Microsoft has been improving the taskbar with every version of Windows as it’s one of the busiest areas of Windows operating system. In Windows 10, Microsoft has added a couple of new features to taskbar but the taskbar is not transparent with default settings.
Talking about new features on taskbar, firstly, there is a large search box on the taskbar in Windows 10. The search box, which appears right to the Start button, is home to the newly introduced digital personal assistant Cortana.
Not only does the search box on the taskbar allows you launch files and programs on your PC, but also allows you search the web using Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Those who prefer Google search can follow our workaround to enable Google search in Windows 10 taskbar search box.
Secondly, the system tray area of taskbar includes an icon to access the new action center. The all new date and time flyout is also another nice addition to the taskbar, and more importantly, it goes very well with the new design language of Windows 10.
Transparent taskbar in Windows 10
While Windows 10 supports transparency in Start menu, taskbar and action center, it’s turned off by default. We have already shown how to make Start menu transparent in Windows 10 with or without the help of third-party tools. In this guide, we are going to discuss how to make taskbar transparent in Windows 10 without using third-party tools.
NOTE: As you can see in the above picture, turning on transparency for taskbar doesn’t make the taskbar fully transparent unlike in previous Windows versions. You can only enable or disable transparency but can’t change the transparency level in Windows 10. For that, you need to go for third-party utilities.
IMP: To make the taskbar fully (100%) transparent, please refer to our how to make the Windows 10 taskbar fully transparent guide.
Make Windows 10’s taskbar transparent
Step 1: The first step is to open Settings app as Start menu and taskbar settings are available only in the Settings app.
To open Settings app, open Start menu, click Settings icon (see below picture). Alternatively, you can quickly open the Settings app using Windows + I keyboard shortcut.
Step 2: Once Settings app is launched, click Personalization.
Step 3: In the left-side, click Colors option. On the right-side, turn on the option labelled Make Start, taskbar, and action center transparent.
Note: As you probably have observed, enabling transparency for taskbar also makes Start menu and action center transparent. For now, there is no software that can enable transparency only for taskbar in Windows 10. We will let us know with a new guide as well as update this guide if and when there is a software to do so.
Judi Kennedy says
The option for transparency is not there any longer. My taskbar was transparent until this last update. Now I have to pick a color. What happened and can it be changed.
Cephara says
A Reddit user was kind enough to write and share a program that makes just the Taskbar completely translucent or blurred translucent (I use this setting). It does not touch the start menu. Used v2 for about a year now with not issues. I don’t think I had to add it to startup items.
Link in the top comments from OP: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/5mwa10/i_wrote_a_translucent_taskbar_program/
sam says
but i need more transperent . tell if you know .thankyou.
Kasper says
The option for transparency isn’t there at all for me.
Michael says
thank you! helped very much!
**but where can i find this lovley backgrond?**
Vitria says
I absolutely love Windows 7. I’m not exactly sure what happened with Windows 8. It was somewhat of a disaster, but I agree with Ansi, the icons & graphics looked way better in the previous versions than in Windows 10. I can no longer make my windows transparent along with the taskbar in Windows 10 either. *sigh* I might be going back to Windows 7.
Wen says
If your taskbar stays black make sure to turn Show Color on too! It’s right above the transparency switch.
Steve Prehoda says
Taskbar stays BLACK! Please fix.
Ansi says
Doesn’t work. Seriously, a couple of hours in, I’m regretting the update. Task bar stays black, task bar icons are absolutely ugly, it’s like being back in the 90s on windows 95, search bar is way to big and linked to bing and internet explorer, sorry, edge (because changing the name makes things better)…
Opening an app to change taskbar appearance, on a desktop, that’s just….
I honestly didn’t think I would regret updating, but I really miss 8.1!
Lesley K Spivey says
I use the taskbar more than the start menu. However, when I have a window open it’s almost impossible to see the icon for it. Changing the color does very little to help. This alone is most likely to get me to revert to Windows 7. Oh, I use a desktop with a trackball.
Beverly says
Not only does mine stay black, but it doesn’t vanish. The task bar stays in the bottom….uugh!!!
Ravi says
Jim, I have the same issue. the taskbar remains black even after selecting transparent option. the start menu is fine.
Jim says
My taskbar remains black whether or not I have the “Make Start, taskbar, and action center transparent” slider on or off, so this article clears up nothing…