Taskbar - Hide or Show on Multiple Displays in Windows 8

How to Hide or Show Taskbar on Multiple Displays in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

By default, the taskbar will always show on your main display. If you have more than one display (monitor/screen), then this will show you how to hide or show a taskbar on all the other displays, and how you want the buttons to be arranged on these taskbars for your user account in Windows 8. A taskbar button represents an open window on the desktop.

The main display will show the notification area and clock on it's taskbar by default unless you move the taskbar to another display. The other displays will only show the taskbar and the icon or button of any pinned and opened programs.

EXAMPLE: Taskbar in Windows 8
NOTE: Taskbars on displays other than the main display will not have the notification area (system icons) on them.

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OPTION ONE

Hide or Show Taskbar on Multiple Displays in Taskbar Properties

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to open Taskbar Properties.​

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2. On your desktop, right click or press and hold on the taskbar, click/tap on Properties, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)​

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3. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Taskbar icon, and go to step 4 below.​

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4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.​

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5. To Not Show a Taskbar on All Displays​

NOTE: This will turn off the taskbar on all displays except the main display.​

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A) In the Taskbar tab under Multiple displays, uncheck the Show taskbar on all displays box, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​

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6. To Show a Taskbar on All Displays​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) In the Taskbar tab under Multiple displays, check the Show taskbar on all displays box. (see screenshot below)​

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B) Under Show taskbar buttons on, select how you want taskbar buttons to be shown on the displays other than the main display, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)​

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   Note

• All taskbars - The taskbar buttons for all of your open windows will be duplicated on the taskbars on each display. This is the default setting.
• Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open - This setting shows a taskbar button on your main display and duplicates it only on the taskbar on the display where the window is open.
• Taskbar where window is open - This setting shows a taskbar button only on the display where the window is open. None of these buttons are duplicated on other taskbars including your main display.

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7. You may also like to have "Buttons on other taskbars" to combine or never combine.​

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How to Combine or Never Combine Taskbar Buttons in a Group in Windows 8 and 8.1​

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8. When finished, click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 5A or 6A)​

OPTION TWO

Hide or Show Taskbar on Multiple Displays using a BAT File

   Note

The .bat files below are for the registry key and values below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

MMTaskbarEnabled DWORD

0 = Don't show taskbar on multiple displays
1 = Show taskbar on multiple displays

MMTaskbarMode DWORD

0 = Show taskbar buttons on all taskbars
1 = Show taskbar buttons on main taskbar and taskbar where window is open
2 = Show taskbar buttons on taskbar where window is open

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1. Do step 2, 3, 4, or 5 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. Don't show taskbar on multiple displays​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 6 below.​

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Don't_Show_Taskbar_on_All_Displays.bat​

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3. Show taskbar buttons on all taskbars​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 6 below.​

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Show_Taskbar_Buttons_on_All_Taskbars.bat​

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4. Show taskbar buttons on main taskbar and taskbar where window is open​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 6 below.​

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Show_Taskbar_Buttons_on_Main_taskbar_and_taskbar_where_window_is_open.bat​

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5. Show taskbar buttons on taskbar where window is open​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 6 below.​

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Show_Taskbar_Buttons_on_Taskbar_where_window_is_open.bat​

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6. Save the .bat file to your desktop.​

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7. Unblock the .bat file, and double click/tap on the .bat file to run it.​

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8. You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted to apply the settings.​

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9. You may also like to have "Buttons on other taskbars" to combine or never combine.​

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How to Combine or Never Combine Taskbar Buttons in a Group in Windows 8 and 8.1​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Open the Taskbar in Windows 8.1
• How to Move Taskbar Location in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Enable or Disable "Show Taskbar on All Displays" in Windows 8
• How to Pin or Unpin Apps to the Taskbar in Windows 8
• How to Combine or Never Combine Taskbar Buttons in a Group in Windows 8
• How to Duplicate, Extend, or Switch Display to a "Second Screen" in Windows 8
• How to Have the Start Screen Docked to your Desktop or Add a Taskbar in Windows 8
• Close All Windows from a Grouped Taskbar Button in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Restore All Windows from a Grouped Taskbar Button in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Cascade All Windows from a Grouped Taskbar Button in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Show Windows Stacked or Side by Side from a Grouped Taskbar Button in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Lock or Unlock Taskbar Settings in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off Auto-hide Taskbar in Windows

 

[jeffrys]

thanks Shawn,

but in include what I get, so no MULIPLE DISPLAYS.....
so I guess I need to add another step?

thanks

Jeff

 

[Brink]

Hello Jeff,

Yep, you would just need to connect another display.


If you only have one display, then this tutorial does not apply. The tutorial is only for if you have more than one display.

 

[jeffrys]

yes, you are right, silly me...

thanks

Jeff

 

[Brink]

No problem Jeff. Nar, you're not being silly. It's a new OS that we are all getting used to.

 

[machistmo]

I have 2 displays and no Multiple displays either

Hello Jeff,

Yep, you would just need to connect another display.


If you only have one display, then this tutorial does not apply. The tutorial is only for if you have more than one display.

I have a 3200x1800 main display and a Dell Touch External @ 1920x1080 and no taskbar on the second monitor and no multiple monitors on the Taskbar and navigation properties screen. I am typing this on the External display and the system allows me to change the resolution. It says my resolution is less than 2400x1800 on the display setting for the second monitor and warns me that some items may not be visible - so I am guessing thats the issue. In the past I have had icons and the taskbar on the second screen with this same setup. I dont use this laptop all that much and have not had it in this office with this monitor for several update cycles of Windows 8 so I suppose anything is possible.

 

[Brink]

Hello Machistmo,

Are you able to set both displays to their native resolution?

 

[machistmo]

Hello Machistmo,

Are you able to set both displays to their native resolution?

Turns out it was Windows 8 display scaling feature. Once I went in and chose a fixed scale, requiring log off/on, everything appears as it should. I was actually replying to you when I dawned on me what the problem was... Doh... Anyway thanks!

Steps to get there:

 

[machistmo]

For the record, the 'Taskbar and Navigation Properties' window now contains the 'Multpile Displays' section at the bottom where before it did not. As shown here in steps 5 and 6.

 

[Brink]

Great news.

 

[Brink]

Tutorial updated with OPTION TWO.