Why Won’t Windows 11 Taskbar Click? (Proven Fixes That Actually Work)

Is Your Windows 11 Taskbar Driving You Crazy? (Simple Solutions Inside)

I know how maddening it gets when your taskbar stops working. You click the Start button. Nothing happens. You try to open your apps. Still nothing. Your computer seems broken, but it’s not.

This problem hits Windows 11 users more often than you’d think. Sometimes it happens after updates. Other times, your computer wakes up from sleep mode acting weird. The good news? I’ve got seven ways to fix this mess.

The Quick Fix That Works 90% of the Time

Lock and unlock your computer. That’s it. Sounds too simple, right? But this trick resets how Windows handles your mouse clicks.

Here’s what I do:

1. Press Win + L on your keyboard
2. Type your password to get back in
3. Test your taskbar

This works because Windows refreshes all the input connections when you log back in. Your apps stay open. Your work stays safe. But your taskbar starts working again.

When the Quick Fix Doesn’t Work

Sometimes you need to restart Windows Explorer. This is the program that runs your taskbar, Start menu, and desktop. Think of it as giving your computer’s brain a quick reset.

Steps to restart Windows Explorer:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Find “Windows Explorer” in the list
3. Right-click it and choose “Restart“
4. Your screen will go black for a second, then come back

Your taskbar should work normally after this. If not, keep reading.

Check Your Mouse and Keyboard

Your mouse might be the problem. I’ve seen this happen when a button gets stuck. Even if you can’t feel it, one of your mouse buttons might be “pressed” all the time.

What to check:

• Test your mouse on a different computer
• Try a different mouse on your computer
• Unplug your mouse for 10 seconds, then plug it back in
• Press your Scroll Lock key if you have one (it might be stuck on)
• Disconnect any game controllers or extra mice

Sometimes old Bluetooth mice cause problems even when they’re turned off. Disconnect everything you’re not using right now.

Fix Broken System Files

Windows has built-in tools that can fix corrupted files. These files might be causing your taskbar problems. This takes longer but fixes deeper issues.

Run these commands:

1. Press Win + R, type “cmd“, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter
2. Type these commands one at a time (wait for each to finish):

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   sfc /scannow

3. Restart your computer when done

These commands check your Windows files and fix any that are broken. The process takes 15-30 minutes depending on your computer speed.

Clean Up Old Mouse Drivers

Windows remembers every mouse you’ve ever connected. Sometimes these old drivers fight with your current mouse. This creates the clicking problem.

Remove old mouse drivers:

1. Press Win + X and click “Device Manager“
2. Click “View” then “Show hidden devices“
3. Expand “Mice and other pointing devices“
4. Right-click any grayed-out mice and choose “Uninstall“
5. Restart your computer

Only remove the grayed-out ones. Don’t touch the active mouse driver.

Clear Your Notifications

Too many notifications can overload Windows. This sounds weird, but it happens. When Windows can’t handle all the notifications, it sometimes stops responding to clicks.

Clear notifications:

1. Click the time in the bottom-right corner
2. Click “Clear all notifications“
3. Turn on “Do Not Disturb” mode for a while

This gives Windows a break from managing notifications. Your taskbar might start working again.

In-Place Upgrade

If nothing else works, you can reinstall Windows 11 without losing your files. This is called an “in-place upgrade.” It’s safe but takes time.

How to do an in-place upgrade:

1. Download Windows 11 from Microsoft’s website
2. Run the installer
3. Choose “Keep personal files and apps“
4. Follow the setup steps

This replaces all Windows system files with fresh copies. Your programs and files stay exactly where they are. But any corrupted system files get fixed.

Why This Happens

Windows 11 taskbar problems usually come from:

• System updates that change how input works
• Sleep mode not waking up properly
• Corrupted system files from crashes or bad shutdowns
• Driver conflicts between old and new devices
• Too many notifications overwhelming the system

Prevention Tips

Keep your taskbar working smoothly:

• Restart your computer once a week
• Don’t force-shutdown during updates
• Keep only the mice you actually use connected
• Clear notifications regularly
• Run Windows Update monthly

When to Get Help

Contact Microsoft support if:

• None of these fixes work
• The problem happens every day
• Your computer is still under warranty
• You’re not comfortable running command-line tools

Most taskbar problems get fixed with the first two methods. The lock/unlock trick works for most people. Restarting Windows Explorer catches most of the rest.

Your taskbar should be clicking normally again. These fixes work for the vast majority of Windows 11 systems. The problem is annoying but rarely permanent.