The taskbar stays visible by default, but you can hide it or close it temporarily
The taskbar is the bar at the bottom of your Windows screen (or top of your Mac) that shows open programs, the time, and system icons. You cannot permanently delete it — Windows and Mac need it to run — but you can hide it so it takes up no space, or close individual programs pinned to it. Hiding the taskbar is useful when you want more screen room for work or video. Closing a program from the taskbar just closes that one process, not the taskbar itself.
The steps differ between Windows and Mac, and the method you choose depends on whether you want the taskbar out of sight temporarily or all the time.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows 10 and 11, right-click the taskbar, select Settings, and toggle "Automatically hide the taskbar" to make it disappear until you move your mouse to the bottom of the screen.
- On Mac, open System Settings, go to Dock & Menu Bar, and uncheck "Show Dock in full screen" or toggle the Dock visibility option to hide it.
- Closing a single program from the taskbar (right-click and select Close) removes only that app, not the taskbar itself.
- The taskbar or Dock will reappear when you need it — hiding is reversible and takes seconds to undo.
How to hide the taskbar on Windows 10 and 11
Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar at the bottom of your screen. A menu will appear. Select Taskbar settings (on Windows 11) or Settings (on Windows 10). This opens the Settings app to the taskbar section.
Look for the option labeled Automatically hide the taskbar. Toggle it to the On position. The taskbar will now disappear from view. It will reappear the moment you move your mouse to the very bottom edge of the screen, and it will hide again when you move away.
If you want the taskbar visible all the time again, return to the same setting and toggle it back to Off. You can also lock the taskbar to prevent accidental changes: right-click the taskbar, then select Lock the taskbar.
How to hide the Dock on Mac
On Mac, the equivalent of the Windows taskbar is called the Dock. It appears at the bottom of the screen by default. To hide it, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (on macOS Ventura or newer) or System Preferences (on older versions).
Navigate to Dock & Menu Bar in the sidebar. You will see several options. Check the box next to Automatically hide and show the Dock. The Dock will now vanish and reappear when you move your mouse to the bottom of the screen, just like the hidden Windows taskbar.
To make the Dock visible again, return to the same setting and uncheck the box. You can also adjust the Dock size and position from this same menu if you prefer to keep it visible but smaller.
How to close a single program from the taskbar
If you want to close just one process — not the taskbar itself — right-click on the program's icon in the taskbar. A menu will appear with options including Close or Close all windows. Click the option you want. The program will shut down, but the taskbar remains.
On Mac, right-click (or Control-click) the app icon in the Dock and select Quit. This closes the app without affecting the Dock itself. You can also click and hold on the icon to see more options, including whether the app is currently running.
Pinned programs and the taskbar
Programs that appear on your taskbar fall into two categories: pinned programs (ones you chose to keep there) and active programs (ones currently running). Pinning a program keeps its icon on the taskbar even after you close it. Unpinning removes the icon but does not close the program if it is running.
To unpin a program on Windows, right-click its icon and select Unpin from taskbar. On Mac, right-click the icon in the Dock and select Remove from Dock. The icon disappears, but if the program is running, it continues to run in the background.
What happens when you hide the taskbar
Hiding the taskbar does not stop any programs from running. It only removes the visual bar from your screen. All your open programs continue to work normally. You can still switch between them by using keyboard shortcuts: Alt + Tab on Windows or Command + Tab on Mac.
The clock, volume control, and system notifications still function when the taskbar is hidden. On Windows, you can still access the Start menu by pressing the Windows key. On Mac, the menu bar at the top remains visible and functional. Hiding the taskbar is purely a visual preference and does not change how your computer operates.
Taskbar settings you can customize
Beyond hiding, Windows lets you adjust where the taskbar sits (bottom, left, right, or top), how large it is, and which icons appear on it. Open Taskbar Settings the same way you would to hide it, then explore options like Taskbar alignment, Taskbar size, and Taskbar items.
On Mac, the Dock settings include size, position (bottom, left, or right), magnification (icons grow larger as you hover), and animation effects. These settings let you personalize the Dock without hiding it completely. You can also drag the divider line in the Dock to separate pinned apps from recently used ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will hiding the taskbar affect my open programs?
No. Hiding the taskbar is purely visual. All your programs continue running normally in the background. You can still switch between them using Alt + Tab (Windows) or Command + Tab (Mac), and you can unhide the taskbar anytime by moving your mouse to the bottom of the screen.
Can I permanently delete the taskbar?
No. The taskbar is a core part of Windows and cannot be deleted. You can hide it, move it, resize it, or customize which icons appear on it, but it will always exist. If you hide it and want it back, the setting is reversible in seconds.
What is the difference between closing a program and unpinning it?
Closing a program shuts it down completely. Unpinning it removes the icon from the taskbar but does not close the program if it is running. If you unpin an app and it is still running, you can still access it through Alt + Tab or by opening it fresh from your applications folder.
Why does my taskbar reappear when I move my mouse?
When you enable "Automatically hide the taskbar," Windows and Mac are designed to show it when you need it. Moving your mouse to the bottom edge signals that you want to access the taskbar, so it appears. This saves screen space while keeping the taskbar accessible.
Can I hide the taskbar on only one monitor?
On Windows, the hide setting applies to all monitors connected to your computer. You cannot hide it on one monitor and show it on another. The taskbar itself appears on your primary monitor, though you can move windows between monitors freely.