This tutorial will show you how to enable the transparency in the start menu, taskbar and action center in Windows 10.

Like its predecessor, Windows 10 includes a personalization option to make the desktop taskbar transparent, allowing the user’s desktop wallpaper to be visible behind the taskbar. The taskbar is such a small portion of the overall desktop, however, that this option was hardly noticeable to most users in Windows 8. With the addition of the Action Center in Windows 10, however, the transparency option has been extended from the taskbar to both the Start Menu and Action Center, and offers a much more visually striking (if you prefer the transparency option), or distracting (if you dislike the transparency option) result. Here’s how to disable or enable taskbar, Start Menu, and Action Center transparency in Windows 10.

Note: Like its competitor Apple, Microsoft uses the word “transparency” to describe the visual effect discussed in this tutorial. However, the more accurate term is “translucency,” as the desktop wallpaper, while visible, is clearly obfuscated by the foreground elements of the taskbar, Start Menu, and Action Center. Despite this difference, we will stick with the word “transparency” in this tutorial to maintain consistency with Microsoft’s naming conventions.

This tutorial will apply for computers, laptops, desktops, and tablets running the Windows 10 operating system (Home, Professional, Enterprise, Education) from all supported hardware manufactures, like Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo, and Samsung.

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