Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8

[Sergey "hb860"]

With help of Tihiy (the author of StartIsBack) I have figured out how to make opaque taskbar in Windows 8. I have created a lightweight application which does that thing.

As you can see, with Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 you will be able:

• to disable taskbar transparency
  
• to restore the transparency back
  
• to make Taskbar opaque after Windows startup.
  

THis is how it looks:

Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 is free, portable application and does not require to be installed. It is compatible with Windows 8 x86 and Windows 8 x64.

Donwload Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8

[Pam14160]

Up and running and no problems at this time. Thanks for app. . .looking good.

[ramzorz]

Great tip for people that want to get a slightly better video experience with Windows 8 on older machines. :)

[Fraud OS 11]

Support multiple monitors too.

[McKay]

Im liking it, however is it possible to get the colours to match? It's only a minor annoyance but they're different.

[PUC_Snakeman]

Thank you for creating this tool!

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Awesome! Thanks a million! :)

[Sergey "hb860"]

Im liking it, however is it possible to get the colours to match? It's only a minor annoyance but they're different.

I still not figured out how to make them similar

[Sergey "hb860"]

Version 2.0 is out

Since version 2.0 the new command line option is available:

opaquetaskbar.exe /resident

It allows you to keep Taskbar opaque even if theme or Aero color was changed.

In resident mode Opaque Taskbar for Windows 8 will stay in memory and will show a tray icon with context menu.

Use that menu or just double click on the tray icon to toggle the transparency.

Also, "startup" checkbox will ask you if you want to keep the application in memory after startup.

I am sure that you will like this changes. It was very annoying when you changed the window color and taskbar became transparent back. So, fixed :)

Download Opaque Taskbar

[Luke777]

Great, now we can have an even uglier UI on the desktop.

[Sergey "hb860"]

Transparent Taskbar looks more ugly for me.

It does not fit with opaque window frames.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Great, now we can have an even uglier UI on the desktop.

Troll! Now you can choose!

[Sergey "hb860"]

Opaque Taskbar v2.5 is available. The application was slightly improved.

New features are following:

• Taskbar will become opaque even you will restart Explorer (The resident mode of Opaque Taskbar is required).
  
• Tray icon stays visible even you will restart Explorer (The resident mode of Opaque Taskbar is required).
  
• Taskbar will become opaque even you will move it to the another side of screen (The resident mode of Opaque Taskbar is required).
  
• Added the "Disable Updates Check" option according to users requests.
  

[ Download link ]

[Sergey "hb860"]

In case your are interested, x64 version is available. Some user requested it.

Link is the same, in the post above.

[Steven P. Administrators]

Cheers for this.. works on 8.1 too. With lighter wallpapers the transparency is annoying.

[Studio384]

I like it, can confirm that it works on Windows 8.1 too (Neobond already said that, but better 2 than 1 testcase).

[Steven P. Administrators]

I like it, can confirm that it works on Windows 8.1 too (Neobond already said that, but better 2 than 1 testcase).

If you use it like this (from command prompt) opaquetaskbar.exe /resident you can switch back and forth easily too :P

[cooky560 Veteran]

I really don't get why MS didn't allow a transparency toggle, or better yet just disable it entirely since there's no transparency anywhere else in the OS. The OPs app works great. (y)

[ellineo]

Thank you! This is working perfect :)

[ManMountain]

Great little utility, cheers :) Though the mind boggles that Microsoft didn't think to provide the choice to disable transparency on the taskbar.

[Knife Party]

cheers, finally found this. great little app (Y)

[cooky560 Veteran]

Im liking it, however is it possible to get the colours to match? It's only a minor annoyance but they're different.

This also happens with the disable transparency option in start is back, I think the UI is designed for the taskbar to be a slightly darker colour

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

I'll throw my thanks into the ring also. As Neobond said, with lighter wallpapers the transparent taskbar is extremely annoying. Now it isn't :)

 

My only issue now is if I change the them colour to something dark, Windows stupid keeps the window titles black. Is there a way to change the colour of the window titles?

[MikeChipshop Member]

Great, now we can have an even uglier UI on the desktop.

 

Yeah, damn choice eh?  :rolleyes:

[cooky560 Veteran]

I actually like the UI for the Windows 8 desktop, its certainly cleaner than Aero in Windows 7.