How to Fix Edge or Chrome Hiding the Windows Taskbar When Maximized

By default, when you maximize a Chrome or Edge browser window, the Taskbar stays visible. In some cases, though, a maximized browser covers the Taskbar. A hidden Taskbar gets in the way of your other apps, notifications, and the system tray.

The bug affects both Chrome and Edge, and it shows up often on dual-monitor setups with a variety of hardware configurations. Here is how you can stop your browser from hiding the Taskbar in Maximize mode on Windows 11.

1. Common troubleshooting steps to try first

Here are a few common troubleshooting steps you can try to fix the Taskbar hiding in Maximize mode in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.

1. Restart your PC: If you haven't already, try a quick restart. A restart can clear up problems caused by temporary glitches.
2. Exit full-screen mode: The Windows Taskbar isn't shown in full-screen mode, so make sure you haven't accidentally switched to full screen and hidden the Taskbar. Press F11 or Fn + F11 to enter and exit full-screen mode in Google Chrome and Edge.

If the problem persists, here are some additional troubleshooting steps you can try.

2. Lock and unlock your screen with Win + L

This problem can often be fixed by quickly locking and unlocking your screen. Press Win + L on your keyboard to lock the screen. If the shortcut doesn't work, click Start and select your profile picture. Choose the Lock option to lock your screen. Once it's locked, sign back in to your account and see whether the problem is gone.

If the problem continues, it may be more than a temporary glitch, and you may need to look at other possible reasons the Taskbar is disappearing.

3. Restart the Windows Explorer process

Restarting the Windows Explorer process can fix problems with the graphical user interface, including the Taskbar. When you end the process, it restarts the file management component and resets the Taskbar.

You may see a blank screen for a moment while the Windows Explorer process restarts. After the restart, the Taskbar should stay visible even when Chrome or Edge is maximized.

4. Check and disable the “Auto-Hide Taskbar” behavior

You can configure the Taskbar to hide automatically in both desktop and tablet modes. When this is enabled, the Taskbar hides when you stop interacting with it or launch an app, such as a browser. So check your Taskbar settings and turn off the auto-hide behavior if it's on.

To turn off Taskbar auto-hide:

1. Right-click the Taskbar and select Taskbar settings.

2. Click to expand the Taskbar behaviors section.

3. Select the Automatically hide the taskbar option to enable it. If it's already selected, clear the checkbox.

4. Go back to your browser and make sure the window is maximized.

5. Next, in the Settings app, clear the Automatically hide the taskbar option to turn it off.

This will fit the browser window snugly above the Taskbar, which stays at the bottom without any further problems.

5. Check your display settings

If you're running a multi-monitor setup, make sure the Display DPI Scaling for your primary and secondary monitors matches. By default, Windows may set different DPI scaling for different displays depending on their size and resolution.

You can change the display DPI scaling from the Settings app. Under Scale & Layout, you may notice that one display is set to 125% and another is set to 100%. To fix the problem, configure both displays to use the same DPI Scaling (100%).

6. Re-register Windows apps for all accounts

A glitchy Taskbar can disappear when an app is maximized. Re-registering the built-in Windows apps with Microsoft PowerShell can help you fix Taskbar problems.

To re-register Windows apps for all user accounts:

1. Press Win + X to open the Quick Link menu.
2. Select Terminal (Admin) to launch Windows Terminal.
3. Next, copy and paste the following command, then press Enter:

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

   Copy
4. Once executed, the command will start re-registering all Appx packages associated with Microsoft Store apps for every user on your PC. Ignore any errors and let the process finish.

When it's done, you can use your browser in Maximize mode with the Taskbar visible.

7. Check for and install any pending Windows updates

The latest Windows updates bring bug fixes and performance improvements. Because Chrome and Edge update themselves automatically, check your PC for any pending Windows updates and install them to see whether that resolves the bug.

To check for and install Windows updates:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Open the Windows Update tab.
3. By default, Windows periodically checks for new updates and lists them in the Windows Update tab. If no updates are listed, click Check for update. Windows will now start scanning for pending updates.
4. If an update is found, click Install Now to download and install it.

After the update is installed, restart your PC to apply the changes and check for any improvement.

That said, if there are no new updates, check whether a recently installed update is causing the problem. Sometimes bugs in new updates cause problems on certain PCs, and the update has to be uninstalled to fix them.

You can manually uninstall Windows 11 updates from the Settings app. After uninstalling, restart your PC and check for any improvement. If you determine that a recent update caused the problem, consider pausing automatic Windows 11 updates. You can pause updates for up to 5 weeks while you wait for the latest fix.

You can also use System Restore to undo recent changes made to your PC by an update or an app, and see whether that helps resolve the problem.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phát Lâm

Website Administrator, Hung Phat Laptop

I'm Phát Lâm, CEO of Hungphatlaptop.com and an IT specialist with years of experience in PC reviews, technology infrastructure and networking. With a deep understanding of hardware configurations, system performance and market trends, I focus on recommending the right solution so every customer gets a device that fits their needs, delivers strong performance, keeps costs in check and offers real value.

View all posts by Phát Lâm