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TaskbarX vs TranslucentTB
On Windows 11 22H2 and later, use TranslucentTB: TaskbarX's taskbar styles do nothing on the modern Windows 11 taskbar, and we confirmed that on build 26100. TaskbarX still makes sense on Windows 10 if you want what TranslucentTB never did: moving the taskbar icons to the center, with animations.
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Short answer
Is TaskbarX better than TranslucentTB?
Not for transparency on current Windows 11. TaskbarX's last release is 1.7.8.0 (files dated October 4, 2022), and its own README says it stops working on Windows 11 versions above 10.0.22621.1265 (February 2023). TranslucentTB 2026.2 supports the Windows 11 taskbar through 24H2 and 25H2. On Windows 10 they do different jobs: TaskbarX positions icons, TranslucentTB changes the look and switches it automatically.
What happened when we ran both on build 26100
In our Windows test we downloaded TaskbarX_1.7.8.0_x64.zip from the project's GitHub release and started TaskbarX.exe -tbs=1, the command-line switch for its transparent style. The process kept running, but the taskbar did not change. Then, on the same machine and wallpaper, TranslucentTB with the clear accent made the taskbar fully transparent.
TaskbarX 1.7.8.0 started with its transparent style (-tbs=1) on build 26100: the taskbar did not change.
The same machine with TranslucentTB running and the desktop look set to clear.
How these were captured
Captured October 29, 2026 on Windows build 26100 in our hands-on test; only cropped and resized. Settings used:
The reason is in TaskbarX's source code. Its TaskbarStyle.vb sets the taskbar style only with SetWindowCompositionAttribute and an accent policy on the taskbar window. That is the classic method, and TranslucentTB uses it too on Windows 10. The Windows 11 taskbar since 22H2 draws its background with XAML inside Explorer and ignores that call, which is why TranslucentTB loads a helper into Explorer to replace the XAML background brush instead (how it works).
Side by side
| TaskbarX | TranslucentTB | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Moves taskbar icons to the center or an offset, with 42 animation styles | Changes the taskbar's look: normal, opaque, clear, blur, acrylic |
| Taskbar styles | Transparent, blur, acrylic, transparent gradient, opaque, plus color, opacity and rounded corners | The same five accents with any #RRGGBBAA color, plus blur strength on Windows 11 |
| Changes with what's on screen | One option: revert to the default taskbar when a window is maximized (-dtbsowm=1) | Seven states: desktop, visible window, maximized window, Start, Search, Task View, battery saver, plus per-app rules |
| Windows 11 22H2+ (XAML taskbar) | No. README: "If you have a higher version than Windows 11 10.0.22621.1265 Feb 2023 TaskbarX will not work." Confirmed in our test. | Yes, including 24H2 (tested on build 26100) |
| Windows 10 | Yes (its main target) | Yes, version 1903 or later |
| Windows 11 with ExplorerPatcher's Windows 10 taskbar | Yes, per its README | Yes (classic route) |
| Latest release | 1.7.8.0, files dated October 4, 2022; last commit April 18, 2023 (README edit) | 2026.2, August 31, 2026 |
| Price | Free zip; the Microsoft Store version is paid and, per the author, identical (a donation option with automatic updates) | Free (Store, GitHub, winget) |
| License | MIT | GPLv3 |
| Built with | VB.NET on .NET Framework, WPF Configurator | C++ with a XAML tray menu |
| How it runs | Portable files; the Configurator creates a Task Scheduler task to start it at sign-in. Polls the taskbar on a timer (-lr=400 ms by default) | Store or MSIX package with a startup task, or portable zip. Reacts to Windows events instead of polling (performance) |
| Settings | TaskbarX Configurator app, or command-line switches | Tray menu, or settings.json |
| Changes the registry? | No, per its FAQ | No (we found no registry writes in the source) |
Sources: TaskbarX README, LICENSE and source code on GitHub (ChrisAnd1998/TaskbarX), the 1.7.8.0 release zip, all read October 29, 2026. TranslucentTB facts from its 2026.2 source and our tests.
Which one should you use?
Use TranslucentTB if
- You are on Windows 11 22H2, 23H2, 24H2 or 25H2.
- You want the taskbar to change when a window is open or maximized, or when Start opens.
- You want an app that still gets releases (2026.1 and 2026.2 this year).
Use TaskbarX if
- You are on Windows 10 and want centered taskbar icons, which Windows 10 cannot do by itself.
- You use ExplorerPatcher's Windows 10 taskbar on Windows 11 and want centering there.
- You accept software that hasn't been updated since 2022.
On Windows 11 you rarely need TaskbarX at all: Windows 11 centers taskbar icons on its own (Settings › Personalization › Taskbar › Taskbar behaviors › Taskbar alignment).
Can you run TaskbarX and TranslucentTB together?
On Windows 10, people do, by splitting the work: TaskbarX for icon position, TranslucentTB for the look. Turn off TaskbarX's taskbar style (its Configurator's style set to default, or -tbs=0) so only one app sets the background. If both set a style, they write the same accent policy to the same taskbar window and the last one to write wins, so the taskbar can flicker between looks. That is how the two apps work, not a conflict anyone has documented in either issue tracker that we found.
On Windows 11 22H2 and later there is nothing to combine: TaskbarX's centering and styles don't apply to the XAML taskbar.
Switching from TaskbarX to TranslucentTB
Stop and remove TaskbarX
Open TaskbarX Configurator, click Stop TaskbarX, then on the Taskschedule tab click Remove so it no longer starts with Windows. Delete its folder. If you used the Store version, also delete the "TaskbarX" task in Task Scheduler, as its README explains.Install TranslucentTB
From the Microsoft Store or withwinget install CharlesMilette.TranslucentTB. Details: install guide.Recreate your look
TaskbarX's-tbsstyles map to TranslucentTB accents: 1 transparent →clear, 2 blur →blur, 3 acrylic →acrylic, 5 opaque →opaque. TaskbarX's-color=R;G;B;Auses 0–255 for red, green and blue and a percentage (0–100) for alpha, which it multiplies by 2.55. In TranslucentTB write the same color in hex as#RRGGBBAA, alpha last:-color=0;0;0;50becomes#00000080. The settings builder previews it.Replace 'revert on maximized'
TaskbarX's-dtbsowm=1becomes TranslucentTB's Maximized window state with the Normal accent. See dynamic modes.
FAQ
Does TaskbarX work on Windows 11?
Is TaskbarX free?
Is TaskbarX safe?
What is TaskbarX Configurator?
Can TranslucentTB center taskbar icons?
Is TaskbarX still being developed?
Keep going
Something wrong or out of date? Email hello@translucenttb.dev and we will fix it.