Taskbar Hide vs TaskbarX

Taskbar Hide is a free application for Windows 10 and 11 that hides and shows the taskbar. It provides a system tray icon and menu, as well as a command-line interface with start, show, hide, toggle, stop, help, and autostart commands. The app prevents multiple instances from running. Its project describes the executable as approximately 600 KB, self-contained, and built with static CRT linking. Downloads are available for Windows x64 and ARM64 as an MSI installer or a portable ZIP. The ZIP can be extracted and run without installation; the MSI configures PATH for command-line access. Autostart commands add or remove an entry in the current user's Windows Run registry key. The project says it is compatible with YASB and other custom status bars using the Shell_TrayWnd class name. One operational detail: CLI commands to show, hide, or stop the app require its GUI to be running. The repository is published under the MIT license.

TaskbarX is a free, open-source Windows utility for positioning taskbar icons and changing taskbar styling. Icons can be placed at the exact center or nudged left or right, with adjustable spacing and size. Animation choices include fade, slide, other easing styles, or no animation. Backgrounds can be transparent, blurred, opaque, or accent-colored. Unlimited taskbars can have independent settings per monitor, including vertical taskbars. The portable build needs no installer, makes no registry edits, and uses no background services. TaskbarX is released under the MIT license. The site says Windows 10 is fully supported; on Windows 11, centering works through build 22621.1265 but not on modern builds. Version 1.7.8.0 is listed as latest stable, and the GitHub repository is archived and read-only. A Store version offers automatic updates for an optional donation.