The taskbar is a feature of the Windows Operating System to serve a number of purposes. First of all, it helps you to locate and launch programs and to view those applications that are currently running. It is available in all Windows devices for the convenience of users. Moreover, you can use the taskbar to check the data and time set on your PC. You can access the Notification area of the taskbar and check the items running in the background of your PC. Thus, Windows 10 taskbar not working is quite a problematic issue for users.
You won’t be able to find the tabs you are working with and hidden icons on your PC without the taskbar. Hence, you need to fix this problem as soon as possible. Thus, read this article to know how to fix Windows 10 taskbar not working.
Methods to Fix Windows 10 Taskbar not Working
Have a look at the various attempts you can take to fix an unresponsive taskbar.
Method 1: Restart your PC
The system might hang after long hours of working and hence the taskbar is not working. Thus, restart your PC and check whether it restores the taskbar or not. So, press and hold the Power button for 5 to 10 seconds until the laptop shuts down completely. After that, press and hold the Power button again to turn on the system.
Whereas, desktop users, press the ‘Restart’ button to reboot your PC and access the taskbar to ensure that it is responding.
Method 2: Restart Windows Explorer
Press ‘Ctrl, Shift, and Esc’ keys at the same time to open the Task Manager. Navigate to the ‘Process’ tab from Task Manager and right-click on Windows Explorer. Select the ‘Restart’ option to reboot the taskbar and fix the issue.
Method 3: Run Windows PowerShell
You can use this builtin tool of Windows to fix a non-functional taskbar.
1. So, use the same shortcut as we have discussed in the previous method to launch Task Manager.
2. Click the ‘File’ tab on the navigation pane and choose ‘Run a New Task.’
3. Type ‘PowerShell’ in the space allotted for a new task and check the ‘Create this task with administrative privileges’ box.
4. Tap ‘Next’ to continue and wait until all the Windows app reinstall on your PC.
5. If any error messages appear, then simply ignore to proceed.
6. Exit the PowerShell’ window and follow the ‘’C:/Users/{Your_Name}/AppData/Local’ directory.
7. Type ‘services’ in the search box and press ‘Enter’ to open the Services window.
8. Find out ‘Title Data Model Server,’ right-click on it and select ‘Stop.’
9. Restart your PC to ensure that this method has fixed the taskbar.
If the taskbar remains unresponsive, then go back to Task Manager and click ‘Local Security Authority Process.’ Then, tap the ‘End Task’ button and check the ‘Abandoned unsaved and shut down’ box. In the end, hit the ‘Shutdown’ button to end the local security authority process.
Method 4: Create Another User Account
1. Go to the Start menu and open Settings.
2. Click the ‘Accounts’ tab and choose ‘Family and Other Accounts.’
3. Click ‘Someone else to this PC’ link and choose ‘I don’t have this person’s information’ option.
4. Then, click ‘Add User Without Microsoft Account’ and select ‘Create a new account.’
5. Move to the ‘Other Users’ section and choose the new account you have created in the last step.
6. Click the ‘Change Account Type’ link, choose ‘Administrator’ and click the ‘OK’ button.
7. After that, use the new user account to log into your PC and see whether the taskbar is working or not.
Method 5: Refresh Windows 10 PC
1. Press Windows logo key and ‘L’ simultaneously to log out from your account.
2. Press and hold the ‘Shift’ key and choose ‘Restart’ from the options appearing on your PC.
3. Now click ‘Troubleshoot’ and select ‘Reset this PC’ to enable the Troubleshooting mode.
4. Then check the ‘Keep my files’ box and follow the on-screen prompts to fix Windows 10 taskbar not working.
Method 6: Check the Pending Updates
‘Windows 10 taskbar not showing’ might occur due to an older version of Windows. Hence you need to have the latest updates for your Windows Operating System.
1.Open the Settings app and navigate to the ‘Update and Security’ tab.
2. Tap the ‘Check for updates’ button under ‘Security’ to see the available updates.
3. If Windows display any pending updates, then click the ‘Install’ button next to them.
4. After installing the pending updates, check whether the taskbar is working or not.
Method 7: Update all Device Drivers
Windows 10 taskbar doesn’t work if one or more devices installed on your PC lack the latest updates. Thus, go through these steps to update the device drivers.
1.Type ‘Device Manager’ in the search bar and press ‘Enter’ to open the Device Manager.
2. If the search bar is not visible, then press the Windows logo key and ‘S’ to make it visible.
3. Expand ‘Monitors or Network Adapters’ category and locate a device.
4. Right-click on it and choose ‘Update Driver.’
5. Click ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ to let Windows have the latest driver for your device.
6. If Windows cannot find an updated driver automatically, then search for it manually.
7. So, tap the ‘Browse’ button to find the location of the downloaded driver file.
8. Click ‘Next’ to install the required driver on your PC.
9. Follow the same process for updating the drivers of remaining devices on your PC.
Method 8: Uninstall the Antivirus Tool
Some antivirus might conflict with the taskbar and make it unresponsive. So, uninstall the antivirus and check whether it fixes the taskbar or not. Thus, go to Settings and choose ‘App and Features.’
Then, find out the antivirus that you would like to uninstall, right-click on it and choose ‘Uninstall.’ Click ‘Uninstall’ again on the confirmation dialog box to confirm this process. After receiving a confirmation message for the successful uninstallation, check whether the taskbar is working or not.
Method 9: Restore the System
1. Go to the Start’ menu, type ‘System Restore’ in the search bar and press ‘Enter.’
2. Click ‘Create a restore point’ link to open the ‘System Properties’ window.
3. Hit the ‘Next’ button to access the next page.
4. Then, check the ‘Show more restore points’ box and tap ‘Next’ to continue.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to restore your system to a previous version.
Method 10: Uninstall the Problematic Applications
1. Click the ‘Start’ menu and choose ‘App and Features.’
2. Then, select an app you have recently installed, right-click on it, and choose ‘Uninstall.’
3. Restart the PC and move on to the next method if the ‘Windows 10 taskbar not working’ issue persists.
4. If the problem has started after uninstalling more than one app, then uninstall each of them at a time.
5. Don’t forget to restart the PC after removing one app in order to determine the problematic one.
Method 11: Run the Command Prompt
Open the Command Prompt directly from File Explorer or go to the Start menu and type ‘cmd’ in the search box and press ‘Enter.’. Then, select the first option that is, Command Prompt(Admin) from the search results. Then, copy and paste ‘DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth’ in the command line and click ‘OK.’ It is going to reset the functioning of the taskbar to normal.
Method 12: Run System File Checker
It is the last method for Windows 10 taskbar fix. Follow the steps discussed below in order to execute this method.
1.Use a USB installation drive or a DVD as the Windows 10 installation media.
2. Then, insert the drive into your PC and press a key to boot from it.
3. Select your preferred language and location, and click ‘Next’ to continue.
4. Choose ‘Repair your computer’ and select the ‘Troubleshoot’ option.
5. As the Run dialog box appears, enter ‘cmd’ in it to open the Command Prompt.
6. Type ‘sfc/scannow’ in the Command Prompt and press ‘Enter’ to launch the System File Checker.
7. Wait for some time until this tool scans your PC and fix corrupted, damaged, or missing files.
8. When the SFC tool has fixed all issues, close the Command Prompt window.
9. Restart the system and check that it has fixed the ‘Windows 10 taskbar not responding’ issue.Hope, you are now going to fix the Windows 10 taskbar not working’ problem without any hassles.
The same solutions would work for those who are struggling with ‘Windows 10 toolbar not working’ issue.
