Forum Discussion
Windows 11 multi-monitor taskbar issue
I just upgraded to Windows 11 and this is the first 'bug' I saw. Until I remembered that the automatic taskbar popup was one of the things that irritated me. I think this is a feature. I run 3 monitors of which 2 are running full screen programs. I often need to click near the bottom of the screen. Usually the taskbar comes up and interferes. I need full screen functionality without the taskbar popping up automatically. The RIGHT CLICK at the bottom of the screen method is awesome. Microsoft only needs to provide an option for AUTO POPUP/RIGHT CLICK (also for the main monitor). I didn't know this until I came across this post. Thanks a million!
- You know what would be nice? If it worked AT ALL with the upper monitors. I have monitors stacked vertically. It only works on upper monitor if i click on the desktop and only if i don't have an app window covering it. And then it flickers the desktop, making wallpaper black and then recovers few seconds later with the taskbar.
Maybe that's just an aritfact of monitors being connected to different graphics cards, but still.
Can I PLEASE just have it as it was before? Microsoft, stop messing with my desktop. Who asked for this???
I am fed up and already went Manjaro on the laptop that I use for work too.
Bullprun, that's not a bad workaround once it becomes second nature. I've become accustomed to auto-hide task bar through all the previous versions, and it feels uncomfortable to go without it.
I'm still working with MS (Level 3 escalation tech) regarding this issue. The last support session was on 12/28/2021, and their most recent notification of "no further updates" was on 12/30/2021.
To date, I have done the following (and more that I'm likely forgetting at the moment) with no success:
- Changed resolutions
- Changed connection methods (direct to my laptop vs. my Kensington USB 3.0 2X Video Dock)
- Removed (including removing driver option) and reinstalled all 3 monitor drivers
- Removed current display adapter software and reinstalled the laptop manufacturer's (HP) NVIDIA GTX 1070 Laptop Display Adapter software (so far, they only support Windows 10)
- Removed current display adapter software and reinstalled NVIDIA's GTX 1070 Laptop Display Adapter software that DOES support Windows 11
- 5 remote support sessions with MS running diagnostics, collecting logs, etc. - for up to 2 hours each
- Changed the various taskbar related options
- Full image backup of my laptop, deleted/recreated/formatted the OS partition and performed a brand spankin' new Windows 11 installation
- Added an additional admin user to determine changes in taskbar behavior under another profile
- Shifted monitor orientation
- Shifted Main Monitor assignment
- Tried all the suggested "workarounds offered in this and one other thread I'm following
(Sigh) Why is it such a problem for them? They have an excellent working reference in Windows 10, so why don't they scrap the Win11 taskbar code and splice in the Win10 taskbar code - at least as a test???
- Got a call from MS Level 3 Tech Support on Jan 8. She said that they still do not have a solution and to possibly expect it in some future update.
So, I guess the "GREAT" Microsoft machine continues to remain stumped on this seemingly trivial issue.
My biggest issue with this is that they have a working solution already in the Windows 10 code - so, why don't they just "splice" that in to Win11 as a patch until a Win11 native solution can be hammered out? MS - and many others are notorious for building new "versions" on older code...
- As both ChrisDC and I said earlier, but maybe it was lost in the verbosity? 😉
- FYI - I have an open, active case with MS Support - I'll keep ya'll updated with any relevant intel...
