Common TaskBar Problems (And Their Solutions)

Are you facing issues with your taskbar? Usually the problem isn’t really serious. Taskbar problems can be pretty easy to resolve.

Here are some common problems with their solutions, and then some tips to make your life easier around the Windows taskbar.

Aesthetic problems

Is your taskbar too wide? Or is it placed at the wrong location? All the ‘look and feel’ problems of the Windows taskbar can be solved by a single drag and click operation. The taskbar does not get dragged and clicked like an icon would. If you are dragging it from point A to point B, it will reappear at point B when you let it go. And since there are no tracer lines to trace the event, you might find it a bit difficult. It will take a little practice and then you can easily find its right location.

And once you are done, make sure you click on Lock the Taskbar option, so that it doesn’t move again.

Viral problems

Sometimes, even when you place the taskbar at the right place, the underlying problem isn’t solved. It might be a virus that is making changes in your system’s appearance. The only way to correct this problem is to run a strong antivirus program. A good scan can identify if your taskbar problems are virus related

Gray-out problems

To reset taskbar options, you can right click the taskbar and change the settings there. But if you are unable to change the settings because some options have been grayed out, here is what you can do for specific problems:

Problem 1: The context menu of the task bar is disabled. When you right click, no menu shows up. Solution: Go to the Run box of your system and type regedit. The Registry Editor will open up. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER. Expand its contents and you will see many folders. Select software, and then go to Microsoft\Windows.

If you think your taskbar problems are related to a virus, you can scan your PC here!

Select Current Version and then got to Policies. Select Explorer. You will see the DWORD value "NoTrayContextMenu" in the right side. Delete it.

Problem 2: Lock the Taskbar option is not available.

Solution: Follow the same steps as in solution 1, and visit Policies\Explorer. You will notice the DWORD value “LockTaskbar”. Delete it. Once it is done, the Lock Taskbar option will show again

Problem 3: Unable to add toolbars using the Taskbar context menu. All options under Toolbars are grayed.

Solution: Open Registry Editor once again and go to Explorer under Policies (under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version). You will see the DWORD value “NoCloseDragDropBands” in the right side. Delete it. This should solve one of your taskbar problems

Problem 4: Taskbar Properties inaccessible. When you click on Taskbar properties, it shows an error message.

Solution: Again go to Explorer in Registry Editor. Look at the right side. You will notice the DWORD "NoSetTaskbar". As earlier, delete it

Problem 5: Cannot move or resize the taskbar, even when the Lock Taskbar button is unchecked. This one of the most common taskbar problems.

Solution: Open the Registry Editor and follow the path to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows. Now go to Current Version. Select Explorer\Advanced. On the right side, you’ll see a DWORD value "TaskbarSizeMove". Delete it.

Unclutter your taskbar

To the left of the clock on your taskbar is the system tray. This tray is usually full of icons and programs usually get clogged in it. To unclog your system tray, right click on it and select Properties. In Windows XP, you’ll see a checkbox saying Hide Inactive Icons. Click on it. In Windows 7, a Properties page will open up. From there, you can select which icons should appear in the system tray.

Play with size

To make your currently open programs easier to access, you can increase the width of the taskbar. Uncheck the Lock Taskbar option and then drag the taskbar a bit higher. It will now become wider than before. Now you can see separate windows on the taskbar instead of grouped ones.