Taskbar customizations don't work anymore

Svenneovik commented 1 year ago

Describe the bug

With latest update of 22H2 (1 March 2023) removed the ability of taskbar field transparent. No error but taskbar field is black colored.

Area of issue

Taskbar

To reproduce

Go to settings.
Select Taskbar field tab.
Select Taskbar field appearance.
Select Transparent.
Restart.
Taskbar field should now be transparent, but it is not.

Expected behavior

Selecting taskbar field transparent in settings would make the taskbar field transparent.

Open-Shell version

4.4.189

Windows version

Windows 11 22H2

Additional context

No response

ge0rdi commented 1 year ago

Could you clarify what Activity field do you mean? I don't see anything like that in Open-Shell settings.

Svenneovik commented 1 year ago

Sorry, In English it is "Taskbar"

Customize Taskbar
Taskbar Look
Transparent.

ge0rdi commented 1 year ago

Thank you.

I can confirm this. With latest Windows 11 updates taskbar customizations don't work anymore.

It seems MS did some changes to taskbar rendering (similar to what they did in Insider builds) and our customizations don't work anymore.

TheRealDarkbreeze commented 1 year ago

Can verify as well. Have tried resetting customizations. No effect. Have tried completely removing open shell and reinstalling. No effect. Customizations to taskbar and start menu are failing to be implemented including zero effect of any changes to transparency, glass, etc.

MichaelIsGreat123 commented 1 year ago

Following installation of the Windows 11 updated called: 2023-02 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5022913)

the taskbar is now fully black and the settings that I had used with Open-Shell settings (I have version 4.4.189) were: ---Taskbar tab. Customize taskbar: transparent Taskbar opacity: 70 Taskbarcolor (RRGGBB): 31A4E1 (a kind of blue) Taskbar text color (RRGGBB):FFFFFF

all these taskbar settings recorded in Open-Shell settings do not work at all anymore and the taskbar is now fully black!!!

This new update seems to have messed up Open-Shell in such a way that the Open-Shell settings are not applied anymore for the taskbar!!

I did try to change to other values, nothing worked and the taskbar stays this fully black and no transparency of any kind exists either.

So far, it seems to be the only thing that does not work. I have not done a thorough check on other things but I still have my Open-Shell at the left working perfectly fine.

Oh Microsoft, what a bunch of idiots they are!!

So, it is just a cosmetic issue so far for the taskbar following this update. So not a big deal for me.

I take this opportunity to thank a lot the developers of Open-Shell to have made it work with Windows 11. I am really very grateful. This issue will be solved I assume at a later stage but it is only a cosmetic issue.

I will report further if I find other issues.

Kind Regards Michael

MichaelIsGreat123 commented 1 year ago

New update to my previous post: I find only a way to change my taskbar from dark to light but I do not think that it is a solution that solves the issue with the taskbar settings on Open-Shell settings not being able to work properly following this new update.

I went to Settings (for Windows 11), Personalization, Colors, Choose your mode and I selected Custom. And then for choose your default Windows mode: it was set at dark but I changed it to light. By the way the option transparency effect is on with my computer. And for the Windows colors, I have one blue color ticked so I end up with a very light blue taskbar but it is not transparent. And the blue I have, I am pretty sure it is not the one I had recorded on Open-Shell settings. So I assume that it is from Windows 11.

I will keep you updated if I find other things.

Kind Regards Michael

MichaelIsGreat123 commented 1 year ago

New update to my posts above.

Another option that also does not work in Open-Shell setting. ---Menu Look tab. It indicates: Menu glass color (RRGGBB): 0065BF (it is a beautiful sky blue color that is amazing) Glass opacity: 50

If you try to change the glass opacity to a 10 or 80, nothing seems to happen.

Kind Regards Michael

TheRealDarkbreeze commented 1 year ago

Correct. As I said earlier, those customizations are not working on the task bar OR in the start menu.

CursedDemonWolf commented 1 year ago

I can also confirm this to not be working as well. with the latest open-shell pre-release and Win11 22H2. Have tried multiple settings within windows and open shell, nothing seems to fix the issue.

Svenneovik commented 1 year ago

I have 2 machines wth Win 11 Home and 22H2. One working fine and the other one has the fault. The ok working one: Win ver. 22621.1265 Experience Pack 1000.22638.1000.0 Classic Shell ver 4.4.170 The error one: Win ver 22621.1344 Experience pack 1000.22639.1000.0 Classic Shell ver 4.4.189

TSBII commented 1 year ago

@Svenneovik @ge0rdi I have been checking often for any update as I prepare to make an updated image of this machine etc. and stumbled on Start11 from Stardock. I don't really like it for a couple of reasons:

I don't want to modify the W11 Start Menu so the only thing I am using Start11 for is to regain taskbar transparency (their transparency is working post Windows update KB5022913, but see below).
Start11 breaks RoundedTB functionality.

On the other hand, I thought I would share this: With Stardock's Start11 software installed, Open-Shell taskbar transparency works and has focus for settings regardless of the settings made in Start11 for taskbar transparency. Of course as I mentioned, RoundedTB functionality breaks with Start11 installed currently and I would rather have RoundedTB working alongside Open-Shell than to use Start11.

It appears they have hit the new switch in the registry either way. I wish I had time to dig in and try to fix this in the code.

Update: Long live (Classic) Open-Shell (and the super cool custom alternate start menu it provides)!! As mentioned above, I would rather live with the taskbar transparency issue than use Start11. I did however find a solution to use for now that works alongside RoundedTB as long as 'TranslucentTB compatibility' is ticked within its settings: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/vivetool-fix-for-translucenttb-and-for-taskbar-size.13016/

MichaelIsGreat123 commented 1 year ago

The transparency issue will be sorted out later on with Open-Shell in a later update of Open-Shell. More the transparency issue is only a cosmetic issue that is completely secondary, Open-Shell still works perfectly well.

I would not even want to mention any program that is not free when Open-Shell is provided completely free.

All the paid programs have been breaking regularly through various updates of Windows 11. And that Open-Shell has only had just recently this transparency issue following a new update of Windows 11 proves that it is really an excellent program. Kudos to the programmers.

Microsoft recently has been changing regularly the various features of the Windows 11 taskbar, it is inevitable that a few issues arise after an update that incorporates new features for the Windows 11 taskbar.

Again, many thanks to the developers of Open-Shell.

Kind Regards Michael

ghost commented 1 year ago

The Optional Update about which you speak is included in the Cumulative update KB5023706 released on 14 March. It has the same effect (and a new thread has been opened yesterday concerning it).

In addition to the lack of transparency, the new 'Search' button on the Taskbar was meant to become a window into which the search parameters could be typed. Although the default setting after update is to have this box, only a magnifying glass shows.

I noted on the other, newer thread, that Microsoft have identified that certain other pieces of software that alter the UI like Open Shell are effected and that they are 'investigating' (this doesn't imply they're looking for a solution, of course) - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/march-14-2023-kb5023706-os-build-22621-1413-9d3f2de5-08e7-4462-8fba-d944201f4ae1

I also noted that there seems to be an issue with the Widgets as the weather icon no longer has the temperature and weather summary on the Taskbar and the Widgets themselves take an excessive time to load on occasion.

But Open Shell continues to work substantially. I can live with a solid colour on the Taskbar as well as the other glitches - but I appreciate that the matter will be addressed at a later date.

MichaelIsGreat123 commented 1 year ago

I mentioned the following update that I had installed simply because, right after installed it, I noticed right away that the taskbar transparency had stopped working. ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ Following installation of the Windows 11 updated called: 2023-02 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5022913) ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ At least for me, it was not an optional update simply because I only did Windows update, check for updates. This update would have installed by itself if I had not done Windows update, check for updates.

For optional updates, you have to click on Windows update, Advanced options, then Optional updates.

One thing is sure, before this update, using Open-Shell latest version at v4.4.189 (19.01.2023), I had selected options in Open-Shell that allowed me to have my taskbar transparent. After this update, these Open-Shell options for transparency did not work anymore and the taskbar was not anymore transparent.

ghost commented 1 year ago

At least for me, it was not an optional update simply because I only did Windows update, check for updates. This update would have installed by itself if I had not done Windows update, check for updates.

My terminology was clearly incorrect. It is a Preview Build (https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/topic/february-28-2023-kb5022913-os-build-22621-1344-preview-3e38c0d9-924d-4f3f-b0b6-3bd49b2657b9) - I have always referred to these as 'Optional' as they recur within a future update.

They don't download and install on the laptops I look after as I have control over the time lapse before major updates are installed and so these 'previews' are never downloaded. The improvements were included in the Cumulative update KB5023706

As you will see in the 'Known Issues' section of the Preview Update, they mention the problem with software that alters the UI.

And, additionally, is your Search Button just a magnifying glass as well? This seems to be part of the problem, too.

ghost commented 1 year ago

One thing that needs clarification here is whether the Windows Option of the four Search buttons is currently working. Can someone please respond and let me know whether the bug with the Search Button is an Open Shell problem? Thanks.

ge0rdi commented 1 year ago

I have fully updated Win11 22621.1413 on my VM and Windows search box seems to be working fine.

ghost commented 1 year ago

I have fully updated Win11 22621.1413 on my VM and Windows search box seems to be working fine.

Thanks. I manage 5 laptops and all of them can have the Search Button or the Search Magnifying Glass as visible when selected but the Search Box doesn't appear on the Taskbar even though it's selected.

OliverKosmo commented 1 year ago

Hello daknut

I'm using Open-Shell Menu V4.4.188 on Windows 11 (22H2 (Build 22621.1413)). I can activate and deactivate the search box in the taskbar in all variations. If it is switched on, the search takes place in the actual Windows 11 menu structure software. The search box pops up just to the right of the Windows Start menu icon when I turn it on. My entire taskbar is left-aligned. I hope I could help you.

Best regards Olivier

ghost commented 1 year ago

Thanks for your input. I think I've worked it out, having been playing for a while. When the Taskbar is 'auto-hide' in the Window settings then the new Search Box will not display. I'm guessing that this is part of the 'problem' with the new Windows Build? Anyway, it settles my mind. Doesn't solve anything, but it satisfies me :)

ghost commented 1 year ago

Microsoft have given up trying to fix any UI Customisation issues. On https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/march-14-2023-kb5023706-os-build-22621-1413-9d3f2de5-08e7-4462-8fba-d944201f4ae1 they state:

"If you are using any third-party UI customization app and encounter this or any other issues, you will need to contact customer support for the developer of the app you are using."

TSBII commented 1 year ago

In my experience, Microsoft have never supported these types of 3rd party mods to begin with. They simply moved the registry entries around into new locations. It can all be fixed in the Open Shell code or you can use the method I mentioned in my updated post for the taskbar transparency. The new search bar is a pain but turning it off turns off too much search functionality (dev man, xxx.msc or xxx.cpl and other quick searches I use to bring things up etc.) so I am getting use to it being there. Otherwise I don't have any issues with Open Shell at all.

ghost commented 1 year ago

It can all be fixed in the Open Shell code or you can use the method I mentioned in my updated post for the taskbar transparency.

The solution in the updated post didn't work on my machine. But thanks for pointing it out.

Svenneovik commented 1 year ago

I have found a workaround using VIVE tools with a simple comman line that works for me. Read through this post: https://github.com/TranslucentTB/TranslucentTB/issues/672 Also read this explanation on VIVE tools: https://www.xda-developers.com/how-use-vivetool-enable-features-windows-11/

JoseHidalgo commented 9 months ago

Hi everybody. Big fan of (Classic) Open-Shell since Win 7. Just wanted to add my own experience.

With Win 11 23H2, transparency works well for Explorer windows (via System Transparency) and taskbar (via TranslucentTB). Sadly it doesn't seem to work yet with Open-Shell. Can this please be solved anytime soon? Thank you.

Open-Shell / Open-Shell-Menu