How to Fix a Frozen Windows 10 Taskbar

Bottom bar not responding? One of these tips should get things back on track

By
Karen Marcus
Karen Marcus
Karen Marcus
Writer
  • University of Colorado at Denver
  • Colorado State University
Karen Marcus is a former Lifewire writer who has also written for companies like HP, Intel, IBM, Samsung, and others.
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Updated on October 27, 2022
Reviewed by
Michael Barton Heine Jr
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Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr
Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries.
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When the Windows 10 taskbar isn't working, it may manifest in one of several ways: Clicking the taskbar has no effect, icons don't show up, or keyboard shortcuts don't work.

The instructions in this article apply only to Windows 10.

Cause of Windows 10 Taskbar Not Responding

The Windows 10 taskbar may be frozen for a variety of reasons, including an incomplete operating system update, an update bug, corrupted system files, or corrupted user account files.

The procedures we outline here rely on launching tasks through Task Manager, but if you can execute them through the Start menu or other shortcuts, use that method instead.

A woman with a frustrated facial expression is using a laptop computer.

How to Get a Windows 10 Frozen Taskbar to Work 

You may not realize how much you use the Taskbar until it's frozen. There are several ways to get back control of this overlooked feature. See the list below for several solutions, from easy to increasing difficulty.

  1. Use Task Manager to restart Windows Explorer. Under the Processes tab, select Windows Explorer, then select Restart at the bottom.

  2. Run an SFC scan. Press Win+X to open the Power User menu, then select either PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). Run the command sfc \scannow.

  3. Use Powershell. This is a two-part process. First, enable the Windows Firewall.

    Press Win+R. In the Run dialog box, type powershell and then press Enter. At the prompt, type the following command, then press Enter:

    Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

  4. Run DISM image management command. You'll need to run the Command Prompt as an administrator. In the next window, at the prompt, type Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, then press Enter. Wait until verification is 100 percent complete.

  5. Enable the User Manager. From the Startup type menu, select Automatic and click OK.

  6. Disable recently opened items. Go to Settings > Personalization > Start, then turn off Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar.

  7. Run System Restore. Select a restore point closest to before your issues began for best results.

  8. Create a new user account. Sign in to the new user account. If the taskbar works, transfer your files to the new account and delete the old one.

  9. If you still have problems, consider consulting with a professional to get your computer fixed. 

FAQ
  • How do I hide the taskbar in Windows 10?

    You can temporarily disable the taskbar for Windows 10 (a.k.a. hide it) by adjusting the Taskbar Settings. In addition, you can use the same method to change the taskbar's placement on the screen (bottom, top, left side, or right side).

  • How do I move the taskbar in Windows 11?

    Repositioning the taskbar in Windows 11 can be done through the Taskbar Settings or by editing the TaskbarAI registry (if Windows isn't activated).

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