TranslucentTB Windows 11 Not Working, How to Fix?

TranslucentTB is a popular tool that enables Windows users to customize the appearance of the taskbar. With TranslucentTB, users can apply different colors, make the taskbar transparent, hide or show the taskbar on demand, and perform several other customizations.

However, some users may encounter issues with the tool, including a non-transparent taskbar, after updating to Windows 11. There have been several reports from users on GitHub about the issue. If you face such problems, don’t worry; we’ll provide 12 ways to fix TranslucentTB not working on Windows 11 in this article.

 

Fix 1: Disable STTest using ViveTool

One of the users on GitHub suggested that you disable STTest using ViveTool. Several other users claim that doing this solved the issue for them. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Download the ViveTool GUI from the GitHub page. Ensure that you download the Windows executable .exe file.
2. Install ViveTool by following the on-screen instructions.
3. Open ViveTool and click on the Manually Change a Feature button or press F12.
4. In the text field, enter 26008830 and select the Deactivate Feature option from the drop-down menu next to the text field.
5. You should see a success message indicating that STTest has been disabled.
6. Restart your PC and check if TranslucentTB is working fine.

Fix 2: Re-register the Taskbar

If the above solution doesn’t work, try re-registering the taskbar. The solution is to create a batch file on your PC and re-register the taskbar. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Notepad and copy the following code into it:

@echo off

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

taskkill /f /im shellexperiencehost.exe

timeout /t 3 /NOBREAK > nul

del %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\TempState* /q

timeout /t 2 /NOBREAK > nul

start explorer

@echo on

1. Click on File and select Save as.
2. In the Save As window, name the file ClearTileCache.bat.
3. Then, select the location where you want to save the file and click on Save.
4. Navigate to the file you saved in the last step, right-click on it, and select Run as administrator.

While the batch file is in operation, the cache of the start menu will be erased. This may cause the desktop and other elements to disappear for some time.

Fix 3: Restart the Taskbar

If TranslucentTB is still not working properly on your computer, restarting the taskbar may help to resolve the issue. Here are the steps to restart the taskbar:

1. Press your keyboard’s Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
2. Find the “Windows Explorer” process in the Task Manager under the “Processes” tab.
3. Right-click on “Windows Explorer” and select “Restart” from the context menu.
4. Wait a few seconds for the taskbar to restart.
5. Launch TranslucentTB and see if the issue is resolved.

If restarting the taskbar doesn’t fix the issue, you may want to try reinstalling TranslucentTB or checking for any updates to the software.

Fix 4: Repair/Reset TranslucentTB

The third solution to try is to repair or reset TranslucentTB. Sometimes, the issue may be associated with the app itself, so resetting or repairing it should help. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to Apps > Installed Apps.
3. Find the TranslucentTB app and click on the three dots on the far right.
4. Choose Advanced options.
5. Under the Reset section, click Repair.
6. Check if the taskbar is fixed after the repair.
7. If the taskbar is not fixed, click on the Reset button, which is located below the Repair button.

Fix 5: Update Windows

An outdated version of Windows often results in poor computer performance and many issues, including TranslucentTB not working. If you have not updated your Windows software for a long time, do it now. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open the Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. Click on Windows Update from the left panel.
3. Then, click on Check for updates. Make sure you have an active internet connection during the process.
4. If any updates are found, click on Download & Install or Download & install all. 
5. Once the update is installed, restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
6. On the next startup, check if TranslucentTB is now working. If TranslucentTB is still not working, move down to the next solution.

Fix 6: Uninstall Windows Update

While Windows updates are handy for solving issues, they can often cause incompatibility issues with certain apps, and TranslucentTB is no exception. If the issue began after installing a recent Windows update, try uninstalling the update. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open the Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. Click on Windows Update from the left panel.
3. Now, click on Update history.
4. Under the Related settings section, click on Uninstall updates.
5. Find the most recent updates that could be causing the issue and click Uninstall.

Fix 7: Switch to Windows 11 Main Build

Many users have reported that the issue is experienced predominantly on the preview builds of Windows 11. Microsoft releases preview builds to gather user feedback and improve the operating system. However, these builds might contain bugs or issues that can cause problems with your computer.

So, if you are on one of the preview builds of Windows 11, and you want to use TranslucentTB, it’s time to switch back to the main build. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open the Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. Click on Windows Update from the left panel.
3. Click on Windows Insider Program from the right panel.
4. Then, click “Stop getting preview builds” on the next page.
5. Toggle the button next to “Unenroll this device when the next version of Windows releases.” You will now stop getting Windows 11 preview builds.
6. Then, click the “Leaving the Insider Program” link at the bottom to proceed.
7. You will be directed to Microsoft’s webpage. Click on “Leave the program now”, and you will be out of the Windows Insider Program.
8. Now, go back to the Settings window and click “Check for updates” to get the latest version of Windows 11.
9. Your PC will download and install the latest Windows 11 main build version.
10. Once everything is done, try using TranslucentTB again. It should be working without any issues.

Fix 8: Use Dark Mode

The light theme or light mode can also interfere with the TranslucentTB app. So, it is advisable to use dark mode for the best results with the app. Follow these steps to turn on the dark mode on your Windows 11 PC:

1. Open the Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. From the left panel, select Personalization.
3. Then, click on Colors.
4. Click on the drop-down next to “Choose your color” and select Dark.
5. Try using TranslucentTB again, and everything should work smoothly.

Fix 9: Disable Other Customization Tools

If you have other customization tools installed on your system, they may conflict with TranslucentTB and prevent it from working correctly. How to fix this? Simply disable other customization tools and see if TranslucentTB works. Here’s how to disable the other customization tools:

1. Open the Start menu and search for “Task Manager” or “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” to open it directly.
2. In the Task Manager, select the “Startup” tab.
3. Here, you will see a list of all the programs that start with Windows. Look for customization tools or applications that might conflict with TranslucentTB, such as other taskbar customizers, system optimizers, or display enhancement tools.
4. Once you’ve found the conflicting program, right-click on it and select “Disable”. This will prevent the program from starting automatically with Windows.

Alternatively, you can go to the Control Panel and click “Programs and Features” to see a list of installed programs. Find the customization tool that might conflict with TranslucentTB and uninstall it completely.

After disabling or uninstalling the conflicting program, restart your computer.

Open TranslucentTB again and see if it’s working correctly. If it’s still not working, disable any other customization tools that might conflict with it and repeat the process until TranslucentTB starts working.

Fix 10: Update your Graphics Drivers

In some cases, a corrupt or outdated driver may be why TranslucentTB is not working on Windows 11. You can manually check for driver updates or use a driver update tool. Here’s how to check the driver updates manually:

1. Right-click on the Start icon or press the Windows key + X on the keyboard and select Device Manager.
2. Once the Device Manager is open, expand the Display adapters section.
3. Right-click on your graphics drivers and click on Update driver.
4. On the pop-up window, click on “Search automatically for drivers” and wait for the drivers to install.
5. Once installed, restart your PC and check if TranslucentTB is now working.

Fix 11: Disable your Antivirus

The functionality of TranslucentTB may occasionally be affected by the antivirus and firewall software on your PC. If this is the case, try disabling your antivirus temporarily and see if that fixes the issue. Add TranslucentTB to your antivirus and firewall software’s exemption list if this succeeds.

First, identify if your antivirus and firewall software are blocking TranslucentTB. Check if your antivirus and firewall software is blocking TranslucentTB by looking for any error messages or alerts related to TranslucentTB.

If you find any error messages or alerts, temporarily disable your antivirus and firewall software. The steps to disable your antivirus and firewall software may vary depending on the software you’re using. Generally, you can right-click on the antivirus or firewall software icon in the taskbar and select “Disable” or “Turn Off” for a specified period.

Once you have disabled your antivirus and firewall software, try rerunning TranslucentTB and see if it works correctly.

If TranslucentTB starts working after disabling your antivirus and firewall software, you need to add TranslucentTB to your antivirus and firewall software’s exception list. Adding TranslucentTB to the exception list will allow the software to bypass the security checks and run smoothly.

Once you have added TranslucentTB to the exception list, enable your antivirus and firewall software again. Finally, restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect.

It is worth noting that disabling antivirus and firewall software or performing a system restore may have security implications. Therefore, it is critical to proceed cautiously and only temporarily disable security software to test whether it is causing issues with TranslucentTB.

Fix 12: Reinstall TranslucentTB

If none of the above steps works, try uninstalling and reinstalling TranslucentTB. This will delete all the TranslucentTB files and give it a fresh start. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Control Panel. On the search bar, type Control Panel and click on the first search result.
2. Click on Programs and Features.
3. Find TranslucentTB, and click Uninstall. 
4. Once TranslucentTB is uninstalled, reinstall the latest version from the TranslucentTB GitHub page.

Summing Up

TranslucentTB is a powerful and customizable utility for Windows 11 users who want to enhance the appearance of their taskbar. Its ability to dynamically adjust transparency based on the background colour, support for multi-monitor setups, and extensive customization options make it a popular choice among users. However, it’s common to face issues with it, especially if you use Windows 11. If you’re having trouble with TranslucentTB on Windows 11, there are several ways to fix the problem.

You can try disabling the STTest feature using ViveTool, re-registering the taskbar, repairing/resetting TranslucentTB, uninstalling incompatible Windows updates, using Dark mode, or updating drivers.

Hopefully, one of these methods will help you fix the TranslucentTB not working issue on Windows 11 and get your taskbar back to being transparent again.