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[Windows 11] Taskbar is suddenly behind all windows

Anonymous
2025-05-29T19:21:25+00:00

Not sure why this is happening, but as of last night, my taskbar is suddenly behind all windows. Previously if any window was hovered over the taskbar, such as an explorer window or browser window, it would end up behind the taskbar. But now all such windows are appearing in front of it, and the taskbar only appears in front if I click it.

This may not sound like a major issue, but the problem is that if any program is running in a borderless fullscreen mode, then the taskbar is permanently hidden so long as that program is running. What's worse, it also means that notifications I receive are also appearing behind different windows I have set up, so I can't see notifications for things like an alert coming in from programs like Steam or Discord.

So far I haven't been able to find any setting to change this back to normal. I have already tried the following:

  1. Enabling and then disabling "Automatically hide taskbar."
  2. Resetting the Windows Explorer program in the task manager.
  3. Setting every window to fullscreen using the F11 key and then back to normal.
  4. Making changes to the registry.

Nothing so far has worked. Is this an actual bug, or did Windows apply some update I wasn't aware of and now it can't be returned to its previous state?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Display and graphics

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Ivan B 111.7K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-05-30T02:34:25+00:00

Hi ,

Apparently this bug does a test with Rude I had solved a user's problem with it maybe it works.

https://github.com/dechamps/RudeWindowFixer/rel...

Credits.: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-ie/answers/quest...

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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  1. Ivan B 111.7K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-29T23:57:17+00:00

    Hi ,

    n this case, disable the XBOX Game Bar Overlay in the settings and, if possible, the window optimization.

    1. Open Windows Settings
    2. Go to System > Display.
    3. Scroll down and click on Graphics.
    4. Click on Graphics.
    5. Find the Windowed Game Optimizations option and disable it.

    Restart your PC if you have Steam, among others, and disable this depending on the game.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-06-05T06:22:15+00:00

    This fix program RudeWindowFixer.exe  resolved the same issue of taskbar hiding behind apps or windows for Windows 11 Home, 24H2, 26100.4202.

    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you all of you!

    1. Default_2025623 for posting a clear issue statements & detailed examples on autohide taskbar issue not appearing on top of the any programs/windows that are open. I did noticed the same issue around the same timeframe just recently around end of May, start of June 2025.
    2. Ivan Bittencourt for responding and posting the helpful link to GitHub to resolve the issue.
    3. Etienne Dechamps -GitHub for the fix: RudeWindowFixer.exe .

    This was driving me nuts too that it was not working properly! I joined GitHub for the first time because of this issue and learned something totally new from it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-05-30T01:40:44+00:00

    Hey Ivan,

    Thanks for the reply, but unfortunately that didn't work. Windows are still appearing over the taskbar, and as such the issue with full screen windows is persisting.

    I figured it might be best to provide some visual aids. Here is what it looks like if I move a basic explorer window over the taskbar:

    This is what it looks like if I click on the taskbar:

    And this is what it looks like if I click on another window:

    As you can see, not only do windows hover over the taskbar, but it's as though the taskbar is treating itself like it's a window. What's more, if I click on any other window the taskbar relegates itself to the background, letting anything that would cover it up continue to do so instead of operating in the foreground at all times.

    What I need is for the taskbar to go back to Picture 2, where all windows would be behind the taskbar.

    I hope this helps clear up what's going on.

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  4. Ivan B 111.7K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-05-29T21:52:04+00:00

    Hi ,

    I am Ivan, I will help you with this.

    Do you have nvidia driver?

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