To remove a toolbar from the Windows 10 taskbar, right-click an empty part of the taskbar, point to Toolbars, and select the toolbar that has a check mark next to it, such as Address. The check mark clears and the toolbar disappears from the taskbar right away. Repeat for any other checked toolbar.
Applies to: Windows 10. Keep in mind that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Security updates now come only through the Extended Security Updates program, which stops on October 12, 2027.
What a taskbar toolbar is
A taskbar toolbar is an extra strip that sits on the taskbar, usually on the right side near the clock. Windows 10 lets you show or hide these strips from the taskbar’s right-click menu, which is why one can appear after a single stray click. The ones you are most likely to see are:
- Address: a box with the word “Address” in front of it. You can type a folder location or web address into it.
- Links: a button that shows a short list of saved web links.
- A custom toolbar: a strip named after a folder. It appears when someone uses New toolbar in the same menu and picks a folder, and it lists that folder’s contents.
- A toolbar added by an app: programs can register their own toolbars, which then show up in the same menu.
Removing a toolbar only hides it. It does not uninstall anything, and it does not delete the folder or the files a custom toolbar was showing.
Things that look like toolbars but are not
People often say “toolbar” for other parts of the screen. These are removed in different places:
| What you see | What it is | Where to remove it |
|---|---|---|
| A strip labeled Address, Links or a folder name on the taskbar | A taskbar toolbar | Right-click the taskbar, then Toolbars (this guide) |
| The search box next to the Start button | Windows search on the taskbar | The taskbar’s right-click menu; see the guide linked below |
| A single app icon you do not want | A pinned app | Right-click the icon and select Unpin from taskbar |
| Extra buttons or a bar inside Microsoft Edge, Chrome or another browser | A browser extension or add-on | The browser’s own extension settings |
| A menu bar or ribbon inside a program | Part of that program | That program’s own view settings |
If the search box is what you want gone, hide the search bar on the Windows 10 taskbar instead.
Remove a toolbar from the taskbar
This is the main method, and it works for the Address and Links toolbars, custom toolbars, and most toolbars that apps add.
- Right-click an empty part of the taskbar. Use a blank spot between the app icons and the clock, not an app icon itself: an app icon opens a different, app-specific menu.
- Point to Toolbars. A submenu opens with the toolbars that are available. Each toolbar that is currently on the taskbar has a check mark in front of its name.
- Select the toolbar you want to remove, for example Address. The menu closes, and the toolbar disappears from the taskbar.
- To remove another toolbar, right-click the taskbar again, point to Toolbars, and select the next checked name. Only one toolbar is cleared per click.
Remove a custom toolbar you created
A custom toolbar is listed in the Toolbars submenu under the name of the folder it shows. Clear its check mark the same way as above and it leaves the taskbar.
If you want a custom toolbar back later and its name is no longer in the submenu, right-click the taskbar, point to Toolbars, select New toolbar, and choose the same folder again. The folder and everything in it are untouched while the toolbar is gone, so nothing needs to be restored.
Remove a toolbar that a program added
If the Toolbars submenu lists an entry named after a program, that program put it there. Clearing the check mark hides it, but the entry usually stays available in the menu while the program is installed. To remove it for good, uninstall the program, but only if you recognize it and no longer need it:
- In the search box on the taskbar, type Control Panel and select it in the results.
- Select Programs > Programs and Features. A list of installed programs opens.
- Find the program whose name matches the toolbar. Right-click it and select Uninstall or Uninstall/Change, then follow the program’s prompts.
- Restart the PC, then check the Toolbars submenu again. The program’s entry should be gone.
Be careful with names you do not recognize. Search for the program name before you remove it, because some entries belong to hardware drivers or tools you rely on. If the program arrived bundled with a free download and also changed your browser, treat it as adware and work through these adware removal steps for Windows 10, which include a full security scan.
If the toolbar is in your web browser
A bar inside Microsoft Edge, Chrome or Firefox is not a Windows taskbar toolbar, so the Toolbars menu will not remove it. In current browsers these bars and buttons come from extensions. In Microsoft Edge:
- Select Extensions to the right of the address bar, then select Manage extensions. If you do not see Extensions, select Settings and more > Extensions.
- To turn an extension off without deleting it, select the toggle next to it.
- To delete it, select More actions next to the extension, then Remove from Microsoft Edge > Remove.
Other browsers have a similar extensions page in their settings. If an extension you removed comes back, a program on the PC is reinstalling it, which again points to adware. A toolbar that also switched your search engine to Bing needs one more fix: getting rid of Bing on Windows 10.
Confirm it worked or put a toolbar back
- To confirm: look at the area beside the clock. The Address box, Links button or folder strip should be gone. Right-click the taskbar and point to Toolbars; the name you cleared no longer has a check mark.
- To undo: right-click the taskbar, point to Toolbars, and select the name again so the check mark returns. If a custom toolbar is no longer listed, use New toolbar and choose the folder again.
Troubleshooting
Toolbars is missing or nothing happens when you select a toolbar
On work and school PCs, an administrator can block toolbar changes with Group Policy. Three policy settings under User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar that affect toolbars:
- Prevent users from adding or removing toolbars: when enabled, you cannot add or remove any taskbar toolbar, and apps cannot add toolbars either.
- Lock the Taskbar: when enabled, toolbars are locked in place and you cannot show or hide them from the taskbar’s right-click menu.
- Lock all taskbar settings: when enabled, you cannot resize, move or rearrange toolbars on the taskbar, and the taskbar settings are blocked.
These settings are available in the Pro, Enterprise and Education editions. If your PC is managed by an employer or school, the setting belongs to your organization, so ask the IT department rather than trying to change it.
On your own PC, a toolbar control that will not respond usually means one of these settings was turned on by software or by a previous owner, and setting it back to Not Configured restores the default behavior. Each setting is described in the Taskbar policy reference.
You right-clicked and only see options for one app
You clicked an app icon rather than empty taskbar space. Close the menu with the Esc key and right-click a blank area of the taskbar instead.
The toolbar comes back after a restart
If a toolbar keeps returning after you clear it, the most likely cause is a program installed on the PC that adds it again. Use the steps in Remove a toolbar that a program added above, and run a security scan if you do not recognize the program.
The whole taskbar disappeared
Removing a toolbar does not hide the taskbar. If the taskbar itself is missing or has slipped to the edge of the screen, get the taskbar back on Windows 10 with a separate set of fixes.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there an Address box on my taskbar?
The Address toolbar was switched on from the taskbar’s Toolbars menu, often by an accidental click. It is a normal part of Windows 10 and not a virus. Clear its check mark in the Toolbars submenu to remove it.
Does removing a toolbar delete any files?
No. A taskbar toolbar is only a view. Removing a custom toolbar leaves its folder and files where they are, and removing Address or Links does not delete any saved links.
Why did a custom toolbar I wanted disappear by itself?
Some Windows 10 users have reported custom toolbars vanishing after a restart, and there is no official fix. If it happens to you, add it again with Toolbars > New toolbar and the same folder.
Can I stop other people from adding toolbars to the taskbar?
Yes, on editions that support Group Policy. The Prevent users from adding or removing toolbars setting blocks both adding and removing toolbars for the users it applies to.
Is a taskbar toolbar the same as a browser toolbar?
No. Taskbar toolbars live on the Windows taskbar and are controlled from its right-click menu. Browser toolbars and buttons live inside the browser and are controlled from its extension settings.
Related: centering taskbar icons in Windows 10.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.