Why is Taskbar Showing Full-screen? How to Fix it

A very common problem for Windows 10 users is the taskbar not hiding in full-screen mode. This scenario makes it inconvenient to use various fullscreen applications or even stream media in fullscreen. The issue could be caused by poorly configured taskbar settings, generic system errors, or application configuration.

While Windows 10 is the latest version of Microsoft's operating system, even advanced programs have faults of their own. The perfect example is a taskbar in full-screen that hinders the user experience. The obstructed view of your screen while trying to accomplish certain tasks can be a distraction at best, and a slight setback at worst. It may block out important elements, making it impossible to click on them.

Read: Taskbar showing in fullscreen? Here's how to fix it

How to Fix Why is Taskbar Showing in Full screen Windows 10?

Luckily, there are quick and easy solutions that will hide your taskbar while you are in full-screen mode. Follow these simple steps for each method in order to restore a new level of convenience to your computer use.

Solution 1: Check your Taskbar Settings

The first thing you should do when troubleshooting this issue is to double-check your settings. More often than not, this simple method can solve your problems with a stubborn taskbar. Choosing to auto-hide the taskbar will provide a good full-screen viewing experience and a great temporary solution.

One of the easiest ways to hide your taskbar is to change your taskbar settings. To achieve this, follow the below steps: 

1. Press your Windows key + I together to open your settings.
   
   
   
   
2. Next, click Personalization and select Taskbar.
   
   
3. on the left pane, click Task Bar choose the options “Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode” and “automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode”. Make sure they're turned on.
   
   
4. Close the tab and see if the issue is fixed. If the problem still stands, make sure to continue reading and follow the steps in Solution 2 below.

 Solution 2: Restart Windows Explorer

Although it's gotten rare, the Windows Explorer process may still cause some issues on your device if it's running inappropriately. Simply restarting this operation is an easy job - you don't even have to restart your computer. Complete the steps below, and fix your taskbar on Windows 10:

To use this method, follow the below steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Windows Task Manager. Alternatively, you can right-click the Taskbar and choose Task Manager.
2. If the Task Manager launched in compact view, click on the More details option seen in the bottom left of the window to expand it.
   
   
3. A list of your currently active processes should load in the pop-up window. Normally, there should be a great number of processes running. Locate and select the Windows Explorer process by clicking on it once.
   
4. Next, right-click on the Windows Explorer process, and then select Restart from the context menu. Your screen may act strange for the next few seconds, as elements disappear and then re-appear; this is normal.
   
5. This process should help you hide your taskbar showing in full-screen.

Solution 3: Turn off Visual effects on Windows

Users have reported that turning off the visual effects on your computer may help solve some of the issues related to using applications in full-screen. To turn off visual effects, follow the next steps:

1. Open the Settings app by clicking on the gear icon in the Start menu. Alternatively, you can open the app by pressing down the Windows and I keys on your keyboard.
   
   
2. On the list of tiles, select the System tile.
   
   
3. Switch to the About tab using the menu in the left-side pane. It should be the very last button as you scroll down. From the Related settings in the right-side pane, click on the Advanced system settings link.
   
   
4. A new pop-up window should appear. This time, click on the Settings button in the Performance section, as shown below. 
   
   
5. Another pop-up should appear with the Visual Effects tab open. Here, all you have to do is select the Adjust for best performance preset, then click on the Apply button.
   
   
6. Once done, consider restarting your PC. Restarting usually solves many other issues as well, so this may be one of the best methods to follow. After applying your changes, your system should check for updates and adjust settings accordingly. Doing so may fix your issues with full-screen apps and the taskbar showing up.

Solution 4: Override High DPI behavior in Chrome

Overriding the high-DPI scaling behavior in Chrome is a quick and easy solution to the problem the taskbar presents in full-screen mode. You can achieve this by:

1. Right-click on the Google Chrome icon located on your taskbar. 
2. Select "Properties" 
3.  Next, select "Compatibility" and click on the checkbox that says, "Override high-DPI scaling behavior".
   
   
4.  Save your changes and exit the settings.

Following this method will require you to restart Google Chrome. Make sure your issue has been resolved after changing your settings. If it works, you should not have to encounter this issue again.

Solution 5:Use a Third-Party app

If none of these methods work for you, you can use the Reimage Repair Tool in order to restore corrupted or missing files and increase performance.

1. Download the Reimage Repair Tool here. After installing the application, launch it and begin scanning your device for any issues.
2. The tool will automatically identify and fix most problems with your system. This could help you in overcoming the issue at hand.

Make Sure Auto-Hide feature is On

Choosing to auto-hide the taskbar will provide a good full-screen viewing experience. It allows you to keep the taskbar from appearing during full-screen mode without having to select any further options. Auto-hiding a taskbar is a temporary solution to the taskbar showing in full-screen. To auto-hide, the taskbar in Windows 10, follow the steps below.

1. Press your Windows key + I together to open your settings. 
2. Next, click Personalization and select Taskbar.
3. Next, change the option to automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode to "ON". 
4. After your changes have been saved, the taskbar will disappear from your screen until you move your mouse to any part of the desktop that will cause the taskbar to reappear.

If none of these methods work for you, you can use the Reimage Repair Tool in order to restore corrupted or missing files and increase performance. 

Scenario 1: Taskbar showing in Full-Screen During a Game

Taskbar showing in a full-screen game? Many avid gamers have complained about the taskbar showing in full-screen games.

This hinders their progress in games that usually require the full-screen mode to function properly. For many games, there are some essential functions of games that are hidden and unreachable by the taskbar.

Even selecting “auto-hide” while in full-screen is only a temporary solution. This is because the taskbar still tends to appear again when you move your mouse to the edge or bottom of the screen. There are a couple of ways to solve this issue and improve your gaming experience.

You can start by unpinning the program icons from your taskbar, beginning with Google Chrome.

In some cases, unpinning programs will prevent the taskbar from appearing at the bottom of your screen while you are gaming. You will be able to pin the programs back onto the taskbar once your issue has been resolved.

Another method of solving this issue is to:

1. Open the task manager, go to the “Details” tab, and click “End Task” on explorer.exe. This will cause your desktop to disappear.
2. After this, enter File > Run New Task, and choose explorer.exe to bring your desktop back.

Scenario 2: Taskbar Showing in Full-Screen on Google Chrome

Is your taskbar showing in full-screen Chrome? The issue with the taskbar remaining on your desktop during full-screen can also happen while you are in Google Chrome. This can occur when you are watching a video in full-screen mode, which can block a section of your video and become a distraction. The way to solve this issue is quite simple, once you get the hang of it.

1. Navigate to your desktop and locate your Google Chrome shortcut. Right-click on the icon, and choose Properties from the context menu.
   
2. Switch to the Compatibility tab, and then click on the Change high DPI settings button.
   
   
3. Click on the checkbox next to Override high DPI scaling behavior to turn the feature on. Click OK and close all the windows.
   
   
4. Most browsers need to be restarted before changes take effect. To confirm that this issue has been resolved once following these steps, try playing a video from any website from Google Chrome in full-screen mode after relaunching the application.

To confirm that this issue has been resolved once following these steps, try playing a video from any website from Google Chrome in full-screen mode.

We also recommend installing any new Google Chrome updates that might've been released. Updates allow the browser to have access to new features, security updates, and bug fixes.

Scenario 3: Taskbar Showing in Full-screen On YouTube

There are many browsers available for download today, but Google Chrome remains one of the most popular choices even now. Despite its popularity amongst browsers, users still experience issues with Google Chrome's handling of going full-screen mode, especially when the taskbar remains showing. 

Just like any other video viewed on Windows 10, the taskbar will tend to show in full-screen YouTube videos. This can be detrimental to your video-watching experience and become an inconvenience. Fortunately, the resolution to this issue is similar to many other solutions that have already been discussed within this article.

This problem can occur when you are browsing or watching a video in full-screen mode, which can block a section of your screen and become a distraction. The way to solve this issue is by overriding high DPI behavior in Chrome.

When it comes down to it, restarting Windows Explorer is one of the most commonly mentioned solutions to the issue of the taskbar showing in full-screen. After following any of the methods listed previously, saving your changes and restarting may be your best bet.

Final thoughts

If you need any further help with Windows 10, don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer service team, available 24/7 to assist you. Return to us for more informative articles all related to productivity and modern day technology!

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