How to Fix a Frozen Taskbar on Windows OS

Frozen taskbar is an unresponsive state of the taskbar. You may have a frozen taskbar or unresponsive taskbar after a Windows change, such as the Windows 10 downgrade or upgrade, Windows 10 anniversary update, etc. In this case, you fail to click on anything on the Windows taskbar, including the right clicking.

Well, the icons or the Start menu are dead and not clickable on such a frozen taskbar. How depressed! Since there are many users encountering the frozen taskbar issue on Windows 10, 8.1, 7, etc., today I will talk about how to fix a Windows frozen taskbar.

How to Fix the Windows Frozen Taskbar

Generally speaking, there are several factors that can result in taskbar not working, such as a wrong running of the Windows Explorer, the Frequent items on the Jump List, disabled services, etc. Here are 5 solutions for you to fix an unresponsive taskbar.

Method 1: Restart the Windows Explorer to Fix the Frozen Taskbar Issue

Since it is not convenient to click on the taskbar, you have to use some shortcut keys to solve the frozen taskbar issue.

  1. Use shortcut keys Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch the Task Manager.
  2. Select the Windows Explorer on the list and then click on the button Restart at the right bottom.
restart-windows-explorer-to-fix-frozen-taskbar

For some Windows OS, for example, Windows 7, you need to end the task manually and then run a new one:

  1. Right click on the Windows Explorer and select End task.
  2. Click File from the menu and select Run new task.
  3. Type explorer.exe into the pop-up dialog box and hit Enter or click on OK.
run-new-task-to-fix-frozen-taskbar

This can also help to end the unresponsive or frozen taskbar.

Method 2: Use Powershell to Fix the Frozen Taskbar Issue

  1. Use Windows shortcut keys Win + R to launch Run.
  2. Type powershell into the dialog box and hit Enter.
  3. Paste the command line below to the Windows PowerShell and hit Enter.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}

use-powershell-to-fix-the-frozen-taskbar-issue

Wait until the repair is finished, and then you will find the frozen taskbar has been unfreezed.

Note: You should enable the Windows Firewall before the steps above. Go to Services tab on Task Manager to check if the service MpsSvc, whose description is Windows Firewall, is running.

Method 3: Enable the User Manager

Sometimes, the disabled User Manager will also result in a Windows frozen taskbar. So re-enable the User Manager to unfreeze the unresponsive or frozen taskbar.

  1. Use Windows shortcut keys Win + R to launch Run.
  2. Type services.msc into the box and press Enter.
  3. Double-click on the User Manager and select Automatic from Startup type.
  4. Click OK and then restart the PC.
enable-the-user-manager-and-fix-frozen-taskbar

Method 4: Disable Recently Opened Items

This method is for the right-click on the Start menu or the taskbar issue. If you fail to get the Jump List or the Context menu with a right click on the frozen taskbar, you may consider turning off the recently opened items and speeding up the list launch.

  1. Use Windows shortcut keys Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Select Personalization and then select Start tab from the left column.
  3. Disable the Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Star or the taskbar.

Method 5: Create a New User Account

  1. Open Run with the Windows shortcut keys.
  2. Type cmd into the dialog box and press Enter.
  3. Type net user Admin123 Mypassword /add into Command Prompt and press Enter.
  4. Then type net localgroup Administrators Admin123 /add and press Enter.

Once finishing the settings, you’ve created a new user account named Admin123, whose password is Mypassword. Switch to the new user account with a replication of your data. After that you may find the Windows frozen taskbar issue has been solved.

Besides the methods above of resolving the frozen taskbar issue, it is also recommended to update the Windows OS and the drivers regularly, which can also help to free from other computer issues, like high disk usage, unidentified network, PC not waking up from sleep, etc.

That’s all about how to fix frozen taskbar on Windows OS. If you still have problems on the subject “frozen taskbar”, write to me via the comment.

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  • You have noted very attention-grabbing details. Thanks for sharing.

  • thanks a bunch! I am so happy I found this! I have always thought I was at a dead end every time this happened and would always resort to pressing and holding the power button which can’t be to healthy for my lappy lol. I has the hp probook 650

  • I really like your article. It’s evident that you have a lot knowledge on this topic. Your points are well made and relatable. Thanks for writing engaging and interesting material.

  • All good info but I’m still having problems. I tried Method 2 but after I hit Enter I get – Access is Denied. I am the named administrator on this machine. Advice would be appreciated. Thanks

    • Hi Alan. You need to enable the Windows Firewall before applying Method 2. You can go to the Services tab on Task Manager to check if the service MpsSvc is running.

  • i did method 1 but my taskbar is still loading.. do i restart it or what?

  • I had to start windows explorer then restart it for some reason. It didn’t show, so if you have it not show up, just do the start new task thing to give it to you. Then do the first steps.

    The joys of geeky comments sections.

  • I was having this issue and copied the text in to powershell and this is what it gave back to me… any suggestions?

    Get-AppXPackage : Access is denied.
    Access is denied.
    At line:1 char:1
    + Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopm …
    + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Get-AppxPackage], UnauthorizedAccessException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.UnauthorizedAccessException,Microsoft.Windows.Appx.PackageManager.Commands.GetApp
    xPackageCommand

  • For me the Restart button in the Task Manager behaved as if it was disabled, although it looked enabled. Clicking it had no effect. However I was able to right click on the process and select Restart from the drop down, which did work.

  • thanks a lot. i had the same problem after system update. And it is solved as i followed your instructions in the page. thank you.

  • Thank you so much, been driving me round the bend since the anniversary update. Hopefully there’ll be a fix sent out. (Sound of hollow laughter). Anyway, thanks again, the initial Task Manager solution worked for me.

  • Does it usually take a good bit for the powershell to do it’s work?

  • Hey guys today i had this problem and couldn’t find the answer. The problem i had was that taskbar was frozen and windows+r wasnt working.
    It was caused because in my last session some process was using to much disk so i suspended it.
    So the next time i turned on the computer my taskbar was frozen, but using the task manager and resource monitor i managed to locate the process i had suspended, and as soon as i resumed it everything worked fine, hope this helps someone.

  • I did all this and it didn’t help me out one bit. Toolbar is still locked only clicking “File Explorer icon” works (Takes forever to open tho) I can not search, run, see my tray items, nothing works. I can reset the PC and everything works, but after a little bit it all gets frozen again. It’s a new install of windows 10 on a new PC. After latest update stupid bar frozen all the time 🙁

    P.S You left out to run powershell as an admin you can run powershell then type ” Start-Process powershell -Verb runAs ” or check the option box to Create this task with administrative privileges”

    Anyway thanks for trying.

  • Hi.
    My taskbar will freeze after I open Psiphon in laptop (not desktop) and its’ freeze will gone after about some minutes (sometimes 10 minutes).
    What should I do?
    Thanks in advance.

  • I have done everything you mentioned above and still task bar is not working. Screen keeps going blank when I click on the task bar.

  • I was having this issue about half the time.
    What seems to have worked for me was to unpin items from the start menu.

  • Your advice worked wonderfully, thanks. I used method one.

  • Omg thanks so much this was so helpful now I can get back to my work without stressing!

  • Freakingly awesome dude!

    The very first method just worked like a charm!

    Cheers!!!

  • This works?

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