The taskbar is stuck at the top of the screen and can’t be moved or removed.

[teoz]

Hi everyone,

My brother accidentally set up a permanent taskbar at the top of the screen on our PC. I can’t seem to move or remove it. Does anyone know how to get rid of or reposition the taskbar?

Thanks in advance!

[Sneha_01]

Hi @teoz,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

If your taskbar is stuck at the top of the screen and you want to move it back to its default position or remove it, follow these steps based on your operating system:

For Windows 10 and Windows 11

**1. Unlock the Taskbar

• Right-Click on the Taskbar: Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar.
• Select "Lock the Taskbar": If there's a checkmark next to "Lock the taskbar," click it to unlock the taskbar.

**2. Reposition the Taskbar

• Right-Click Again: With the taskbar unlocked, right-click on an empty area of the taskbar.
• Hover Over "Toolbars": You may see options like "Toolbars" or "Search." If the taskbar is locked, this menu may not be available.
• Drag the Taskbar: Click and hold an empty area of the taskbar, then drag it to the bottom of the screen (or any other side where you want it to be). Release the mouse button to drop it in place.

**3. Check Taskbar Settings

• Open Settings:
  • Windows 10: Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
  • Windows 11: Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings, or go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
• Adjust Taskbar Location:
  • Look for the Taskbar location on screen option. Select Bottom, Left, or Right to reposition the taskbar.
• Ensure "Auto-hide" Is Not Enabled: If you don't want the taskbar to be hidden, make sure Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode (or Tablet mode) is turned off.

**4. Restart Windows Explorer

• Open Task Manager:
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Find Windows Explorer:
  • Locate Windows Explorer in the list of processes.
• Restart Windows Explorer:
  • Right-click on Windows Explorer and select Restart. This will refresh the taskbar and might fix the issue.

**5. Check for Updates or Reinstall Drivers

• Update Windows:
  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.
• Update Graphics Drivers:
  • Sometimes, graphical glitches can affect the taskbar. Make sure your graphics drivers are up-to-date.

**6. Perform a System Scan

• Run System File Checker:
  • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the command sfc /scannow to check for and repair corrupted system files.

For Older Versions of Windows (Windows 7/8)

**1. Unlock the Taskbar

• Right-Click on the Taskbar: Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar.
• Select "Lock the Taskbar": If there's a checkmark next to "Lock the taskbar," click it to unlock the taskbar.

**2. Reposition the Taskbar

• Drag the Taskbar: With the taskbar unlocked, click and hold an empty area of the taskbar, then drag it to the bottom of the screen (or another side). Release the mouse button to drop it in place.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support