Taskbar Hangs (Gets Locked Up) Indelibly

[jmain33]

I don't know how to determine whether it's from a specific mod or general usage of WindHawk. But, the Win11 taskbar reliably hangs for several minutes, hours. The entire taskbar becomes nonreactive and unresponsive. Once this happens, I can't select applications on the taskbar, needing to use either task view or task switch to get back to open applications; thankfully, the rest of explorer still remains responsive. Certain ancillary mechanics like opening the start menu or changing the volume (yes, even by using the keyboard) won't take effect for minutes on end.

Mods installed:

• Chrome/Edge scroll tabs with mouse wheel
• Click on empty taskbar space
• Middle click to close on the taskbar
• No Focus Rectangle
• Taskbar Clock Customization
• Taskbar height and icon size
• Taskbar Labels for Windows 11
• Taskbar Thumbnail Reorder
• Windows 11 Taskbar Styler

Additional Info…

• I frequently drag news headlines from the widgets area onto the taskbar into my preferred browser. This can, at times, completely crash the taskbar, causing it to be fully reloaded by the OS.
• Sometimes toggling a few of the global settings in the main dialog can bring back the ability to interact with the taskbar, but this isn't 100% reliable.
  • Otherwise I need to log off then back in to get my taskbar to become operable.
• It's noticeable that opening my media player (Winamp: WACUP) can initialize the lock-up. But, this also isn't 100%, and I can't say it is certainly a root cause.
• I'm using a Windows tablet w/ touchscreen.

[m417z]

Please try to temporarily disable some of the mods and pinpoint which mod causes the issue. It would be even better if you could come up with reproduction steps, but that might be more difficult.

[m417z]

Otherwise I need to log off then back in to get my taskbar to become operable

Meanwhile, as a workaround, it would be easier to open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Escape), then locating Windows Explorer and restarting it.

[jmain33]

Thanks, Michael. After some time I think I can say, with a strong level of confidence, that the mod "Windows 11 Taskbar Styler" is the one at fault here. I disabled it twice, for a period of one week each. During both those stretches I didn't encounter a frozen/hanging taskbar. The only two settings I apply with the mod: change the button's corner radius; change the running indicator's color.

When that specific mod is active, starting music playback in my media player, WACUP, (not just opening the application) is a reliable way to initiate the taskbar into being non-responsive, but it is not a strict prerequisite. Maybe the media progress feature of the taskbar's running indicator has something to do with this?

One of the other mods, possibly "Taskbar Labels for Windows 11" or "Taskbar height and icon size" - see my list of mods from OP, may be contributing to trigger this problem. Especially 'Taskbar Labels', since it also alters the running indicator.

[m417z]

When that specific mod is active, starting music playback in my media player, WACUP, (not just opening the application) is a reliable way to initiate the taskbar into being non-responsive, but it is not a strict prerequisite. Maybe the media progress feature of the taskbar's running indicator has something to do with this?

A reliable way as in, every time you do that, the taskbar hangs? That's great, it can help us troubleshoot the issue further.

One of the other mods, possibly "Taskbar Labels for Windows 11" or "Taskbar height and icon size" - see my list of mods from OP, may be contributing to trigger this problem. Especially 'Taskbar Labels', since it also alters the running indicator.

Since, if I understand correctly, you now have a way to reproduce the problem, it should be possible to check whether disabling these mods help. Also, it will be helpful to check whether removing the styles of the Taskbar Styler mod help.

Just for the record, it was observed that the inspection mechanism that the Taskbar Styler mod uses sometimes cause issues (https://github.com/ramensoftware/windhawk-mods/issues/478), and I believe that the root cause for that is a bug in Windows (but the inspection mechanism is mainly used for debugging, so Microsoft might not care all that much).

[jmain33]

It has been a very difficult thing to pin down, as an array of things effects the frequency and severity of the taskbar's inaccessibility when using 'Windows 11 Taskbar Styler'. Sometimes, disabling other mods lessens the effect so that it's only one or a few minutes at a time that the taskbar becomes unresponsive. Generally, using media intensive applications (music/video players, music converter) makes the problem pop up.

The biggest factor though seems to have been the mouse/keyboard software I was using - Logitech's "Logi Options+"; since I've disabled that application from running, the 'Windows Eleven Taskbar Styler' mod has become much more manageable to use and no longer locks up the taskbar on a constant basis, nor to as extreme an extent when it does, once again, occur.

I've switched over to X Mouse Button Control, which doesn't bring out these types of issues with Windhawk mods.

[hallshouse]

I don't use any software beyond the Microsoft provided Windows11 drivers and I use the AMD Adrenin addition. I have also isolated this to WinHawk running in my "Hidden Icons" area and having the TaskBar Styling mod configured.

As soon as is "Exit" WinHalk (right-click the icon and select Exit) in my Hidden Icons area, the icons in the Taskbar are clickable.