfer your files to the new account and delete the old one. If you still have problems, consider consulting with a professional to get your computer fixed. FAQ What do I do if my taskbar won't stay locked? Right-click the taskbar, select Properties, then uncheck Auto-hide the taskbar and select Apply > OK. If that doesn't fix the issue, right-click the taskbar and unlock it, then reboot your PC. Once rebooted, adjust the taskbar to your liking and lock it. If the problem still persists, reinstall the taskbar. What do I do if my taskbar won't hide? Right-click the taskbar and open Taskbar Settings, then turn on Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Switch Command Prompt and PowerShell on the Win+X Menu How to Open Command Prompt (Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, etc.) Windows 10 Start Menu Not Working? Try These Fixes How to Open an Elevated Command Prompt in Windows How to Fix It When Windows Spotlight Is Not Working on Windows 10 How to Open File Explorer in Windows 11 How to Fix It When Copy and Paste Isn't Working in Windows 10/11 Windows 10 Battery Report: What It Is And How to Use It How to Open Disk Management From Command Prompt How to Disable Cortana in Windows 10 What to Do When Windows 10 Settings Are Not Working How to Find a Windows 11 Product Key How to View Windows Uptime in Windows 10 How to Reinstall Windows Defender in Windows 11 How to Force-Quit a Program (Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP) How to Fix a Frozen Computer Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies