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

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: September 21, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using Settings

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Editing Windows Registry

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Getting Translucent TB

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Video

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
Press ⊞ Win+I. 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.
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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Click the toggle next to "Transparency effects" to turn it on
. 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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Open Registry Editor. 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.
While you can use the folders and directories to manually navigate to this destination, save time by copying and pasting this file path.
Make sure you're right-clicking in the right panel, since you want to add to the "Advanced" folder.
A new window will appear.
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.
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Restart your computer. 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.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Translucent TB

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1
Get TranslucentTB from the Microsoft Store. 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]
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Open TranslucentTB. 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.
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.