In Windows 10, there is a simple trick which will allow you to make the taskbar more clean and transparent than its default appearance. If you wish to have a more glassy taskbar, follow the instructions in this article.
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Before you continue, you need to enable transparency for the taskbar. It might be disabled in your setup. We already have a detailed tutorial How to make taskbar transparent in Windows 10. Here's what you have to do in short:- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Personalization -> Colors.
- There, you will find the switch named Make Start, taskbar, and Action Center transparent. It is turned off by default. Turn it on:
Once this is done, you can adjust the taskbar transparency level in Windows 10.
How to increase the taskbar transparency level in Windows 10
To increase the taskbar transparency level in Windows 10, you need to apply a simple Registry tweak as described below:
- Open Registry Editor.
- Go to the following Registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Tip: See how to jump to the desired Registry key with one click.
If you don't have such a key, then just create it. - Create a new DWORD value named UseOLEDTaskbarTransparency and set its value data as 1. See the following screenshot:
- Now, navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm. - Create or modify a DWORD value
ForceEffectMode. Set its data to 1. - Now restart Explorer or sign out and sign in back in your Windows account.
The taskbar will become more transparent. See the screenshots below.
Default transparency:
Reduced transparency after the mentioned tweak:
That's it. To restore the default values, just delete the UseOLEDTaskbarTransparency value that you created and restart Explorer.
As of this writing, this trick works in all Windows 10 builds from Windows 10 RTM build 10240 to the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build 14291.
I prepared ready-to-use Registry files, so you can avoid Registry editing:
Alternatively, you can use Winaero Tweaker to save your time:
Get it here: Download Winaero Tweaker.
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I have never understood why one needs any transparency for the task bar (and now for the start menu). It does not make any sense for me. I think that it’s disturbing.
I want it transparent so I can stick some indicators underneath it using Desktop Info. I don’t ever have the desktop visible, but most of my taskbar is unused space. It’s a perfect spot for a few monitoring displays.
I’m actually looking for a way to make it more transparent than this tweak provides.
I like the transparency effect, as it helps me determine quickly which window is active. I do a lot of research, with multiple windows open at a time, and this is a decided preference. However, I wish there was a way to increase the level of transparency even more.
Thanks for all the hard work, though! Awesome tweaks, and kudos for letting us keep personal preferences in the “yellow pencil” world of PCs and devices!
To increase the level of transparency download and install Classic shell 4.3.1 fantastic tool
Thank you, Sergey, for having included this tweak in Winaero Tweaker. ;-)
Works perfectly here (Build 16299.309) .
Happy to hear!
this no longer working on build 17134.1 taskbar wont do transparencies
Confirmed, the tweak no longer works as of the April 2018 update.
that’s a pity
please find a solution for new 1803 update :(
The solution is on many websites today and it work with a full windows restart:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
“UseOLEDTaskbarTransparency”=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm]
“ForceEffectMode”=dword:00000001
Thanks. I’ve added this to the article.
Thanks, but you must update the registry files to download and winaero tweaker if necessary.
Sure, I will do.
Thanks this solution worked perfectly!
Since it’s not working anymore, I’m using this tool.
https://github.com/TranslucentTB/TranslucentTB/releases
would prefer a tweak…
hi Sergey:
it seems that enabling the “increase taskbar transparency level” option makes the old nVidia geforce 5xxx/6xxx/7xxx series graphics hardware work correctly with Win10 v2004/20H1 & newer and stops those flickering graphics problems with these old nvidia hardware
Works for Windows 10 Version 20H2, too.
Doesn’t work for Windows 11. When enabled it makes it non transparent. Have to deselect to make it transparent again. which is a shame as I find Windows 11 transparent needs less blur