How to Use RetroBar to Restore a Classic Taskbar on Windows 11

Miss the classic taskbar on Windows 11, or seeing two taskbars after starting RetroBar? Download the current release from the official RetroBar GitHub page, run it, and use the fixes below if the standard taskbar stays visible. You can exit RetroBar at any time to get Windows 11’s standard taskbar back.

RetroBar is a free, open-source app that draws a classic-style taskbar alongside Windows. RetroBar’s own release notes warn Windows 11 users that recent updates have affected its ability to hide the default taskbar, so check for overlap before you set it to start with Windows.

You’ll need: a Windows 11 PC where you can install apps, and permission to install the Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime if RetroBar asks for it. The RetroBar 1.22 release notes say it uses .NET 10 on Windows 10 and later.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Check your Windows 11 version and build

• Open Start > Settings > System > About.
• Under Windows specifications, note the Version and OS build. You can compare them with Microsoft’s Windows 11 release information and RetroBar’s release notes.

• Open Windows 11 release information and find your version. Check its update status. Research retrieved on October 14, 2026, identified Windows 11 26H2 as the current general-availability release. Your PC may be on another supported version.

Expected result: You know your Windows version, build, and update status. If Windows offers an update, install it through Settings > Windows Update. Restart before testing RetroBar.

Step 2: Check the current RetroBar release

• Open the official RetroBar releases page.
• Read the top release’s version, date, notes, and requirements. When we checked on October 24, 2026, the latest release was 1.22.122, published August 2, 2026. If a newer release appears, use the version shown on the page.
• Expand Assets under the release you plan to use. Read any package instructions in its notes before downloading.

Expected result: You’ve found the current official release and its downloads. Check its notes for fixes tied to your Windows build.

Step 3: Download and prepare RetroBar

• In the release’s Assets section, pick one package. Download it from github.com/dremin/RetroBar, not a copy hosted elsewhere.
  • RetroBar.Installer.zip is the option the release notes recommend. The RetroBar README says the installer downloads and installs the .NET Desktop Runtime automatically if it’s needed.
  • RetroBar.Portable.zip runs without installing. Starting with 1.22, all portable builds come in this one download: the 1.22.122 ZIP contains separate 64-bit, 32-bit, and ARM64 folders (plus a Win7-8 folder for older Windows), each with its own RetroBar.exe. The portable version prompts you to download .NET on first launch.
  • To pick the right folder (or the right file on an older release that lists them separately), check Settings > System > About > System type. Use ARM64 if it says “ARM-based processor,” and 64-bit if it says “x64-based processor.”
• Open File Explorer > Downloads and find the file.
• If it’s a ZIP archive, right-click it and select Extract All > Extract. Then open the extracted folder (for the portable ZIP, the folder that matches your system type). If it’s an installer, open it and follow the prompts. For another package type, follow the instructions beside that asset.

Expected result: RetroBar is ready to run, or its installer is ready to finish. If you downloaded a portable package, keep the extracted folder. Deleting it may also delete the app.

Step 4: Run RetroBar and handle any Windows prompts

• Open the RetroBar app in the extracted folder. If you used an installer, finish setup and launch RetroBar from Start.
• If Windows asks for a .NET runtime, follow the link to Microsoft’s download page. Install the version and architecture named in the prompt, then open RetroBar again. The RetroBar 1.22 release notes say version 1.22 uses .NET 10 on Windows 10 and later, replacing its earlier .NET 6 dependency.
• If Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warns you, stop and compare the exact filename and release with the Assets entry in dremin/RetroBar. The project says its installer is unsigned; that alone is not proof that a downloaded copy is safe. Do not bypass the warning just to follow this tutorial. If you cannot establish the file’s origin or your device is managed, leave it blocked and seek help.

Expected result: A classic-style taskbar appears. Check that Start opens and you can switch between windows. The standard taskbar may be hidden or may stay visible.

Step 5: Choose a theme and screen edge

• Right-click an empty area of the RetroBar taskbar and open its settings or properties. If no menu appears, check the RetroBar icon in the notification area. Labels may differ by release, so use the ones you see.
• Find the theme or appearance control and choose a classic style.
• Find the screen-edge or taskbar-position control and choose where RetroBar appears.
• Select Apply if you see that button. Otherwise, close the settings window and check the desktop.

Expected result: RetroBar shows your chosen style and position. If you use an external monitor or dock, check each display. The taskbar may move when you connect or disconnect a display.

Step 6: Check the taskbar before enabling startup

• Open two apps from Start. Select each app’s button on RetroBar and check that the right window comes forward.
• Check whether the standard Windows taskbar is also visible. If both appear, try the fixes below before enabling startup.
• If RetroBar has a startup setting, enable it only after the layout works for you. Use the label shown in your version.

Expected result: The classic taskbar works, and you know whether RetroBar can hide the standard one on your build.

Configuration

RetroBar’s labels and themes depend on the release you installed. Open its settings to change the theme or screen edge. Check the desktop after each change.

If you use more than one display, reconnect your external monitor and check both taskbars. If a USB-C adapter or dock changes the display order, check Settings > System > Display too.

Tips and Troubleshooting

Which fix do you need?

What you see	Try this
RetroBar runs, but the standard taskbar is still visible	Fix #1 (auto-hide workaround, then restart RetroBar)
RetroBar doesn’t open at all	Install the .NET runtime it prompts for (Step 4), confirm the file came from dremin/RetroBar, then re-download the current release
The taskbar freezes or stops responding	Fix #2 (restart Windows Explorer)
You want the standard taskbar back for good	Fixes #3 and #4

Fix #1: Restart RetroBar if both taskbars appear

If the standard taskbar stays visible on your build, try the workaround from RetroBar’s release notes. The RetroBar 1.17.71 notes (and earlier 1.12–1.16 releases) say recent Windows 11 updates affected RetroBar’s ability to hide the default taskbar, and recommend opening Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and turning on Automatically hide the taskbar before starting RetroBar. Turn it off again when you want Windows’ normal always-visible bar. It isn’t guaranteed to work on every Windows build.

• Open RetroBar’s menu from an empty part of its taskbar or its notification-area icon.
• Choose Exit.
• Launch RetroBar again from Start or its extracted folder.

If the taskbars still overlap, capture both before closing RetroBar.

Fix #2: Restart Windows Explorer if the taskbar stops responding

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Select Processes, find Windows Explorer, and select Restart task.
• Wait for the desktop and standard taskbar to reload. Then check RetroBar.

If the overlap returns, compare your build with the RetroBar releases page and Microsoft’s Windows release health information. Check the release notes before blaming a specific update.

Fix #3: Exit RetroBar and stop it from reopening

• While RetroBar is still running, open its settings and turn off its start-with-Windows option if you see one. Then use RetroBar’s Exit control. If the standard taskbar doesn’t reappear, undo native auto-hide if you enabled it and use the Explorer restart check above.
• Open Settings > Apps > Startup. If RetroBar appears, turn it Off.

• Also check Task Manager > Startup apps and disable RetroBar there if it’s listed.
• Restart Windows and confirm that only the standard taskbar appears.

Where a startup entry lives depends on how RetroBar was set up, so check all three places: RetroBar’s own option, Settings > Apps > Startup, and Task Manager > Startup apps.

Fix #4: Remove RetroBar using the method for your download

• Exit RetroBar and turn off any startup entry as described above.
• If you used an installer, check Settings > Apps > Installed apps. If RetroBar appears, select More > Uninstall and follow the prompts. If it isn’t listed, check Control Panel > Programs and Features, and don’t delete installer-managed files by hand.
• If you downloaded a portable archive, close the app and delete its extracted folder. You can also delete the original archive from Downloads.
• Restart Windows and check that the standard taskbar works.

The removal steps depend on the package you downloaded. Use the steps that match yours.

Wrapping Up

RetroBar lets you try a classic taskbar without replacing Windows’ own. Exiting it should stop its taskbar; if the native one stays hidden, undo auto-hide and restart Explorer. I’d wait to enable startup until you’ve checked for overlap. If the taskbar still fails after RetroBar exits, check Windows updates and Explorer.

Step	Action	Applies To
1–3	Check your build and download the current official release	Every setup
4–6	Run RetroBar and check its appearance and taskbar behavior	Every setup
Fixes 1–2	Restart RetroBar or Explorer	Overlap or frozen taskbar
Fixes 3–4	Exit, disable startup, and remove the app	Returning to the standard taskbar