How To Hide the Windows 10 Taskbar During Full Screen Video Playback

How to Hide the Taskbar in Windows 10 While Watching Full-Screen Videos

Dealing with the taskbar showing up at the worst times — like when trying to binge-watch a show full-screen? Totally annoying, right? There’s a way to hide that thing, so it doesn’t steal the spotlight from your videos. Making the taskbar go away gives you a nice, clean viewing area, which is what you want. Here’s the deal on how to get that done:

First off, right-click anywhere on the taskbar. This brings up a menu with some options. You’ll want to select “Taskbar settings” from that menu. Alternatively, you could meander through the settings like: Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, but let’s be real — who wants to click through a million menus if you don’t have to?

In the taskbar settings, there’s a toggle that says “Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode.” Flip that one on. What this does is hide the taskbar when you’re not using it, like when you’re lost in movie mode. If you’re using tablet mode, there’s even a toggle for that, but that’s a rabbit hole for another day.

Next up, make sure your taskbar isn’t locked. If it is, some changes won’t work. Right-click the taskbar again and look for “Lock the taskbar”. If it’s checked, uncheck it. Think of it as giving permission for the bar to disappear when it needs to.

If after all this the taskbar is still hanging around like an unwanted guest, the classic restart might just do the trick. You can restart through the Start Menu > Power > Restart route or hit Alt + F4 on your desktop and select Restart from there. Simple, right?

Tips for Handling That Taskbar Like a Pro

Beyond the basics, here are a few things that might save some headaches:

• Keep Windows 10 updated to grab any fixes that might help with taskbar issues. Check for updates in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
• Tapping F11 in most browsers automatically hides the taskbar while you’re in full-screen mode. Kinda convenient, huh?
• Over at Settings > System > Notifications & actions, manage your notifications. Sometimes they pop up, causing the taskbar to show up too.
• For the more tech-savvy, check out third-party tools like TaskbarX or DisplayFusion. These give you extra control over taskbar behavior when you’re trying to watch something uninterrupted.

Got Questions About Hiding the Taskbar?

Why won’t my taskbar hide during full-screen play?

This is usually due to some program or alert that keeps dragging the taskbar back into sight. Check and manage your notifications from Settings > System > Notifications & actions. Uncluttering background processes can help too.

What if the taskbar is still visible after changing the settings?

Always worth a restart to kick any stubborn glitches to the curb. Verify that “Automatically hide the taskbar” is still turned on and make sure the taskbar isn’t locked. Sometimes a few updates might be overdue, so check on that, too.

Are there any tools to keep the taskbar hidden more effectively?

For sure! Tools like TaskbarX or DisplayFusion can help you customize it how you want. They might even let you keep it hidden during certain apps or videos.

How do I make the taskbar show again once it’s hidden?

If you’ve got auto-hide on, just move your pointer to the bottom of the screen, and poof — there it is! If it’s set to the side, just hover over there instead.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for toggling the taskbar visibility?