How to Fix Windows Taskbar Not Working

Windows is a great operating system that has received praise from critics and users alike. However, with a newer OS, there is always the risk of a few bugs that lead to annoying problems. One of these is the taskbar, which has been shown to have occasional errors that make it malfunction in one way or another.

To troubleshoot your taskbar, use the options below to restore it to its previous functionality. These steps work on both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

1. Restart Windows Explorer

The simplest solution often works best. If your problems just require a restart, the process is very straightforward.

1. Press Window Key + R to launch the Run app, then write Task Manager or taskmgr.exe.
2. Alternatively, hit Ctrl + Alt + Del all at once.
3. Go to the Processes tab and look for Windows Explorer.
4. Select Windows Explorer and click Restart. This should reboot the program shortly, and in all likelihood, will solve your taskbar issues.

2. Check for updates and restart

If restarting doesn’t fix the problem, you may need to update your drivers. First things first, check for updates and download all Microsoft updates. It could be that a driver has not been properly installed. Once your updates are installed, reboot the computer and see if hat fixes the problem.

3. Use Windows PowerShell

PowerShell takes things a significant step further than simple restarts and updates. This program allows you to start getting into the command line code.

To use it, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Start menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin), then type PowerShell and hit Enter.
2. Alternatively, you could press the Windows Key + R and write PowerShell
3. Paste the following command into the window: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach Add-AppxPackage - DisableDevelopmentMode - Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"
4. When the command has been executed, close PowerShell and open Explorer. Navigate through the menus until you reach "C:\Users\name\AppData\Local\"
5. Scroll down to the folder named TileDataLayer. Delete it. At this point, your taskbar should be working again.

4. Create a New User Account

If the taskbar still isn’t functioning, you can create a new user account. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Accounts and choose Family & Other Users.
3. Go to where it says Other Users and choose Add someone else to this PC.
4. Choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
5. Select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
6. Create the user, choose Next, and then make the user an administrator.
7. Under Other users, find the new account and choose Change account type, then choose Administrator. At this point, you should be able to use this other account, and there, you should find a fully functional taskbar.

Get troubleshooting assistance at SoftwareKeep