7+ Taskbar Tweaker vs SmartTaskbar

7+ Taskbar Tweaker is a free Windows utility for changing taskbar behavior beyond options normally exposed by taskbar properties or the registry. It provides dozens of customization choices, and Taskbar Inspector can group, combine, or label some taskbar items. The software is designed for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. The maker says it does not support the Windows 11 taskbar, although it can work on Windows 11 version 23H2 and older when third-party tools restore the old taskbar. Its installer can extract a portable copy to a selected folder. The utility injects a DLL into Explorer and modifies it directly; registry changes are limited to its own settings. Antivirus detections may be false positives because this behavior can appear suspicious. It has no ads or bundled installers, may be used commercially, and optional donations are supported.

SmartTaskbar is a free Windows utility that changes whether the taskbar is shown or hidden. In Auto Mode, it hides the taskbar when the focused window intersects it. Double-clicking the tray icon switches between Show and Auto-Hide, while the taskbar status stays unchanged when the pointer is over the taskbar. Auto Mode follows Windows Auto-Hide behavior, so closing Start or Search may hide the taskbar before SmartTaskbar brings it back. Some applications with special maximization logic may not make the taskbar appear when the pointer moves to its position; the project suggests WIN+T as a workaround. Release notes say the hook can sometimes fail and advise restarting Explorer and SmartTaskbar or rebooting. Auto Mode may not work on Windows 10 versions released in 2019 or earlier, for which the notes suggest the Win10_1809 installer. The privacy statement says the app collects no user data, uses no telemetry, and stores settings offline locally, though it accesses the Registry to monitor and set taskbar settings. The project lists an MIT license and links to a Microsoft Store version described as less functional and stable.