mlapplications.comTransparent Taskbar+ Help: how to customize your taskbar
Everything in the new settings, step by step: the border line, the background, the buttons, the three action buttons, and what to do when something doesn't work.
Quick start
Install and start the app
Install Transparent Taskbar+ Lite from the Microsoft Store and start it. Its icon appears in the tray next to the clock; right-click it for the menu.
Open the settings
The settings open in your browser by default, or in the app's own window. The first time, the browser asks to let the page access apps on this device - click Allow once.
Open the settings Choose the border line
In row 1 pick No line or Line. For a line choose Thin (1 px) or Thick (2 px), and Auto colour (Windows' own text colour) or Custom.
Choose the border line Choose the background
In row 2 pick Transparent, Gradient, Gradient (50-50), Pattern or Image. Colour boxes on the card change the gradient colours.
Choose the background Choose the buttons
In row 3 pick Transparent, Glass buttons, Color buttons, Glass dock or Color dock.
Choose the buttons Preview and Apply
Each click shows the full combination on your taskbar for 5 seconds. Press Apply in the bar at the bottom to keep it, or Undo changes to go back.
Preview and Apply
How the three rows combine
The Bottom Taskbar tab (its name follows your taskbar: Top, Left or Right Taskbar) has three numbered rows. You pick one option in each row and they are drawn together, bottom to top: the background, then the buttons or dock, then the line on the edge. The card marked Active is what your taskbar uses now; the highlighted card is what you are trying.
Preview, then Apply. Clicking a card never saves anything - it shows the combination on your taskbar for 5 seconds, then your saved style returns. The bar at the bottom turns blue while you have changes that are not applied yet.
Row 1 · Border line
A line along the desktop side of the taskbar - at the top edge of a bottom taskbar, at the inner edge of a side taskbar.
- No line - nothing on the edge.
- Line - choose Thin (1 pixel) or Thick (2 pixels).
- Auto colour uses the colour of Windows' own text (dark when Windows is in light mode, white in dark mode), so the line always matches the Action Center. Custom lets you pick any colour.
Row 2 · Background
- Transparent - your wallpaper shows through.
- Gradient - one colour, darker towards the screen edge.
- Gradient (50-50) - two colours, half and half (Inner and Edge).
- Pattern - click Choose pattern to open the picker with 50+ patterns.
- Image - click Choose picture to use your own PNG or JPG.
- Acrylic - frosted glass with a tint, like Windows' own acrylic, while your buttons, dock and line stay sharp on top. Two sliders: Blur (0 = a plain see-through tint) and Tint (0 = plain frosted glass). Auto uses Windows' dark or light tint; Custom lets you pick the colour.
Using your own picture
The picture panel shows your recent pictures, a live preview of your taskbar, and your taskbar's exact size in pixels. Fit sets how the picture covers the taskbar (Fill crops, Stretch squeezes, Tile repeats, Center keeps the real size). Opacity fades it into the Backing colour - the taskbar never becomes see-through behind a picture. Side taskbars lets you use a separate tall picture when the taskbar is on the left or right.
Row 3 · Buttons
- Transparent - plain icons.
- Glass buttons / Color buttons - a tile behind each app icon.
- Glass dock / Color dock - one panel behind all the icons, like a dock.
Use the colour box on the Color cards to pick your colour. The tiles follow your icons when you open or close apps.
The three action buttons
- Change taskbar position… opens Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. Expand Taskbar behaviors and choose the position. The app follows by itself.
- Open in your browser / Open the app window switches between the browser and the app's own window.
- Reload Taskbar reconnects to the taskbar - use it if the taskbar stopped changing, for example after Windows Explorer restarted.
Effects and Settings tabs
The Effects tab has the Icon magnifier (on by default: the icon under the mouse grows like a dock) and three mouse effects - see the Effects Guide. The Settings tab has the light/dark theme, Start with Windows and Show this window at startup.
Troubleshooting & FAQ
The browser shows 'Could not find Transparent Taskbar+ running on this PC'. What do I do?
Start the app (from the Start menu or the tray), then press Try again. If the app is not installed, get it from the Microsoft Store.
I clicked Block on the browser prompt by mistake.
Click the lock icon in the address bar, open the site permissions and set 'Apps on device' (or 'Local network access') to Allow or Ask, then reload the page.
My taskbar stopped changing.
Press Reload Taskbar at the top of the settings. This reconnects to the taskbar, for example after Windows Explorer restarted.
How do I move the taskbar to the top or the side?
Press Change taskbar position. Windows Settings opens on Taskbar; expand Taskbar behaviors and choose the position. The app follows automatically.
The Image option asks me to choose a picture first.
Click Choose picture on the Image card, pick a PNG or JPG, then press Apply.
How do I go back to the default look?
Press Reset Default Values under the style rows: a thin line in Windows' text colour, transparent background, plain icons.
Where are my settings saved?
On your PC only, in the app's own data folder. Nothing is stored in the browser except your theme choice.
Step-by-step guides
Get Transparent Taskbar+ Lite - free
Free on the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Installs and uninstalls like any Store app.
