3 Simple Ways to Make the Taskbar Transparent in Windows 10/11

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Step-by-step instructions for making your taskbar transparent
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Do you want to make your desktop look cohesive and unobstructed by the usual color block that Windows assigns to the taskbar? Fortunately, there are a few tricks you can use to make it a less-harsh line of color on your screen. This wikiHow article teaches you how to make a taskbar transparent in Windows 10 and 11.

Things You Should Know

  • Open "Colors" in Settings to enable "Transparency effects" so your taskbar is less of a harsh color block.
  • To make your taskbar more transparent, you can also add a DWORD(32-bit) value in Registry Editor.
  • Alternatively, download and install a 3rd party app called Translucent TB .
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Settings

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":348,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":550,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This keyboard shortcut opens Settings, but you can also click the gear icon in the Start menu.
    • This method makes the taskbar more transparent than opaque, but it's still a color block.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Click Personalization and Colors . For Windows 11, you'll find "Personalization" in the menu on the left and "Colors" on the right. For Windows 10, "Personalization" is on a tile next to a monitor and paintbrush icon, then "Colors" is in the panel on the left side of the screen.
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/40\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Doing this will allow the background colors to show through your system windows a little. This includes settings windows, pop-up windows, and your taskbar.
    • If you're using Windows 11 and you notice that the taskbar is still opaque, you need to enable "Transparency effects" in Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects . [1]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Editing Windows Registry

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/76\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To do this, press Win + R then type regedit and press Enter .
    • Be careful editing the Registry because incorrectly editing it can cause your computer or laptop not to run. It's a good idea to make a backup before you edit, so you can restore the original in case your changes damage your computer's files.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    While you can use the folders and directories to manually navigate to this destination, save time by copying and pasting this file path.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Make sure you're right-clicking in the right panel, since you want to add to the "Advanced" folder.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    A new window will appear.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/86\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/86\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you can't immediately set the value, go ahead and create the new DWORD with the new name. Then right-click the newly created entry and select Modify in the pop-up. Then change the value from 0 to 1 and click OK .
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":341,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":540,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.
    • If you don't see a difference in the opacity of your taskbar, right-click an empty space on your desktop and select Personalization > Color > Transparency effects .
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Getting Translucent TB

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-10.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can go to the store's page and click Get in Store app or you can open the Microsoft Store app and search for "TranslucentTB."
    • Click Get to download and install the app.
    • TranslucentTB is a much faster method to make your taskbar completely transparent without using Registry Editor. [2]
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-11.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Once it's installed, click the app in your Start menu to run it.
    • Click Continue to give it permission to run on Startup.
    • You should notice immediately that your taskbar turns translucent, or invisible.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-12.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Taskbar-Transparent-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This might be invisible if you have Dark Mode enabled and you're looking at a white background, but open a page or something with a dark background to see the TB icon. The reverse is true if Light Mode is enabled.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-the-taskbar-in-windows-0657a50f-0cc7-dbfd-ae6b-05020b195b07#WindowsVersion=Windows_11
      2. ↑ https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/translucenttb/9PF4KZ2VN4W9?hl=en-us&gl=us&rtc=1

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