translucenttb.dev
2026.2v2026.2

User guide

TranslucentTB documentation

TranslucentTB has no official manual beyond a README and a configuration page. This guide covers the whole app, start to finish, for version 2026.2. Each section gives the short version and links to a page with the details, all checked against the source code.

By translucenttb.devUpdated Checked against TranslucentTB 2026.2Tested hands-on on Windows6 min read

On this page
  1. What TranslucentTB is (start of the tutorial)
  2. 1. Install it
  3. 2. First run
  4. 3. The tray menu
  5. 4. The five looks
  6. 5. The seven states
  7. 6. settings.json
  8. 7. Per-app window rules
  9. 8. Start with Windows
  10. 9. Updates
  11. 10. When something goes wrong
  12. All guide pages
  13. FAQ

Short answer

How do I use TranslucentTB?

Install it from the Microsoft Store, start it, and click Continue on the welcome page. It then lives in the system tray. Right-click the tray icon to pick a look for each situation (desktop, visible window, maximized window, Start, Search, Task View, battery saver), turn on Open at boot, or edit the settings file.

The TranslucentTB user guide at a glance Three stages. Set up: download and install, first run and the welcome page, open at boot. Customize: pick looks for the desktop, the seven dynamic states, colors, and per-app window rules, either from the tray menu or settings.json. Keep it running: updates, troubleshooting and uninstalling. 01 SET UP Download and install First run, tray icon Open at boot /download /install /docs/startup 02 CUSTOMIZE Five looks, colors Seven dynamic states Per-app window rules tray menu or settings.json /docs/appearance-modes ... 03 KEEP IT RUNNING Updates Fix errors, conflicts Uninstall and reset /troubleshooting /uninstall
The guide in three stages. Every box is a page on this site.

What TranslucentTB is (start of the tutorial)

TranslucentTB is a free, open-source Windows utility that changes the background of the taskbar: clear, blurred, acrylic or a solid color of your choice, on Windows 10 (version 1903 and later) and Windows 11. It can switch looks on its own, for example clear on the desktop and frosted when a window is maximized. It is maintained by the TranslucentTB Open Source Developers and licensed under GPLv3. The source is on GitHub.

It is a tray app with no main window. Everything happens through the tray icon's menu and one settings file. On Windows 11 it runs a small helper inside Explorer to reach the taskbar; How it works explains why.

1. Install it

There are four official ways: the Microsoft Store (recommended, updates itself), winget (winget install CharlesMilette.TranslucentTB), the .appinstaller file from GitHub, and a portable zip that only runs on Windows 11. All are the same build from the same developers. The Store, winget and App Installer routes install the same package and share one settings folder.

DownloadEvery official file, which one to pick, and SHA-256 hashes. Install guideStore, winget, App Installer, Scoop, Chocolatey and portable. Uninstall & resetRemove it cleanly and get the default taskbar back.

2. First run

On first start TranslucentTB shows a Welcome to TranslucentTB! window with three links (edit the configuration file, join the Discord server, donate on Liberapay) and two buttons:

  • Continue writes a default settings.json and shows a notification: "TranslucentTB lives in the system tray. Right-click on the tray icon to change settings, set the app to open at boot, view about information, exit the app, etc."
  • Exit closes the app and deletes the settings file, so the welcome page appears again next time.

The defaults give a fully clear taskbar on the desktop and with windows open or maximized (both window states start turned off), and Windows' own look while Task View is open. If you can't find the icon, look in the tray overflow (the ^ arrow) and drag it onto the taskbar.

Desktop clear
Window open desktop look (state off)
Maximized desktop look (state off)
Task View Windows' look
The first-run Welcome page of TranslucentTB 2026.2. Clicking Continue writes the default settings.json.
Real screenshot · TranslucentTB 2026.2 · Windows build 26100The first-run Welcome page of TranslucentTB 2026.2. Clicking Continue writes the default settings.json.
How this was captured

Captured October 29, 2026 on Windows build 26100 in our hands-on test; only cropped and resized.

3. The tray menu

Right-click the icon. The menu has one submenu per state (Desktop, Visible window, Maximized window, Start opened, Search opened, Task View opened, and Battery saver on PCs with a battery), each with Enabled, the five looks, Accent Color and the border or peek toggle. Below them are Open at boot, Advanced (edit settings, logs, reset), Tips and tricks and Exit.

Two habits save trouble: click Exit rather than ending the process, because that is when tray changes are saved; and if the taskbar gets stuck in the wrong look, press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F1 (2026.2 and later) to reset the dynamic state.

Every item is explained on Tray menu & shortcuts.

The real tray menu on Windows build 26100. There is no Battery saver item because the machine has no battery, and Open at boot is checked by default.
Real screenshot · TranslucentTB 2026.2 · Windows build 26100The real tray menu on Windows build 26100. There is no Battery saver item because the machine has no battery, and Open at boot is checked by default.
How this was captured

Captured October 29, 2026 on Windows build 26100 in our hands-on test; only cropped and resized.

4. The five looks

Each state uses one accent: normal (Windows' own look), opaque (solid color, alpha ignored), clear (your color, see-through), blur (adjustable on Windows 11 22H2 and later) or acrylic (frosted). Colors are written #RRGGBBAA, alpha last, so #00000000 is invisible.

normal
opaque
clear
blur
acrylic

Details, Windows-version support and a color converter: Appearance modes.

Step 4: open Desktop. The current look (Clear) has a dot; Accent Color opens the color picker.
Real screenshot · TranslucentTB 2026.2 · Windows build 26100Step 4: open Desktop. The current look (Clear) has a dot; Accent Color opens the color picker.
How this was captured

Captured October 29, 2026 on Windows build 26100 in our hands-on test; only cropped and resized.

5. The seven states

TranslucentTB checks each taskbar against a fixed order and uses the first state that applies: battery saver, Task View, Aero Peek (desktop look), Start, Search, maximized window, visible window, then the desktop as the fallback. States you turn off are skipped. Each monitor's taskbar is decided on its own.

The order, what counts as a window, multi-monitor behavior and a simulator: Dynamic modes.

6. settings.json

Everything in the tray menu, plus a few hidden options, lives in one JSON file. For packaged installs it is at:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\28017CharlesMilette.TranslucentTB_v826wp6bftszj\RoamingState\settings.json

Open it with Advanced › Edit settings. TranslucentTB reloads it 200 ms after you save. Be careful: one invalid value (a capitalized "Clear", a quoted "true") makes the app show an error, ignore the whole file and use defaults.

settings.json referenceEvery key, type and default, and the read/write rules. Settings builderDesign all states on your wallpaper and export the file. Settings validatorFind the exact line that resets your settings.

7. Per-app window rules

The Visible window and Maximized window states can have rules that give specific apps their own look, matched by window class, window title or process name, with an optional look for when that window is not focused. A separate ignored_windows list makes TranslucentTB pretend some windows do not exist, for overlays and widgets that would otherwise change the taskbar. Rules are file-only; see Window rules.

8. Start with Windows

Check Open at boot in the tray menu. Packaged installs use a Windows startup task; the portable version needs a shortcut in your Startup folder. If the item is grayed out, a policy or a debloat script has blocked startup apps. The fix, including the registry values from the README, is on Open at boot.

9. Updates

Installed viaHow it updates
Microsoft StoreAutomatically in the background, like other Store apps.
App Installer fileChecks GitHub every 24 hours on launch, plus a background task, and installs new versions.
wingetwinget upgrade CharlesMilette.TranslucentTB, or winget upgrade --all.
Portable zipManually: download the new zip and replace the files.

After an update you may see "TranslucentTB was recently updated. Please restart Windows to start using the latest version." Explorer still holds the old helper DLL; restarting Windows (or Explorer) clears it. What changed in each version: Releases.

10. When something goes wrong

Most problems fall into a few groups: a Windows feature update broke the helper inside Explorer, another taskbar tool conflicts, settings.json has an error, or startup is blocked. Every error message TranslucentTB can show is listed with its fix on Troubleshooting, and the troubleshooter narrows it down for your PC. Version-specific notes: Windows 11, Windows 10. Bugs in TranslucentTB itself belong in its GitHub issues.

All guide pages

Best settingsNine ready-made looks with settings.json you can copy or open in the builder. Multiple monitorsHow every taskbar gets its own look, and fixes when the second one does not change. PerformanceMeasured memory and CPU use, and what it means for games and battery. Appearance modesNormal, opaque, clear, blur and acrylic; color format; taskbar line and peek button. Dynamic modesThe seven states, their priority, multi-monitor behavior, simulator. settings.json referenceLocation, every key and default, how the file is read and written. Window rulesPer-app looks and ignored windows by class, title or process. Tray menu & shortcutsEvery menu item, the reset hotkey and the ttb.exe alias. Open at bootStart with Windows and fix a grayed-out toggle. How it worksWhat runs inside Explorer on Windows 10 and 11, and why. TroubleshootingEvery error message and common problem, with fixes.

FAQ

Is there an official TranslucentTB manual?

The project has a README on GitHub and a configuration page on TranslucentTB.github.io, linked from the app. There is no full manual; this site is an independent guide built from the source code and release files.

Does TranslucentTB have a settings window?

No. All options are in the tray icon's right-click menu, and the rest are in settings.json. The only windows it opens are the welcome page and the color picker.

How much memory and CPU does TranslucentTB use?

The README describes it as using "a few MB of RAM and almost no CPU". It reacts to Windows events instead of polling, so it is idle until something on screen changes.

Which TranslucentTB version is current?

2026.2, released August 31, 2026. See Releases for the changelog.

Keep going

Appearance modesNormal, opaque, clear, blur and acrylic, and the color format.Dynamic modesWhich look wins when a window is maximized or Start is open.settings.json referenceEvery key, type and default, checked against the source.Settings builderDesign every taskbar state on your own wallpaper, export settings.json.TroubleshootingEvery error message and common problem, with fixes.DownloadEvery official download, which one to pick, and file hashes.

Something wrong or out of date? Email hello@translucenttb.dev and we will fix it.